Germany Becomes Europe’s Largest Regulated Cannabis Market
- Germany has become Europe’s largest regulated cannabis market since partially legalizing the drug in 2024, with legal marijuana imports increasing sixfold.
- The leftwing government led by Olaf Scholz passed laws allowing adult possession, private cultivation, and expanded legal sales with a prescription.
- Conservative politicians, including members of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democrats and CSU, criticize the cannabis laws, citing concerns over rising criminal activity, health risks, and insufficient prevention measures for youth.
- Medical cannabis imports surged from 8,143kg in early 2024 to 50,539kg in early 2025, with the market valued at nearly $1 billion and ongoing debates over tightening medical cannabis restrictions in parliament.
Germany has become Europe’s largest regulated cannabis market since partially liberalising the drug two years ago, as imports surge and conservative politicians warn of rising criminal activity and health risks.
Legal marijuana imports have increased sixfold since 2024, according to data from the Federal Health Institute. That year, the leftwing government led by then-chancellor Olaf Scholz passed laws allowing adults to possess and privately cultivate cannabis, while also expanding legal sales to users with a prescription.
Now critics, including from Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democrats and its Bavarian sister party CSU, are warning of the negative effects of the marijuana industry on society and health.
CSU interior minister Alexander Dobrindt has called the Cannabis Act “a real piece of shit law” and argued that it has undermined prevention and enforcement. Karin Prien, the CDU family minister, has also called for stronger addiction-prevention measures for children and teenagers, saying early intervention remains important given the risk of cannabis acting as a gateway drug.
The health ministry has submitted a draft bill to tighten restrictions on medical cannabis use to prevent recreational abuse, but the Social Democrats disagree with the changes. The bill is set to be discussed in parliament in the autumn.
Medical cannabis imports increased from 8,143kg in the first quarter of 2024 to 50,539kg in the first quarter of this year. A recent study by the University of Hamburg found that more than 200 tonnes of cannabis were available in Germany in 2025, including 2.6 tonnes produced domestically. That year, the market had a total value of $997mn, according to the intelligence company Prohibition Partners.
Read the full story at Financial Times