Outlook 2026 – Regulation, Market Developments, and Political Direction in Germany

Political Outlook: MedCanG Moves Through Parliament 

At the start of the year, health policy discussions are dominated by the planned reform of the Medical Cannabis Act (MedCanG). Following the publication of a draft bill in summer 2025, the proposal has now entered the parliamentary process. 

A hearing before the Health Committee of the German Bundestag is scheduled for 14 January 2026. Amendments to the draft are expected on this basis before the bill proceeds to its second and third readings in parliament, followed by consideration in the Bundesrat. Under the current timeline, the legislation is expected to enter into force at the beginning of the second quarter of 2026, subject to further political adjustments during the legislative process. Much will depend on the extent to which patient care, legal certainty for physicians and pharmacies, and practical feasibility are reflected in the final version of the law. 

KCanG Evaluation: Extended Report Expected in Spring 

Alongside medical cannabis, adult-use regulation will remain politically relevant in 2026. An expanded evaluation report on the Consumer Cannabis Act (KCanG) is expected in April, following the publication of an initial interim report last year. 

The findings are likely to inform the next phase of political debate. Depending on the outcome, further adjustments in the adult-use framework cannot be ruled out, particularly with regard to access pathways, approval procedures for cultivation associations, and the continued absence of model and research projects. As a result, 2026 is set to remain a year of close political scrutiny for the adult-use regime. 

Market Development: Stabilization and Professionalization 

After several years of rapid growth, Germany’s medical cannabis market is expected to continue stabilizing and professionalizing in 2026. Demand is likely to remain strong, driven by a growing patient population, increasing prescribing confidence among physicians, and the continued integration of medical cannabis into routine healthcare, supported by expanding research in established areas of use, including geriatrics. 

Despite ongoing regulatory uncertainty, market fundamentals remain solid. Telemedicine-based care models and mail-order dispensing are under political scrutiny, yet they have played a key role in expanding access and ensuring continuity of care, and they continue to shape the reality of provision for cannabis patients. Pharmacies are further consolidating their role as the central interface between patients, prescribers, and manufacturers, benefiting from greater operational experience in dispensing, counselling, and logistics. Import volumes are expected to level off at a high level, providing a stable basis for supply and planning. 

By contrast, the consumer cannabis framework remains outside market-based economic structures. In the absence of approved model or research projects, no commercial value chains have emerged. Cultivation associations are explicitly non-profit and designed solely to supply their members. 

A Year of Decisions 

Rather than marking a fresh start, 2026 represents a period of continued development for cannabis regulation in Germany. Following the entry into force of the Cannabis Act in 2024, it has become clear that regulation in this area is not static, but evolves over time. With the upcoming MedCanG reform and the expanded KCanG evaluation, key decisions lie ahead, alongside an industry that has increasingly learned to adapt constructively to regulatory change. 

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