German patients prefer medical cannabis with a high THC content

The German medical cannabis market continues to grow at a steady pace, with an increasing number of products, falling prices, and rising demand for cannabis flowers with high THC content.

A new study, published in the’International Journal of Drug Policy, suggests that THC content and price have become the two main drivers of demand in what has quickly become the Europe's largest medical cannabis market, since the German Cannabis Act (CanG) took effect in April 2024.

At the same time, the growing popularity of powerful, low-cost products raises questions about future trends in prescribing.

Flowers with high THC content are in high demand

German and Danish researchers analyzed nearly 1,000 different products made from medical cannabis flowers sold by a German online pharmacy between December 2024 and November 2025. During this period, they recorded a cumulative demand equivalent to 1.58 metric tons of cannabis flowers.

The study found that products containing between 20 and 30% of THC represented more than two-thirds of total demand, making this concentration range by far the most popular among German patients. Interest in even more potent flowers also grew during the second half of 2025, with products containing THC between 30 % and 39.5 % which has experienced significant growth.

On the other hand, flowers containing less than 15% of THC accounted for less than 3% of total demand. Products combining low THC levels with higher CBD concentrations were not only less common but were also among the least sought-after options.

According to researchers:

«Products containing between 20 and 29.9 % of THC accounted for more than two-thirds of total demand. The quantities demanded increased with each additional percentage point of THC (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.08 to 1.17) and decreased with each euro increase in price (IRR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.55 to 0.63; R² = 0.38). The price changed at least once for about one in two products, with price decreases being associated with increases in demand.»

Falling prices are fueling market growth

The rapid expansion of the German medical cannabis market has also been accompanied by a sharp drop in prices. During the period under review, the median price of medical cannabis flowers has gone from €8.64 per gram to €5.95 per gram, representing a decrease of approximately 31%. The cost per 10 mg of THC has fallen even more rapidly, decreasing by approximately 36%.

The researchers observed that:

«The average prices per gram of cannabis flowers have fallen by about one-third, while slightly steeper declines were observed in the unit price per 10 mg of THC. This trend primarily applies to products containing at least 15 % of THC, while products with low THC content but high CBD content were difficult to find and in the least demand. High-demand products—that is, those that are low-priced and high in THC—were often out of stock and quickly restocked.»

These results can be attributed in particular to the fact that competition among suppliers has intensified since the Implementation of the CanG, as pharmacies regularly adjust their prices to remain competitive while maintaining their inventory of the most popular products.

Digital prescribing continues to reshape the market

Separate data released by the German medical cannabis company Bloomwell point to an even sharper drop in prices at the beginning of 2026. According to a survey of 3,528 patients, the average price paid for medical cannabis flowers legal expenses reached €4.52 per gram in March 2026, compared to 5,23 € just three months earlier.

The company also reports a dramatic increase in the volume of prescriptions.

«At the same time, the amount of medical cannabis flowers prescribed has increased by more than 4,500 % compared to March 2024.»

According to Niklas Kouparanis, co-founder and CEO of Bloomwell, the combination of lower prices and digital prescribing helps patients steer clear of the illicit market.

«Given the one million patients who use cannabis in Germany, the 200 metric tons of cannabis imported in 2025, and the steadily rising number of prescriptions, no one can seriously dispute the number of patients who have now successfully transitioned from illegal self-medication to legal, physician-supervised care. Low prices have played a major role in making medical cannabis accessible to many segments of the population. Digital therapy is therefore the real driver of the shift toward legal sources of supply and the most effective policy tool for combating the illegal market.»

Questions remain regarding THC labeling

Whereas cannabis with a high THC content While demand continues to be driven by this factor, some researchers note that the stated potency does not always reflect the actual cannabinoid content.

Programs for recent tests conducted in Canada, which is currently the largest exporter of medical marijuana in Germany have revealed that many products contain lower levels of THC than those listed on their labels. Similar findings have also been reported in the United States, which has led some industry stakeholders to recommend that THC be listed as a range rather than a single value.

Although the’German study Although the study relied on data from a single online pharmacy and may not reflect the entire market, its findings are consistent with broader trends in the German cannabis market: a wider selection, lower prices, and growing demand for high-potency medical cannabis flowers.