Market & legal data analysis of the cannabis sector in Europe

20th November 2024: Germany: The Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) has published the amount of imported medical cannabis for the third quarter of 2024, with a 72.9% increase from the second quarter of 2024. Germany imported 20,119 kg of cannabis in the third quarter, according to the BfArM. For comparison, it imported 11,634 kg in the second quarter of 2024 and 32,072 kg in all of 2023. The increase in imports is likely due to an increase in demand after key regulatory reforms took effect in April, which simplified the prescription process.
19th November 2024: Denmark: The Danish government has announced plans to make the country's medical cannabis scheme permanent, following a positive evaluation of its trial programme introduced in 2018. The initiative aims to ensure continued access to legally prescribed medical cannabis for patients with severe conditions, such as cancer and multiple sclerosis. Health minister Sophie Løhde emphasised the importance of maintaining a legal framework to support patients benefiting from these treatments. Today, she invited political parties to engage in discussions on formalising the programme’s legalisation.
19th November 2024: Luxembourg: Medical cannabis patients can no longer be prescribed high-THC cannabis flower, starting 1st January 2025, press reports. The prescription of any cannabis flower – regardless of THC concentration – would eventually be prohibited, though the details of when low-THC flower would be phased out and what the THC threshold will be are not yet clear. Eventually, patients will only have access to cannabis preparations, though home cultivation of up to four cannabis plants for personal use is also allowed.
18th November 2024: Moldova: The federal government has passed an amendment to the regulation on the cultivation of plants containing narcotic or psychotropic substances, allowing cultivation of hemp varieties registered in the catalogue of plant varieties of Moldova. The amendment has changed the definition of hemp, so industrial varieties are distinguished from others and allows the growing of the former for industrial and horticultural purposes. While production of hemp seed, fibre and oil will be allowed, flower will remain restricted.
18th November 2024: Germany: A debate on the legalisation of cannabis took place last Friday (15th November) in the Bundestag, with the country's political parties taking their positions months ahead of the February 2025 snap election. Silke Launert of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU)/Christian Social Union of Bavaria (CSU) group, which is expected to form a governing coalition after the February election, argued that recent cannabis reforms have propped up criminal organisations. Meanwhile, federal health minister Karl Lauterbach from the Social Democrats (SDP) contended that criminal organisations are a result of the previous prohibitionist policy and that politicians blocking the cannabis law in some states are not contributing to a solution. Members of the other political parties constituting the current “traffic light coalition” – the Greens and the Free Democratic Party (FDP) – expressed their continued support for cannabis legalisation.
15th November 2024: Ireland: One of the current ruling parties, the Fianna Fail party, has expressed its support for the decriminalisation of drugs for personal use in the party’s political manifesto for the general elections to be held on 29th November 2024. According to polls, Fianna Fail is the second most supported party – preceded by its current partner in government, Fine Gael. This makes it likely for both parties to form a coalition after the elections. However, Fine Gael’s position is not as positive towards decriminalisation. Simon Harris, Fine Gael's president and Ireland’s prime minister, has said, in response to the Fianna Fail manifesto proposal, that he disagreed with a move to decriminalise casual drug-taking.
14th November 2024: Lithuania: In Lithuania, the Cannabis Hub.LT 2024 conference exhibition gathered fibre hemp growers, processors and scientists from Lithuania and beyond, media reports. Among other discussions was a proposal to launch the Hemp for Victory 2.0 international initiative, which aims to ease EU administrative restrictions on the fibre hemp business and support its development in Ukraine. Hana Gabrielová from the European Industrial Hemp Association emphasised the need for regulatory changes to address the challenges of growing fibre hemp and combat its stigma.
14th November 2024: Czech Republic: As announced by minister of justice Pavel Blažek, the government has approved a significant criminal law reform, media reports. Key changes include a partial relaxation of cannabis cultivation and possession laws. The proposed changes include allowing the cultivation of up to three cannabis plants, with the boundary between a misdemeanour and a criminal offence set at five plants. It would also be legal to store up to 25 g of dry cannabis at home and 50 g outside the home. The proposal also includes changes in penalties for drug offences. The opposition Pirates party, which was part of the government coalition until recently, has criticised the proposal, arguing it lacks provisions for harvesting, given that three plants can yield up to 300 g. The Pirates intend to propose in the House of Representatives increasing the legal possession limit to 900 g.
13th November 2024: Poland: Members from the Polish Parliamentary Committee on Petitions have requested, through a motion, that the prime minister decriminalise cannabis, press reports. The motion proposes allowing possession of up to 15 g of cannabis and cultivation of up to one plant for personal use. The prime minister, Donald Tusk, now has 30 days to provide a written response and explain whether he will take action and introduce a bill or reject the motion. The Committee members hope that this motion will bring back debate around the decriminalisation of cannabis for recreational purposes. Aside from this proposal, the Parliamentary Team for the Decriminalisation of Cannabis has been formed in the Sejm (lower chamber of parliament) by several members of Parliament (MPs) from the current coalition government.
13th November 2024: Belgium: The Federal Public Service for Health, Food Chain Safety, and the Environment has updated its positive list of notified herbal products for smoking, which includes hemp flowers and other smokable cannabinoid products. Products not on the list may not be placed on the Belgian market without notification.
13th November 2024: Portugal: The National Authority for Medicines and Health Products (Infarmed) has withdrawn several CBD products by the brand Drasanvi from the market. According to the authority, cosmetic products cannot contain substances or preparations derived from cannabis plants – such as cannabis resin, extracts, leaves and flowers – regardless of their THC content. The only exception is substances obtained from the seeds with 0.2% or less THC.
12th November 2024: Germany: Last week, the Bundestag’s Committee on Agricultural Policy and Consumer Protection, Committee on Internal Affairs, Legal Affairs Committee, and Finance Committee published their recommendations on the Industrial Hemp Liberalisation Act. Although the bill does not address recreational cannabis, the committees recommended neutral packaging for all cannabis products (such as seeds) and reduction on the quantity given to members of cultivation associations, among other measures. Regarding industrial hemp, they recommended the retention of the “intoxication clause” and consideration of the alleged potential for abuse in the trade in industrial hemp. The plenary of the Bundesrat will vote on the proposal on 22nd November, although the bill does not require Bundesrat approval.

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