Frankfurt and Hanover aim to be the first German cities to legally sell cannabis for adult use

Pilot projects for the legal sale of cannabis arrive in Germany.

Both cities plan to open stores where participants can legally purchase cannabis products under regulated conditions, creating what could become a model for national cannabis reform in Germany.

The pioneering Hanover project

The model project from Hanover, headed by the mayor Belit Onay of the Green Party, could start as early as 2025. The five-year project will enable participants to purchase cannabis products in a maximum of three authorized sales outlets. The project, which will be open to approximately 4,000 Hanover residents aged 18 and over, aims to assess the social, health and economic effects of legalizing cannabis sales.

Participants in Hanover will register online or at designated stores and receive a pseudonymized ID card enabling them to purchase legal quantities of cannabis.

The research, conducted by’Hanover Medical School (MHH), will monitor participants« behavior and health outcomes throughout the project. As the city's mayor explains, this approach takes into account the reality of increasing cannabis consumption across different age groups, and recognizes that prohibition policies are no longer effective: »The number of people consuming cannabis across all age groups in Germany is steadily increasing".

By closely monitoring legal consumption, Hanover seeks to mitigate problems such as’increased THC levels and the contaminants in cannabis sold on the black market, both of which are becoming major public health risks.

The Frankfurt model project

Likewise, Frankfurt will embark on a five-year study under which adults will be able to legally purchase cannabis in four approved stores. The initiative, coordinated by Elke Voitl and Artur Schroers the city's drug and health departments, aims to combat the health risks associated with the illegal cannabis market.

Sanity Group GmbH, a pharmaceutical company with an established Experience of regulated cannabis distribution in Switzerland, will oversee the implementation of the project in collaboration with the’Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences.

One of the main objectives of the Frankfurt project is to reduce illegal cannabis sales and to provide safer, tested products. According to Voitl, contaminated cannabis products pose significant health risks, with studies indicating that up to 70% of samples contain harmful impurities. The model project aims to mitigate these risks by offering clean, regulated cannabis in a controlled environment where age verification and health checks are mandatory.

Participants in Frankfurt will undergo regular health checks, and certain groups, such as pregnant women and people with mental health problems, will be excluded in order to safeguard their well-being.

This medically supervised model is designed not only to reduce demand on the black market, We also provide early support for people showing signs of problematic consumption.

Expected results and future implications

Hanover and Frankfurt have high expectations of their model projects. These regulated systems should make it possible to influence crime rates associated with the illegal sale of drugs, reduce the health risks associated with contaminated products and improve the youth protection.

Unlike illicit sellers, who don't apply age restrictions, these pilot stores will strictly adhere to German age laws, creating a safer environment for consumers and communities alike.

The participation of Sanity Group will enable collaboration between public institutions and private companies to study the possibility of effective cannabis regulation. The findings of these studies could guide future national policies, potentially expanding regulated access to cannabis throughout Germany and creating a comprehensive framework for the cannabis legalization.