News: The German Federal Office For Agriculture And Food Has Begun Processing Applications For Cannabis Pilot Projects.

Published 12:00 AM EST, Fri Apr 04, 2025

As the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE) announced upon inquiry, it has begun processing applications for cannabis pilot projects. The responsible department has now been established. A total of 26 applications have been received by the BLE since the Consumer Cannabis Science Competence Ordinance (KCanWV) came into force, the first on December 16, 2024.

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The Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE) in Germany has officially begun reviewing applications for cannabis pilot projects under the new Consumer Cannabis Science Competence Ordinance (KCanWV). Since the ordinance came into effect, the BLE has received 26 applications, with the first submitted on December 16, 2024. A dedicated department for handling these submissions has now been established to manage the complex and detailed nature of the applications.

Despite the legal requirement to process applications within three months, the BLE has indicated it will not meet this deadline for at least the initial applications. The agency cites the complexity and length of the submissions—some extending to hundreds of pages—as a reason for potential delays. Additional documentation may also be required from applicants. While legal recourse exists for applicants through a lawsuit for failure to act, such actions are seen as ineffective due to the notoriously slow pace of administrative courts.

Lawyer Kai-Friedrich Niermann, a seasoned expert in cannabis regulation, noted that while legal action is theoretically an option, in practice, it functions more as a symbolic or marketing gesture rather than an effective means of redress. The BLE, although under a new political leadership not affiliated with the Greens, is considered an apolitical authority by industry stakeholders like Finn Age Hänsel of Sanity Group, and is expected to continue processing applications regardless of political shifts.

This development marks a crucial step in Germany's evolving cannabis regulatory landscape. The activation of pilot project application processing under the KCanWV signals the government's willingness to implement scientific, controlled pathways for cannabis distribution and research. However, the administrative delays and legal uncertainties reflect the tension between regulatory ambition and bureaucratic capacity. For cannabis companies and investors, this is both a moment of opportunity and caution—while regulatory doors are opening, navigating them will require patience, legal strategy, and sustained engagement with German institutions. The BLE’s perceived neutrality offers hope for continuity and fairness, but the timeline for tangible project approvals remains uncertain.

Source: Krautinvest