US Gains Momentum; Germany Cautious Towards Cannabis
On our latest Trade to Black, we take a closer look at two policy stories developing in the US and Europe and what they could signal for the industry moving forward. Shadd Dales and Anthony Varrell sit down with Gretchen Gailey to unpack her week of meetings with senior US government officials on cannabis reform. Then we turn to Germany, where Franziska (Franzi) Katterbach, Partner at Oppenhoff & Partner and a leading voice on life sciences and healthcare law, unpacks a cautious new draft cannabis law.
Over the weekend, Gailey met with representatives from the White House, Treasury, Commerce, Energy, Agriculture, HUD, and the Pardon Attorney’s Office, with a clear focus on rescheduling cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III. She was also with Ricky Williams and the Highsman team during last weekend’s White House visit, where cannabis reform was a key topic of discussion.
According to Gailey, the current administration appears to be showing unprecedented openness to reform. Discussions centered on the economic potential of rescheduling, including job creation, the removal of 280E tax burdens, and expanded medical research. The meetings also touched on curbing the illicit market and addressing cartel-related money laundering. Gailey noted that minority communities and veterans were prominently represented in the dialogue, with participants from the Black Conservative Federation and Village Farms offering input.
While optimism was high, she acknowledged a need for further education across federal agencies and emphasized that no definitive timeline has been given. However, she believes that fall legislative action, including SAFE Banking and States Reform Act 2.0, could follow rescheduling. She also stressed that Republicans may seek to shape the cannabis narrative ahead of the midterms.
Turning to Europe, Franzi Katterbach, a leading cannabis attorney in Germany, joined the show to discuss a cautious new proposed medical cannabis law. The proposal, stemming from Health Minister Manuela Schwesig’s department, seeks to reintroduce stricter controls on telemedicine prescriptions after a reported 170% increase in cannabis imports, contrasted with only a 9% increase in reimbursed medical dispensations.
Katterbach clarified that this is not a rollback but an early-stage draft aimed at enhancing oversight and transparency. Industry players are now expected to provide data and participate in the legislative process, which could take up to 12 months. She emphasized that well-run businesses with strong compliance should see this as an opportunity to solidify Germany as a global model for cannabis reform.
