Legalization of cannabis in Germany: one year on

Since April 1, 2024, German adults have been able to grow, possess, and consume a personal amount of cannabis. While the nationwide legalization of adult use in Germany was not the first public policy change of its kind implemented in Europe, it is undoubtedly the most significant legalization measure adopted in Europe.

One year later, legalization in Germany has proven to be a success in many respects. To be fair, the full implementation of the CanG has encountered obstacles in certain areas, including the current lack of regional pilot programs for adult-oriented cannabis sales. However, the German Federal Office for Agriculture and Food would have has begun processing requests for pilot trials, so the long-awaited launch of the trials appears to be imminent.

One of the main achievements of the new cannabis law is the reduction in the burden on the country's criminal justice system. An example of this can be found in North Rhine-Westphalia, where the number of cannabis-related offenses fell by more than half (53%) in 2024 compared to the previous year. Legalization has allowed German law enforcement to focus on fighting actual crime and frees up the country’s courts to handle more important matters.

The Institute for Competition Economics at Heinrich Heine University in Düsseldorf previously conducted a analysis which revealed that legalizing adult use could save the German police and judicial system up to 1.3 billion euros per year.

Germany's medical cannabis program turned out to be the biggest winner under the new CanG law. Part of the CanG law involved the Removal of cannabis from Germany's list of controlled substances. This change in public policy has significantly improved access to medical cannabis for German patients who are suffering, as evidenced by a report according to which prescriptions for medical cannabis in Germany increased by 1,000% in the nine months following the CanG law’s entry into force.

The stigma surrounding cannabis in Germany still persists. However, it is diminishing, as evidenced by the funding received by the cannabis company GOC Nexus by Volksbank Donau-Mindel, a leading German financial institution. The financing of the financial institution, which was facilitated by The Talman House, is an excellent example of the widespread adoption of the legal cannabis industry in Germany.

Public health outcomes are improving in Germany thanks to the increasing number of users who obtain cannabis products from legal home cultivation and regulated cultivation associations. Adults in Germany are allowed to grow up to three plants in their private residences, and 10.6 % of them have indicated do so, while 11.1 % plan to do so.

The authorization process for cultural organizations also began in Germany on July 1, 2024. Dozens of cultural organizations are currently in operation in Germany, and hundreds more are currently processing their applications. Cannabis cultivation associations require adults to become members and obtain cannabis legally from the associations through their membership.

The emerging global cannabis industry will head to Berlin, Germany, during the last week of April, where key leaders will meet and discuss the German industry as well as the broader European and global industries. The week will begin with the Exclusive meeting for Talman House investors, on April 28, 2025, to be held at the prestigious Hotel Adlon Kempinski, an internationally renowned venue known for its historical significance and unparalleled hospitality.

This private event, reserved for Talman House members, will serve as a strategic forum where key investors and industry experts will examine evolving market dynamics, investment trends, and regulatory changes shaping the European cannabis sector. Discussions will focus on the economic implications of the German legalization model, the expansion of regulated cannabis markets in the EU, and how investors can navigate this rapidly evolving landscape.

Following the Talman House event in Berlin, the International Cannabis Business Conference (ICBC) will once again host its a two-day flagship conference in the iconic Estrel Berlin Hotel on April 29 and 30. ICBC Berlin is Europe’s largest and longest-running B2B cannabis event, and this year’s edition will be bigger and better than ever.