{"id":3795,"date":"2026-10-01T14:58:34","date_gmt":"2026-10-01T12:58:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cansativa.de\/?p=3795"},"modified":"2026-10-01T14:58:34","modified_gmt":"2026-10-01T12:58:34","slug":"health-policy-after-the-summer-recess-new-leadership-and-open-questions-for-medical-cannabis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cansativa.de\/en\/2026\/10\/01\/health-policy-after-the-summer-recess-new-leadership-and-open-questions-for-medical-cannabis\/","title":{"rendered":"Health policy after the summer recess: New leadership and open questions for medical cannabis"},"content":{"rendered":"

New leadership and a demanding agenda<\/strong><\/p>\n

Carsten Linnemann has led the Federal Ministry of Health since 29 July, succeeding Nina Warken. There has also been a change among the Parliamentary State Secretaries, with Christiane Schenderlein taking over from Tino Sorge. (Bundestag, 8.09;<\/a> \u00c4rzteblatt, 27.07)<\/a><\/p>\n

The new team takes office at a time when fundamental questions about how healthcare is funded and organised need to be addressed. Alongside stabilising Germany\u2019s statutory health and long-term care insurance systems, priorities include improving the way care is delivered and using digital tools and less bureaucracy to free up time for patients. The debate over medical cannabis therefore sits within a broader discussion in which costs, access to treatment and efficiency are receiving particular attention. (BMG, 22.09;<\/a> KZV BW, 17.09)<\/a><\/p>\n

Kick-off at the German Pharmacists\u2019 Convention<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of Linnemann\u2019s first major addresses to the healthcare sector came on 15 September at the German Pharmacists\u2019 Convention in Munich. While pharmacy finances and the conditions affecting the supply of medicines were central themes, the minister also addressed medical cannabis directly, calling for tighter rules on prescribing and dispensing. (BMG, 15.09;<\/a> ABDA, 16.09)<\/a><\/p>\n

In his remarks, Linnemann reiterated the CDU\/CSU\u2019s established call for tighter rules, while the SPD continues to oppose the proposed restrictions (PZ, 24.09<\/a>.). The differences between the coalition partners that were already evident during January\u2019s discussions therefore remain unresolved. His speech alone does not mean that the coalition has reached an agreement or that a final parliamentary vote is imminent, as it remains up to the Bundestag to decide whether to pass the bill.<\/p>\n

Changes already in force and the ongoing evaluation<\/strong><\/p>\n

One major change has already taken effect: the GKV Contribution Rate Stabilisation Act has ended statutory health insurance reimbursement for cannabis flower, changing the framework for medical cannabis treatment. (Cannabis Briefing, 27.08<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the evaluation of cannabis legalisation agreed in the coalition agreement remains an important reference point for the wider political debate. The EKOCAN research project, which examines the effects of the Consumer Cannabis Act on public health, the protection of children and young people, and cannabis-related crime, has already published two interim reports, in September 2025 and April 2026. Although these reports provide initial findings, the comprehensive final report is not due until April 2028. It remains to be seen how the federal government will respond to the findings already available and those still to come, and whether it will pursue further changes to the law.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What to watch out for in the coming weeks<\/strong><\/p>\n

For patients, pharmacies and businesses, the priority is that any new rules support reliable access to treatment and work in practice. The coming weeks will show where medical cannabis sits within the broader healthcare reform agenda and which proposals can secure a parliamentary majority.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

From the editorial team:\u00a0<\/span> \u00a0 <\/strong>
\nDo you have any questions, suggestions or ideas for topics for the Cannabis Briefing?
\nIf so, please feel free to email us at\u00a0briefing@cansativa.de<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

This edition was written by:<\/strong>
\nNicole Borges Steeb
\nExternal Affairs Manager
\nCansativa Group<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With the summer recess over, the Bundestag has resumed its work, while new leadership has taken over at the Federal Ministry of Health. Major healthcare reforms are also on the agenda, making this a good moment for the cannabis sector to take stock: what has already been decided, what signals are coming from policymakers, and what remains unresolved?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":1736,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[352],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3795","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-briefing-en"],"yoast_head":"\nHealth policy after the summer recess: New leadership and open questions for medical cannabis - Cansativa Group<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"New leadership at Germany\u2019s Health Ministry, major reforms and proposed changes to medical cannabis rules: where do things stand after the summer recess?\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cansativa.de\/en\/2026\/10\/01\/health-policy-after-the-summer-recess-new-leadership-and-open-questions-for-medical-cannabis\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Health policy after the summer recess: New leadership and open questions for medical cannabis - 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