The DHV as prompter of hemp

Some talk about the "fifth estate", others call it "political communication", the majority would probably simply talk about "lobbying". But what is it about the prompters of politics and what is the hemp, CBD, Freigeist connection?

Forms of lobbying already existed in the late Middle Ages, but at that time it did not have such a fancy name. The word "lobbyism" comes from, who would have thought it, the English or U.S. language and is based on the custom that "representatives from the church, business and society [in the lobby] waited for the members of parliament to come and talk to them.. This was not about exchanging apple pie recipes or the latest gossip, but about making sure that the interests of the various associations were heard by politicians. It can therefore be said that "lobbying encompasses all activities in which interest groups ("lobbies") attempt to influence politicians in their interests, primarily by cultivating personal contacts."¹ In itself, one could assume a positive basic idea, interest groups with the respective experts, exchange with politicians*innen about their respective area of expertise, in order to be able to advise them all-embracing in their decisions. "In this way, as many perspectives and interests as possible can be taken into account in political decision-making processes."² Now, however, these interest groups have been gaining more and more power, and the whispers have increasingly led to negative headlines, starting with mask deals during the Corona crisis, culminating in the world-famous "Wirecard scandal". And now we draw the bow to hemp. Because under the point "Why do you actually do that?" the "German Hemp Association" answers:

"The political system in Germany is characterized less by direct democracy than by the influence of various lobbyists. The German Hemp Association (DHV) is the logical consequence of this realization. The DHV is the professional lobby of cannabis consumers and legalization advocates."³

So not only powerful automotive groups should have a community of interest, but hemp should too. And this community of interests bundles its expertise under the "German Hemp Association". It represents thousands of private supporting members, among others also "Freigeist" with the aim to stand up for a better cannabis policy. "This kind of professional representation of hemp lovers' interests is unique in Germany," the civil rights movement's website says.⁴ What does the DHV mean by a "better cannabis policy":

In principle, the DHV is in favor of legalizing the "stimulant" cannabis.

This is because, according to the DHV, the ban brings with it a wide range of problems, such as the promotion of "criminal structures" and the infiltration of "large amounts of black money into the legal economy," resulting in immense costs for taxpaying society. 

Along with this, the DHV stands for a "consumer-friendly market regulation", related to the conditions of production and home cultivation, as well as ultimately to the sale within the framework of youth protection requirements. The raw material itself should be promoted and made more accessible for use in a medical context. This effort goes hand in hand with education about the stigmatization of cannabis users. In other words, the DHV wants to counteract the "discrimination and persecution" of users. 

Reading through the DHV's goals, it is clear that this is about quick fixes with an eye toward prioritizing de-discrimination and decriminalization for "a reasonable supply of medical hemp flower to patients."

If you want to know more about the German Hemp Association and even become active yourself, I recommend the following website: 

https://hanfverband.de/themen/aktiv-werden

Note

People under the age of 18 are not allowed to purchase CBD in Germany.

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Sources

1.  https://www.lpb-bw.de/lobbyismus#c67385
2. https://www.lpb-bw.de/lobbyismus#c67385

3. https://hanfverband.de/

4. Ibid.
5. Ibid.