Germany: Market and legal data analysis of the cannabis sector

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.
7th November 2024: Germany: Yesterday (6th November), following the dismissal of the finance minister, Christian Lindner of the Free Democratic Party (FDP), by chancellor Olaf Scholz, the chancellor said he would call a confidence motion in his government for January 2025, which could mean that elections – scheduled for October 2025 – are brought forward to March 2025, press reports. Considering the polls indicate a likely change of government, this could mean that the current government may not have enough time to introduce and approve regional model projects with cannabis commercial supply chains, the so-called Pillar 2, as promised in the government's coalition agreement.
4th November 2024: Germany: The cannabis club in Ganderkesee, Lower Saxony, has made its first distribution of recreational cannabis to its members, press reports. Since the regulation of the clubs in July 2024, the club claims to be the first to harvest and distribute a legal cannabis crop. This was confirmed by a spokeswoman for the Federal Drug Commissioner, although the authority has no official information on the harvest situation of the clubs.
31st October 2024: Germany: The city of Hanover, in cooperation with the city of Frankfurt, signed a letter of intent for a pilot project for the controlled sale of cannabis. The project will run for five years and have three sales outlets in the city. Four thousand participants are expected to take part in the study, which will be supervised by the Hanover Medical School. The mayor of Hanover, Belit Onay, from the government coalition party The Greens, said that the project will improve protection of minors and displace the illegal market. According to information from the press, the plan could be applicable immediately after the federal government clarifies the state’s responsibilities. It is expected to start in the first half of 2025.
22nd October 2024: Germany: An amendment to the authorisation requirement for medical cannabis was published in the Federal Gazette. The amendment was previously approved by the German Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) in July and establishes an exception to the requirement that doctors prescribing medical cannabis have insurance approval for initial prescriptions under the statutory health insurance system. Going forward, insurance coverage will not be required for doctors with 16 specialist titles and five additional titles, including palliative medicine and special pain therapy.
15th October 2024: Germany: The first cannabis club in Lower Saxony has harvested its first 200 plants, and in two weeks the dried flowers will be distributed to members, press reports. According to the club’s chairman, every dispensing of a cannabis product will be documented and accompanied by a leaflet indicating the product’s characteristics. A prevention officer will be responsible for providing advice to members and monitoring their consumption. The state of Lower Saxony has so far issued 15 permits for cannabis clubs.
14th October 2024: Germany: According to a survey conducted by the YouGov Institute and published in the newspaper Der Spiegel, 55% of 2,100 respondents think that legalisation was wrong, while 37% think it was right. In addition, one-third of Germans have noticed an increase in cannabis consumption in their surroundings since legalisation.
3rd October 2024: Germany: According to the Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food (BLE), industrial hemp cultivation reached a record high of 7,116 hectares in 2024, an increase of 1,282 ha over the previous year. However, the number of farms fell to 623, meaning there are 40 fewer than in 2023. The largest areas per farm are in Brandenburg (38 ha), Saxony-Anhalt (32 ha) and Thuringia (22 ha).
30th September 2024: Germany: The German Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) has reported an increased number of CBD foods, which are considered novel foods, being notified to the European Rapid Alert System (RASFF). Out of 90 products reported in 2023, 44 were notified by the German authorities. The authorities reported that the products are particularly attractive to children, such as chewing gum, honey and soft drinks.
26th September 2024: Germany: The Federal Cabinet has approved the draft law to liberalise the cultivation and handling of industrial hemp (Industrial Hemp Liberalisation Act, NLG). The bill would allow the indoor cultivation of industrial hemp and remove the “intoxication clause”, which states that the use of industrial hemp for commercial purposes must exclude the abuse of intoxication. The bill will now be sent to the Bundestag (parliament) to begin the legislative process.
25th September 2024: Germany: Bavarian health minister Judith Gerlach of the opposition Christian Social Union is calling on the German government to abandon its plan to create cannabis model regions, the so-called Pillar 2 of the cannabis legalisation plan, press reports. For Gerlach, commercial structures for dealing with cannabis are clearly not compatible with European and international law, and there is a growing realisation in the ranks of the governing Social Democratic Party that the plans are not feasible. She added: “Bavaria is consistently committed to protecting people from the health risks associated with cannabis consumption. We will stay on this course – that is why we are implementing the law as restrictively as possible.”
18th September 2024: Germany: The German Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMEL) has published the draft of a law to liberalise the cultivation and handling of industrial hemp (Industrial Hemp Liberalisation Act, NLG) as well as the comments of various industry associations. The bill would allow the indoor cultivation of industrial hemp and remove the “intoxication clause”, which states that the use of industrial hemp for commercial purposes must exclude the abuse of intoxication. The explanatory note to the bill specifically mentions that the plan is to provide legal certainty and that products intended for intoxication – “so-called edibles” – will not be permitted under the bill. The bill will now be sent to the Bundestag and Bundesrat for further processing.

LATEST ALERTS

Cannabis and cannabinoids in Germany

Brazil becomes top market for Colombia’s cannabis exports amid regulatory shifts

Germany’s cannabis clubs are now allowed to operate, but are they really?

Germany expected to eliminate hemp ‘intoxication clause’ from cannabis law

Germany: medical cannabis snapshot, September 2024

Developments and trends in the global cannabis industry, Q2 2024

Germany: medical cannabis snapshot, July 2023

European recreational cannabis models and commercial opportunities

Germany: medical cannabis snapshot, September 2024

Developments and trends in the global cannabis industry, Q2 2024

Medical cannabis retail price tracker

Medical cannabis database

Germany CBD insights dashboard, 2023

CannIntelligence policy tracker

Regulatory tracker: current global regulation of CBD, October

Medical cannabis database

Sign up to our newsletter

LATEST ALERTS

Cannabis and cannabinoids in Germany

Sign up to our newsletter

Start your FREE trial