Cannabis Week in Europe: Mary Jane x Cannabis Europa recap’

As cannabis reform gathers pace in Europe, two major cities.., Berlin and London, have taken centre stage over the past two weeks, each hosting events that reflected both the culture and the political dynamics that underpin the’european cannabis industry.

From mass participation to Mary Jane Berlin 2025 the sober, strategic tone of Cannabis Europa in London, This week's event highlighted the changing European landscape, where the legalization, themedical access and thecannabis market integration are now central themes.

Mary Jane Berlin 2025: full-scale cannabis cultivation

With a record number of 65,000 participants, Mary Jane Berlin has established itself as the world's largest cannabis trade fair. Held over four days at Messe Berlin, the festival brought together over 500 exhibitors and 5,000 professionals, with special guests such as Mike Tyson and German animator Stefan Raab, who was honored for his role in normalizing cannabis through music.

The festival's co-founder, Nhung Nguyen, summed up the importance of the event: «Mary Jane has become the most important event on the global cannabis calendar, and Berlin is now the place to be on the cannabis scene.»

Unlike many salons, Mary Jane has managed to strike a balance between celebration and education. The event welcomed 90 participants which covered topics as varied as therapeutic innovations and regulatory changes.

The organizers also banned alcohol and enforced a «Cannabis First» policy that emphasized responsible consumption, an increasingly relevant theme in maturing European markets.

A platform for innovation and political messages

The partial legalization of recreational cannabis for adults in Germany, effective April 2024, was the backdrop to the optimism of the event. Exhibitors showcased medical and wellness products that fit into Germany's patient-centric framework. But the event also conveyed a message: cannabis reform remains a political issue.

The absence of the Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder, who declined the invitation, didn't go unnoticed.

«Seeing how our guests from all over the world celebrated together in a relaxed and joyful atmosphere is the best proof that legalization was the right decision,» said Nguyen.

As Mary Jane closed its doors with 2026 already in mind (set for June 11-14), the event reaffirmed Berlin's position as the cultural and commercial center of cannabis, not only in Europe, but worldwide.

Cannabis Europa 2025: politics, patients and the future of regulation

A few days later, hundreds of kilometers away, Cannabis Europa 2025 brought together over 1,500 industry leaders at London's Barbican Centre for the final act of the European Cannabis Week. While Mary Jane celebrated the evolution of the scene, Cannabis Europa took a more strategic approach, addressing regulation, patient access and long-term scalability.

«This year is a little bit different,» said Stephen Murphy, CEO of Prohibition Partners. Referring to the recent death of activist Hannah Deacon, Murphy reminded attendees that progress on cannabis reform has come from those who refuse to accept the status quo. «None of us are here out of passivity; we're all here to make things happen.»

From fragmentation to a unified market

PHCann International CEO Sasha Stefanski's keynote address highlighted a major challenge: Europe's cannabis sector is growing, but unevenly. He called for « harmonized European regulatory framework, stable and scalable», arguing that «the days of hype and exaggerated promises are over».

According to Stefanski, cannabis has gone from a cause to a mainstream reality, a sentiment echoed in almost every session. However, there is still an urgent need to build public confidence, ensure product consistency and clarify regulations.

One of the most captivating sessions, entitled «The End of the Line», looked at how overburdened healthcare systems, particularly the UK NHS, are pushing patients to the medical marijuana. Testimonials from advocates such as Julie Durrans, who used to take 30 medicines a day and now uses cannabis to treat a range of conditions, illustrated the practical issues involved in late access to this treatment.

«The public is unaware of the existence of legal options and there is no government agency dedicated to cannabis in the UK,» said the Dr Sunny Nayee of Integro Clinics. He pointed to the glaring lack of education about endocannabinoids among GPs and the regulatory inertia that prevents wider acceptance.

Switzerland and France: cautious but crucial experiments

Further on, discussions focused on Swiss pilot programs for adult recreational use, the most advanced in Europe. With more than 2,500 participants, theZuri can study generates promising data on the safety and mental health effects of legal cannabis use. The Swiss model focuses on transparency and traceability, This has earned him rare public support from the forces of law and order. A complete federal legalization bill is scheduled for late summer 2025.

Meanwhile, the France goes its own way, slow, pharmaceutical and complex. As explained by Marie Sanchez (NOOA Avocats), cannabis is either treated as a medicine or not at all. The medical cannabis experiment, completed at the end of 2024 but extended until 2026, could either establish a strictly regulated model, or see access disappear if evaluation criteria are not met.

According to Hugues Peribere (Overseed), the French model is one of «survival of the fittest»: costly, administratively cumbersome, but likely to shape European policy as a whole if it succeeds. Pressure is mounting, with patient demand so far the only political driver.

Legacy, infrastructure and future of medical cannabis in Europe

The second day of Cannabis Europa 2025 opened on a solemn but powerful note, as the industry paused to pay tribute to Hannah Deacon, a tireless campaigner whose work has redefined the landscape of medical cannabis in the UK. In moving tributes, Matt Hughes and the Professor Mike Barnes have captured his enduring legacy.

«While his presence is deeply missed,» said Hughes, "his legacy continues to thrive in every corner of this sector."

Mr. Barnes added: «She was truly remarkable... The industry as it exists today would not exist without Hannah.»

In the wake of Ms. Deacon's impact, the day quickly turned to rigorous analysis and forward-looking discussion, ranging from market dynamics to infrastructure challenges and product innovation.

The United Kingdom: a discreet power in the field of medical cannabis

Analysts at Prohibition Partners and Whitney Economics have unveiled a new white paper charting the rapid expansion of the UK medical cannabis market. In just over two years, prescriptions have quintupled, making the United Kingdom the world's leading prescriber. the world's fourth-largest market, behind Germany, Canada and Israel.

«The UK still lacks widespread integration,» said Beau Whitney, But its regulatory framework and the diversity of its products position it for long-term growth.

Key figures show that over 400 product references are now available to patients, imported mainly from Portugal, Canada and Australia, at an average price of 8.30 € per gram. However, obstacles remain: patients pay entirely out of pocket, access to prescribers is limited and bureaucratic hurdles to obtaining import licenses persist.

Preparing for 5 million patients

A panel on system capacity asked a bold question: is Europe ready for 5 million medical cannabis patients? The consensus was clear: political reform is not enough.

The experts emphasized the the need to train clinicians at endocannabinoid system, which remains largely absent from European medical education. The digital prescription, which has proved its worth in Australia, was cited as a scalable solution for improving access, but the risks of excessive saturation are obvious: the Australian market, with over 2,000 references, has overwhelmed prescribers and patients alike.

«Infrastructure will make or break this industry,» remarked one speaker. «Without them, even the best policy will fail.»

Stigmatization also remains a major obstacle. From the discrimination in healthcare facilities to the threat of traffic controls, However, patients continue to face barriers that go well beyond cost and access.

Cannabis-based innovations: the rise of low-dose formats

Consumer tastes are evolving, and the cannabis industry is listening. A session on’product innovation revealed a trend towards low-dose lifestyle formats, such as beverages and edible products.

Jake Bullock, co-founder of Cann, indicated that the low-THC beverages outsell alcohol in certain American markets, offering a predictable «hangover-free» social alternative.

In the UK, Eoin Keenan, CEO of Goodrays, has reported that soft drinks with CBD sold better than Coca-Cola in some stores, demonstrating the growing popularity of cannabis-based functional drinks.

London and Berlin: two sides of the European cannabis coin

Whereas Mary Jane Berlin symbolized cultural normalization, Cannabis Europa focused on’institutional integration. Together, these two events revealed the multifaceted nature of the European cannabis dynamic, both a celebration and a struggle for legitimacy.

Berlin proved that the public was ready. Tens of thousands of people gathered in post-legalization Germany to consume cannabis openly, respectfully and enthusiastically. London, on the other hand, highlighted the gap between policy and practice, This is particularly true in the UK, where outdated frameworks and stigma continue to block access despite legislative progress.

As Europe moves towards regulatory convergence, the call is clear: this movement must be science-based, patient-driven and unified by policy coherence. And as these two events have shown, whether through a Ferris wheel or a forum, the way forward for European cannabis is not just being debated, it's being built.