We reported on this back in summer: the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture was planning a law to liberalise industrial hemp – a step that would finally put an end to the absurd legal situation surrounding non-intoxicating hemp and CBD products. But our hopes for an end to the long-overdue, completely absurd regulations on CBD in Germany were quickly dashed. Because for the time being, nothing happened… But every low has its high, and then came the news from the EU that it wants to officially classify hemp as an agricultural product, which immediately sparked a return of tireless euphoria… and now the Green Party is doing what it takes to keep it going. They have officially reintroduced the Industrial Hemp Liberalisation Act (NutzHanflG) to the Bundestag. Is this finally the start of a new chapter for hemp farmers, traders and the entire CBD industry in Germany? We will see when we see, but for now, it seems that the discussions about the questionable treatment of the industrial hemp industry are bearing flower…
A LAW THAT NEEDS TO BE SEEN
The idea of reforming hemp law isn’t new. Germany’s Ministry of Agriculture already acknowledged the absurdity years ago – regulating non-intoxicating hemp under narcotics law while neighboring countries built thriving CBD industries. But the first attempt stalled. Politics hesitated, bureaucracy won.
Now, with Bundestag document 21/2116, the Greens are giving hemp a second chance. And the timing couldn’t be more critical: While France, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Italy push forward with modern hemp policies, Germany – the supposed innovation leader – risks becoming Europe’s slowest mover in the fastest-growing green sector.
WHATS NEW: WHAT THE INDUSTRIAL HEMP LAW HAS IN MIND
This bill aims to bring German law in line with both science and the European market:
- THC limit up to 1 %
Raising the threshold from 0.3 % to 1 % THC would align Germany with key EU neighbors and create long-overdue security for farmers and processors. - Abolishing the “Misuse Clause”
The clause that allowed CBD products to be treated as “potentially intoxicating” would finally be deleted.
No more raids, no more grey zones – just clear legal footing for CBD oils, flowers and extracts. - Legal recognition for hemp-based smokeables
The bill explicitly covers smokeable goods and preparations from certified hemp, provided they’re non-psychoactive – a move that would finally make CBD flowers legally marketable in Germany.
HOW GERMANY FELL BEHIN
While Berlin debated definitions, the rest of Europe built industries. In Switzerland, 1 % hemp created thousands of jobs. In Italy, hemp became part of sustainable construction and textile production. Meanwhile, in Germany, companies were raided, stock destroyed, and legal entrepreneurs treated like criminals. The result? A half-billion-euro market potential left untapped, while imports from abroad filled the gap. For a country that prides itself on precision and progress, that contradiction has become hard to defend.
WHY INDUSTRIAL HEMP NEEDS ITS OWN LAW
If passed, the Industrial Hemp Law could re-position Germany as a credible player in the global hemp economy.
It would mean:
- Legal clarity for farmers, processors and retailers
- New investment opportunities in a sustainable raw material
- Alignment with EU partners and international trade
- And for consumers: the right to buy CBD oil and CBD flowers safely and transparently without shop owners needing to worry about their products getting confiscicated for now reason at all.
But if lawmakers water it down or tie it to tobacco taxation, Germany risks isolating itself again – politically and economically.
DON´T JUDGE A COVER BY ITS BOOK: CBD IS NOT TOBACCO
Let`s keep it that way: One concern remains: treating CBD as a tobacco-like product. That would mean taxation, packaging rules, and new bureaucratic barriers – precisely what the law is supposed to fix. CBD is not tobacco. It’s not addictive. It’s a non-intoxicating plant extract that belongs in wellness, not in the cigarette aisle. Germany shouldn’t try to tax its way into clarity. It should regulate intelligently – based on science, not stigma.
PRETTY PLEASE : CLARITY OVER CHAOS
Since 2017, Tom Hemp’s has been part of building Europe’s CBD culture – from Kreuzberg to Brussels. We’ve seen how progress fuels innovation, and how hesitation kills it.
Our message is simple:
- Yes to hemp liberalization
- No to tobacco taxation
- Yes to fair competition in Europe
- No to criminalizing compliance
Germany can either lead or lag. The Industrial Hemp Law 2025 is a chance to lead.
THE TIME ALWAYS WAS – BUT IT IS MAINLY NOW
With this bill, Germany stands at a crossroads – between modernizing its hemp industry or watching others overtake it. A 1 % THC limit, the end of the misuse clause, and fair regulation could transform not just one sector, but a whole mindset. Tom Hemp’s will keep pushing, speaking out, and growing – because this isn’t just about policy. It’s about common sense… and about that
CBD WAS OUR FIRST LOVE…. AND IT WILL BE THE LAST.
