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Germany’s snap elections on February 23, 2025, have the cannabis industry watching closely. A conservative government will likely emerge, but a key question remains: will it include the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD)? The collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s traffic-light coalition triggered this pivotal election. Polls show the Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) leading with 29.1%, followed by the AfD at 21.2%.
The CDU/CSU has pledged to repeal Germany’s quasi-legalization law passed in 2024. Friedrich Merz, CDU leader and likely Germany’s next chancellor, has ruled out partnerships with the AfD or liberal parties. However, he remains open to coalitions with center-left parties like the SPD (15.5%) and Greens (13.2%). Without a majority, coalition-building will be essential to form a government. It will likely take weeks for a functioning government to emerge after Sunday’s election.
If Merz partners with center-left parties, repealing German cannabis laws would be difficult. Convincing these former traffic-light coalition members to reverse their stance on legalization seems unlikely. In this scenario, pilot programs for cannabis commerce might halt, but full repeal appears improbable. Existing laws allowing personal possession, cultivation, and medical expansion would likely remain intact.
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