The German Hemp Association published a new template letter on April 30, 2026, enabling first-time cannabis offenders in traffic to avert a threatened Medical-Psychological Examination (MPU).
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The background is a growing gap between the changed legal situation since the Cannabis Act and previous administrative practice. Many licensing authorities continue to order an MPU according to the old, stricter standards, even though the amended Driving License Regulation no longer covers this in many cases.
What the new legal situation actually requires since the Cannabis Act
With the entry into force of the Consumption Cannabis Act, the Driving License Regulation was aligned with the provisions for alcohol. Since then, an MPU may only be ordered for first-time offenders if special additional circumstances exist. These include, for example, an extremely high THC value, mixed consumption with alcohol, or signs of addiction. Mere consumption, even in connection with a single violation below the corresponding threshold, is no longer sufficient for an assessment order. This change applies retroactively, so ongoing proceedings must also be reassessed.
In practice, however, those affected repeatedly find that authorities continue the old approach. Instead of adhering to the amended regulations, some licensing authorities continue to send MPU requests or order the withdrawal of driving privileges. Those unfamiliar with the changed legal situation often accept such notices without objection, even though they are legally challengeable. This is exactly where the DHV’s new template letter comes in. More background on the development of traffic regulations is provided in our article on the new THC limit in road traffic 2026.
How the new template letter works
The template letter was developed in collaboration with traffic law attorney Maximilian Eisenmann and is freely accessible on the German Hemp Association’s website. It is specifically aimed at cannabis consumers who have drawn attention for the first time and have either just received an MPU order or have already had their driving privileges withdrawn. The template consists of several modules that can be customized individually.
The first module is a detailed preliminary check for a realistic assessment of one’s own situation. Based on the recorded THC value, the THC carboxylic acid value, and the circumstances of the police stop, the affected person first checks whether the first-time offense falls under the new legal situation at all. Additionally, the platform provides overviews of the relevant values and current administrative practices. Only then follow the actual text modules—one as an application for reinstatement of already-withdrawn driving privileges, and another as an objection to an ongoing MPU order.
What the letter can and cannot accomplish
The DHV makes it clear that the template letter represents a first attempt without professional assistance. It is not a substitute for legal representation and cannot replace an individual assessment of a specific case. However, it addresses authorities in language they understand and cites the relevant paragraphs of the Driving License Regulation as well as the associated case law. Those who want to be on the safe side should engage a specialized traffic law attorney at the latest if the authorities reject the letter.
The case of Dominik B. shows that the strategy works
Just one week earlier, the DHV demonstrated that the legal argument actually works with a success before the Herford licensing authority. In the case of cannabis patient Dominik B., the driving privilege withdrawal proceedings were completely discontinued after a legal letter referencing the new legal situation was submitted. The DHV describes the case as a blueprint: once authorities are confronted with the changed regulations, the demand for an MPU or assessment often disappears in many cases.
This practice stands in sharp contrast to the position of certain administrative courts of appeal. In mid-April, the Münster Administrative Court of Appeal withdrew a cannabis patient’s driving privileges. We have comprehensively analyzed this decision in our article on the OVG NRW decision. The discrepancy shows how differently the legal assessment currently varies in the federal system.
Why the template letter is important for the entire industry
The Police Crime Statistics 2025 confirmed just days ago the significant decline in cannabis proceedings; more details can be found in our analysis of two years of Cannabis Act. For authorities, this also means that the number of relevant traffic proceedings decreases overall. This makes it even more concerning when individual licensing authorities continue to work by pre-CanG standards. The template letter gives consumers a low-threshold tool and increases pressure on the administration to finally align its practice with the current regulation.
For the DHV, the template is part of a broader driving license campaign through which the association has pointed out structural problems in traffic law for years. The political objective is clear: cannabis consumption in road traffic should be treated by the same standards as alcohol—based on effect and hazard rather than blanket suspicion. Until this principle is uniformly implemented in administrative practice, the template letter remains the fastest path back to a driving license for many first-time offenders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can use the DHV template letter?
The template is intended for cannabis consumers who have drawn traffic attention for the first time and have either just received an MPU order or have already had their driving privileges withdrawn. Repeat offenders, persons with mixed consumption, or those showing signs of addiction cannot use the letter without further consideration, as their legal situation is different.
Is the template letter sufficient or do I need a lawyer?
The DHV explicitly describes the letter as a first attempt without professional assistance. In clear-cut cases, it may be sufficient to avert an MPU order. As soon as the authority rejects it, imposes additional requirements, or an administrative court proceeding threatens, engaging a specialized traffic law attorney is strongly recommended.
What legal arguments does the template provide?
The centerpiece is the argument that the amended Driving License Regulation permits an MPU for first-time offenders only when special additional circumstances are present. The letter references the relevant paragraphs, associated case law, and the alignment with alcohol rules in road traffic.
Does the new legal situation also apply to proceedings that began before the Cannabis Act?
Yes. The changes in the Driving License Regulation also apply retroactively. Those who received a notice under the old legal situation can now apply for reinstatement of driving privileges under the new requirements, provided no special additional circumstances exist.
Where can I find the template letter?
The German Hemp Association provides the template, along with the preliminary check and explanations of THC values and administrative practices, free of charge on its website. The modules can be copied, adapted to one’s own case, and sent directly to the responsible licensing authority.
Sources: German Hemp Association, notice of April 30, 2026 regarding the template letter for first-time offenders; German Hemp Association, notice of April 23, 2026 regarding the success in the driving license case of Dominik B.; Driving License Regulation as amended following the entry into force of the Consumption Cannabis Act.
Further articles on this topic
- All-clear in the Lancet: hemp legalization does not make road traffic more dangerous according to UKE data
- PKS 2025: cannabis offenses drop by nearly 30 percent
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