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This week, Germany’s pioneering cannabis reform bill, CanG, turned one year old.
Since April 01 2024, hundreds of millions of Euros have been invested into the German medical cannabis sector, hundreds of thousands of criminal proceedings have been avoided, and millions of citizens have enjoyed free and legal access to cannabis for the first time.
However, the reforms remain controversial and the issue is highly politicised. As coalition discussions continue between the largely anti-cannabis CDU/CSU and the more pro-cannabis SDP develop, question marks hang over the future of the industry.
Regardless of whether the new coalition will look to roll back the CanG act, it has already made a lasting impact on the country, both economically and socially, and the genie will incredibly difficult to put back in the bottle one year on.
CanG’s impact on Germany
The Cannabis Control Bill (CanG) officially came into force on April 01, 2024, making it legal for adults to legally possess, consume and cultivate cannabis in their homes.
Later, on July 01, 2024, further regulations were implemented allowing for the establishment of non-profit cultivation associations, which enabled members to cultivate and distribute cannabis for adult-use purposes.
One of the most impactful facets of the bill, particularly from an economic perspective, was the removal of cannabis from the list of narcotic substances, a change that has allowed Germany’s medical cannabis industry to flourish.
According to the German Cannabis Business Association (BvCW), the law has driven a boom across all three of these avenues.
Medical cannabis
Throughout 2024, it estimates that €300m has been invested in Germany’s cannabis industry, with some €240m of that going towards its booming medical market. Furthermore, they suggest
cannabis industry is expected to generate revenues of around €1bn in 2025.
While this has clearly helped cannabis businesses, the Federal Association of Pharmaceutical Cannabinoid Companies (BPC) argues that it has also benefited patient care in the country.
“The considerable investment in the medical cannabis sector underlines the growing importance of this sector for sustainable healthcare in Germany. A strong development that contributes significantly to ensuring patient care with quality-assured cannabinoid-based medicinal products,” said Antonia Menzel, Chairwoman of the BPC.
This runaway market growth is reflected in the latest official medical cannabis import figures, seeing the law benefit not just domestic clinics, but international suppliers.
The latest figures from Germany’s Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) show the total amount of cannabis imported quarterly from abroad to Germany for medical and medical-scientific purposes in the form of dried flowers topped 70 tonnes in 2024, up from just 32 tonnes a year earlier.
In the final quarter of 2024, Germany imported 31,691 kg of dried cannabis flower, up 53% on the 20,654 seen in the previous quarter.
Compared to Q4 in 2023, before the CanG Act was put in place in April 2024, the amount of cannabis being imported has risen by a staggering 272%.
This is futher supported by independent figures from companies themselves. Earlier this year, Bloomwell Group, one of Germany’s largest medical cannabis operators, reported that the number of prescriptions received by pharmacies increased by 1000% between March and December last year, following the law change on April 01.
Home cultivation and cultivation associations
According to the latest figures from Prohibition Partners’ upcoming European Cannabis Report: 10th Edition, as of March 2025, cannabis associations all over Germany have submitted over 500 applications, with roughly only 190 receiving permits.
The federal states which have issued the most amount of permits are North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony and Rhineland Palatinate, which in total account for roughly 60% of permits issued in Germany.
Furthermore, the BvCW suggests that there has been a ‘boom’ in home cultivation, driving sales of seeds, and growing equipment like fertilizer, lights and grow tents.
“These products were sold out for weeks and sometimes months. In a representative survey , 11% of participants stated they wanted to grow cannabis at home,” it continued. “The new law has created jobs and generated economic growth.”
Has it succeeded in reducing crime?
One of the key arguments put forward by the traffic light coalition when pushing through CanG, was that it would reduce crime, curb the black market, and free up time for the judiciary and law enforcement to focus on more serious crimes.
Whether this has been achieved in its first year, largely depends on who you ask. According to SPIEGEL, in the months since partial legalisation, approximately 100,000 criminal proceedings have been avoided.
“In Bavaria, home to the most ardent cannabis critics, the number of cannabis-related crimes fell by a staggering 56% to 15,270 cases last year,” the publication suggested.
“There is simply no evidence that the law has caused an ‘explosion in drug-related crime’ or other catastrophes, as is being whispered in CDU/CSU circles.”
According to further police and crime statistics obtained by SPIEGEL, drug-related crime in Germany fell by around a third in 2024, alongside a 1.7% decline in overall crime in the country.
However, the Interior Ministry refutes this assessment, stating that ‘there is no evidence partial legalisation has curbed the illegal market or reduced demand in any way’.
This seems to be predicated on the fact that the 33% reduction in drug offences were predominantly ‘consumer offences’, now that consumption is legal.
Around 1000 violations of the new law were registered relating to trafficking, smuggling, and possession of illegal quantities last year.
Germany’s law enforcement appears to agree that the law needs an urgent review. Alexander Poitz, Deputy Federal Chairman of the German Police Union, called on the future federal government to quickly amend the law.
“Every day that the law doesn’t improve, neither the black market nor youth protection or road safety will be curbed. And: Organized crime is taking advantage of the time to exploit the obvious weaknesses for its own purposes.”
In an upcoming report authored by Poitz, he argues: “The partial legalisation of cannabis has, on balance, not led to any reduction in the police’s workload. There is also a significant need for training and further education. Significant investments are needed, and state-of-the-art equipment, such as control and detection instruments, must be procured immediately.”
What does the public think?
According to a recently published survey, conducted by global seed company Royal Queen Seeds, 51% of German parents consider homegrown cannabis safer than street purchases, with this figure rising to 57% internationally.
Less than half (40%) of German adults surveyed approved of the reform. Older citizens aged 65+ and retirees remained the most skeptical, while under-40s were more likely to support it.
Nearly 50% of the population think the new regulations will improve public understanding of cannabis.
At the same time, 41% of German cannabis consumers plan to self-cultivate in 2025, 77% of home growers find cultivation personally valuable, and 75% feel safer consuming their own cannabis.
A separate representative survey of over 2,000 participants, conducted by YouGov reveals that 45% of Germans are open to speaking with their doctor about medical cannabis.
While only 7% have already discussed the topic with a healthcare provider, a further 38% said they would do so if medically necessary.
In most cases, it is the patient, not the physician, who initiates the conversation. Among adults aged 45–54, only 2% said their doctor suggested cannabis therapy. That number drops to just 1.2% among those over 55.
In contrast, younger age groups report slightly more doctor-led discussions: 5.8% of 25–34-year-olds and 5.3% of 35–44-year-olds said their doctor introduced the idea.
Despite increasing acceptance, stigma remains a barrier. Nearly 6% of respondents said they would avoid discussing cannabis with a doctor out of fear of judgment, even if they were personally open to the idea.
However, younger generations appear more proactive, 49% of those under 34 say they would immediately consult their family doctor about cannabis as a medical option.
“}]] Since April 01 2024, hundreds of millions of Euros have been invested into the German medical cannabis sector, hundreds of thousands of criminal proceedings have been avoided, and millions of citizens have enjoyed free and legal access to cannabis for the first time. Read More
