Germany's first medical cannabis flowers arrive in pharmacies

Starting today, medically prescribed cannabis grown in Germany will be sold in pharmacies, marking the beginning of a regulatory process that began in 2017 when the The Bundestag has legalized medical cannabis. Until now, the 9 tons of medical cannabis consumed last year—a 371% increase from the previous year—were imported.

The first shipments of medical cannabis come from Aphria and Tilray and, according to various sources, are derived from the Bienville cultivar, known to Canadians as Jean Guy, one of the phenotypes of the well-known White Widow. The flowers contain 22.31% THC and will be distributed to patients in 50-gram packages.

«Our harvest in Germany represents a significant step toward providing patients and healthcare professionals in Germany with access to high-quality, trustworthy medical cannabis,» said Denise Faltischek, Tilray’s Head of Global Operations and Chief Strategy Officer. «It is a testament to the professionalism and dedication of our team that, despite the challenges of a global pandemic, we have remained on track as the first producer authorized to grow medical cannabis in Germany.«.

Cansativa GmbH will be responsible for sales of this variety. It is the only company authorized by the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) to wholesale cannabis flowers produced in Germany. since the licenses were issued last August.

In its 2018 call for bids, Bfarm had calculated 2.6 tons per year for cultivation in Germany. The tender for cannabis cultivation in Germany covers a four-year period with a total of 10.4 tons, which will not be enough to meet domestic demand. And even though the tender provided for the possibility of increasing domestic production by 50%, imports will therefore continue to supply part of the German market. However, they may face an additional challenge: their price.

German cannabis flowers will indeed be sold for €4.30 at Bfarm, about half the usual price of imported cannabis, which ranges from €8 to €9, before being resold to wholesalers or pharmacies, and then to patients. Patients who pay for their prescribed flowers out of pocket will likely be able to obtain cannabis flowers at a lower price in the future if they opt for a German product. Imported cannabis could therefore be forced to lower its prices under pressure from the price of domestic cannabis.

Of the approximately 19,000 pharmacies in Germany, about 2,000 to 2,500 offer medical cannabis. As for patients, Germany had about 1,000 people who were receiving cannabis under a special permit prior to 2017. There are now more than 90,000.