A Press release published on
September 6th by Tilray Brands, titled “Tilray Initiates Roundtable With German Regulators to Kick-Off Draft Legislation to Legalize Adult-Use Cannabis in Germany” has been denied by German regulators and lawmakers, MJBizDaily reported. What for Tilray would be a preparatory phase of discussion for the upcoming legislative phase of adult cannabis use legalization, for German regulators was, after all, a "one-time conversation".
According to a spokesperson of Burkhard Blienert (the drug commissioner at the Federal Ministry of Health), to MJBizDaily, “the content of the press release is not correct. We are not downplaying the meeting, because there is no cooperation and there will be none either with Tilray. On no level to be clear.”
The case refers to a release of Tilray Brands, which turned out to be denied in MJBizDaily news and by the spokespersons of the deputies allegedly involved, one of whom stated that she was not even present at the conversation.
Tilray said it had started a policy roundtable with regulators on legalizing cannabis for adult use in Germany. “German Drug Commissioner Burkhard Blienert presented the plan for the legalization of cannabis for adult use and repeated the German government's announcement that a first draft of the project would be presented in the coming months. With this event, Tilray reaffirms its leading role as a trusted partner for government regulators and contributes to Germany's legalization efforts.” However, German regulators deny Tilray's press release.
Government denies cooperation with companies
The statement also mentioned that Burkhard Blienert, drug commissioner of the Federal Ministry of Health, Kristine Lütke, member of the Bundestag and spokesperson for drug policy, Carlos Kasper, member of the Bundestag and the Finance Committee, and Martina Stamm were at the meeting. -Fibich, member of the Bundestag and the Health Committee.
However, and according to information published by MJBizDaily, who questioned the respective regulators about this meeting, this is not what happened. New statements by spokespersons for the meeting participants said that this was an isolated conversation, not being part of the preparatory phase of legalization, and the German government spokesman refuted that any plan had been presented. In the conversation, “only the schedule was outlined, which has already been published several times” by the German government.
Kristine Lütke's chief of staff said the deputy did not participate in the conversation.
“We would like to inform you that there has not been a roundtable with Tilray and the Federal Government Commissioner for Addiction and Drug Issues,” a spokesman for Burkhard Blienert told MJBizDaily. “The content of the press release is not correct. We are not downplaying the meeting, because there is no cooperation and there will be none either with Tilray. On no level to be clear.”