The Year 2025 – Cannabis Policy Between Decriminalization and Re-Regulation
Adult-Use Cannabis: Decriminalization With Measurable Effects
With the Cannabis Act entering into force in April 2024, cannabis consumption in Germany was comprehensively re-regulated for the first time. A central objective of the reform was to decriminalize consumption while steering it responsibly from a public health perspective. One year later, the first interim report by the ECOCAN evaluation group appointed by the federal government delivered important initial findings in the autumn.
No increase in cannabis use among children and adolescents could be identified. Other frequently voiced concerns — such as an escalation of public consumption or significant additional burdens on municipalities — are likewise not supported by the available data. The evaluation therefore substantiates key assumptions of the reform and, for the first time, provides a robust empirical basis for further political debate.
Limited Access Pathways and the Absence of Model Projects
At the same time, the evaluation report makes clear that practical implementation in the adult-use sector has fallen short of expectations. Legal access pathways remain severely limited. Cannabis cultivation associations are struggling with complex approval procedures in many regions, and the number of licensed clubs remains well below initial projections.
In addition, not a single one of the planned research projects has been approved, despite numerous applications having been submitted. As a result, precisely those controlled structures are missing that could both improve access and generate additional data for evidence-based regulatory development — in stark contrast to countries such as Switzerland, where comparable projects have been running successfully for around a year.
The consequence: the legal adult-use market is currently able to meet existing demand only to a very limited extent.
Medical Cannabis: Relief, Normalization, and New Momentum
The new legislation also marked a major shift in the medical cannabis sector. By removing medical cannabis from the scope of narcotics law, a long-standing reform step was completed, lowering access barriers and normalizing care. For patients and physicians alike, this has meant greater room for maneuver, reduced stigmatization, and stronger integration into standard medical care.
At the same time, the system remained in a phase of adjustment throughout this past year. Reimbursement risks and uncertainties in prescribing practices — particularly for statutory health insurance patients — persist. Nevertheless, it is unmistakable that medical cannabis has increasingly evolved from a niche product into a relevant segment of healthcare provision.
Market Growth, Telemedicine, and Regulatory Re-Intervention
This growth is reflected in sharply rising import volumes as well as in the rapid emergence of numerous telemedicine-based care models. Digital platforms have, for many patients, enabled low-threshold access to medical prescriptions for the first time, while an increasing number of mail-order pharmacies now deliver medications directly to patients’ homes.
The new federal government has responded to these developments by presenting a draft bill to amend the Medical Cannabis Act (MedCanG) in the summer of 2025. With its proposed ban on telemedicine and mail-order dispensing, the reform focuses less on the structural development of medical care and more on restricting and controlling access pathways. As a result, the medical cannabis sector is once again becoming the subject of law-and-order policy debates — despite its primary anchoring within the healthcare system.
(As of today, 18 December, 9:55 p.m., the draft bill is on the agenda of the German Bundestag. Those interested can follow the debate live.)
A System Put to the Test in Practice
The developments illustrate how closely market dynamics, care provision, and political steering are intertwined — and how quickly imbalances can emerge when individual components function only partially.
The coming year will therefore be decisive in determining whether policymakers succeed in establishing a regulatory framework that does justice to the differing realities involved: a growing market, a heterogeneous patient population — both within statutory health insurance and among self-pay patients — pharmacies as central care providers, and prescribing physicians who continue to operate between a duty of care and legal uncertainty.
As the year comes to a close, we wish you peaceful holidays with your families and time to recover from the political and professional demands of everyday life. Health remains — regardless of regulatory debates — the most important asset.
We thank all readers of the Cannabis Briefing who have accompanied us throughout the year. It has been a pleasure to walk this path together and to continuously contextualize developments in the cannabis sector. We wish you a successful start to the new year and look forward to continued exchange.
Anything else?
Do you have specific questions or suggestions for the Cannabis Briefing? Then send us an email to briefing@www.cansativa.de. If you are interested in revolutionising the cannabis industry with us, then stay tuned and follow our briefings!
We wish you a good read!
Best wishes from both of us,
Jakob Sons
Founder & Managing Director Cansativa
Benedikt Sons
Founder & Managing Director Cansativa
Jakob Sons
Founder & Managing Director Cansativa
Benedikt Sons
Founder & Managing Director Cansativa
Could the Medical Cannabis Reform Become a Cost Trap?
Stricter Requirements: Patients Would Need to Return to In-Person Consultations
The current draft stipulates that prescriptions for medical cannabis would require an in-person doctor–patient consultation. Telemedical prescriptions – currently a low-threshold option for many patients with milder complaints such as sleep disorders, headaches, or stress-related symptoms – could be discontinued. Since these patients generally do not qualify for statutory health insurance reimbursement and usually pay out of pocket, eliminating telemedicine would create a tangible barrier: more travel, higher costs, longer waiting times. Physicians willing to prescribe medical cannabis are already in the minority, especially outside urban centers. A a situation that could intensify.
Restricted Supply: No More Shipping from German Pharmacies
The draft also states that mail-order dispensing of medical cannabis from German pharmacies would no longer be permitted. This would create significant challenges for patients who are not mobile or who live in regions with sparse pharmacy coverage and limited cannabis expertise. Many pharmacies do not stock medical cannabis or only order it on demand, often with delays. The result could be a structural worsening of access, particularly in rural areas, affecting not only self-pay patients but also those relying on statutory health insurance who depend on consistent medication supply.
How Significant Could the Cost Risks Be for the Healthcare System?
One aspect that has received little attention so far is the question of which additional costs might arise if more patients in the future had to attend in-person appointments. A recent study suggests that increasing mandatory doctor visits could lead to substantial additional expenditures, both for statutory health insurance and for medical practices. More required appointments, more documentation, and more administrative workload would inevitably consume more resources.
It is also possible that the statutory health insurance system is currently benefiting from a degree of implicit cost relief: many patients do not submit applications for reimbursement — whether because they struggle to find a prescribing physician, doctors remain cautious due to potential clawbacks, or patients rely on telemedical services and pay out of pocket. If access were to shift more toward in-person care, more patients might formally test or claim their entitlement to reimbursement, potentially resulting in direct or indirect financial burdens for the statutory health insurance.
Supply Gaps and a Possible Shift Back to the Illicit Market
It is also likely that certain patient groups, particularly those with milder complaints currently treated via telemedicine, might increasingly turn back to the illicit market. Home cultivation and Cannabis Clubs would not be able to replace medical care: they neither provide the required product quality nor the necessary supply capacity. The fact that no pilot projects, such as those introduced in Switzerland, have been approved so far could further widen this structural supply gap.
As early as October, EKOCAN stated – as part of the first evaluation stage of the CanG – that “consumers have too little legal cannabis available” and that the market as a whole suffers from a major supply deficit.
Reform Requiring Further Refinement
The need to reform the medical cannabis framework is undisputed. While the draft might introduce additional regulation, it would not necessarily increase supply security. Instead, it could risk creating new barriers without delivering clear benefits. The upcoming committee hearings and parliamentary deliberations will show whether lawmakers will be willing to address these issues and make the necessary adjustments.
Anything else?
Do you have specific questions or suggestions for the Cannabis Briefing? Then send us an email to briefing@www.cansativa.de. If you are interested in revolutionising the cannabis industry with us, then stay tuned and follow our briefings!
We wish you a good read!
Best wishes from both of us,
Jakob Sons
Founder & Managing Director Cansativa
Benedikt Sons
Founder & Managing Director Cansativa
Jakob Sons
Founder & Managing Director Cansativa
Benedikt Sons
Founder & Managing Director Cansativa
From the Bundesrat to the Bundestag – What Comes Next for the MedCanG Reform
The Recommendation of the Bundesrat Health Committee – First Signals from the Federal States
The Health Committee’s recommendation for the Bundesrat was published on 6 November and forms the technical foundation for today’s deliberations in the Bundesrat. For the first time, the federal states have outlined clearly where the reform proposal should be further refined to ensure that the planned changes work reliably in practice. The recommendations focus on making key provisions workable — for example, pharmacy oversight, verification of the required in-person doctor–patient contact, and enforcing the proposed ban on shipping cannabis flower.
Because these points directly concern how the new rules would later be implemented by state authorities, it is widely expected that the Bundesrat will adopt the committee’s recommendation with only minor adjustments.
The Parliamentary Roadmap – Crucial Months Ahead
On 3 December, the Federal Government will issue its official response to the Bundesrat’s position, marking the start of the next stage of the process. The first reading in the Bundestag follows on 18 December, where the draft will be introduced and formally referred to the committees.
From January onward, the detailed work begins: the Health Committee will hold expert hearings, draft amendments, and reconcile the different positions within the governing coalition. This phase will reveal where substantial changes to the bill are likely — whether on the shipping ban, the treatment of telemedicine, or the definition of in-person medical consultations.
If you want to follow the process, you can easily do so online:
– Bundestag debates (including the first, second, and third readings) are broadcast live on parliamentary television and made available in the Bundestag media library afterwards.
– The Bundesrat also streams its plenary sessions live and publishes documents such as opinions and recommendations openly on its website.
The second and third readings in the Bundestag are planned for spring 2026, followed by another round in the Bundesrat. Depending on transitional arrangements, the earliest likely date for the law to come into force is spring or summer 2026.
The Role of the Bundestag – Political Dynamics and Substantive Direction
Although the draft originally came from the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG), led by the CDU, it is the Bundestag phase that will ultimately determine which overarching health policy approach prevails. The SPD has already expressed doubts about several elements of the proposal. Signals from members of the Social Democratic group — including Matthias Mieves — suggest that while clear rules on prescribing and supply security are supported, access to medical cannabis should not be limited by overly restrictive requirements.
This means the SPD is likely to play an influential role in the committee process, pushing to adjust key provisions — particularly those concerning in-person doctor–patient contact, telemedicine, and the proposed shipping ban. The Bundestag will ultimately decide whether the law is tightened mainly from a regulatory perspective or also developed further with a stronger focus on patient access.
What the Next Steps Mean for Patients and the Sector
For patients, physicians, pharmacies, and companies, the coming months will be decisive. The central question is how supply security will ultimately be ensured: How can a reliable, locally accessible pathway to medical cannabis treatment be established without undermining essential medical safeguards? As the parliamentary phase unfolds, this is the right moment to engage, bring forward practical perspectives, and help shape a regulatory framework that supports both patient needs and responsible implementation.
Anything else?
Do you have specific questions or suggestions for the Cannabis Briefing? Then send us an email to briefing@cansativa.de. If you are interested in revolutionising the cannabis industry with us, then stay tuned and follow our briefings!
We wish you a good read!
Fewer Opioids, More Perspectives – What Current Studies on Medical Cannabis Reveal
Observational Data from Germany: Indications of Reduced Opioid Use
A practice-based analysis (Gastmeier et al., 2022) examined what happens when elderly pain patients are additionally treated with cannabis-based medicines. The results are encouraging: opioid use dropped by roughly 50% on average, with no significant adverse effects reported. Most patients were over 70 years old, suffered from chronic pain, and tolerated cannabis preparations well; in most cases, low THC doses were sufficient. The potential to reduce opioid use is particularly relevant for older patients, for whom sedation, fall risk, and respiratory depression are major concerns. While the study cannot replace randomized controlled trials (RCTs), it provides real-world evidence that medical cannabinoids can be used safely in elderly patients and may be associated with a significant reduction in opioid consumption.
New York: Long-Term Cannabis Use and Opioid Dose Reduction
Similar trends have been observed in the United States. A study by the New York State Department of Health (Nguyen et al., 2023) followed more than 8,000 patients with chronic pain who received medical cannabis. The longer the treatment lasted, the greater the reduction in opioid dosage – in some cases by more than 50%. The effect was particularly pronounced among patients with high baseline doses, who were able to lower their opioid levels substantially over time. These findings suggest that medical cannabis could help reduce overall opioid exposure and thereby decrease risks such as dependence and overdose. However, questions remain regarding the specific role of different cannabinoid formulations and the causal mechanisms underlying the association between cannabis use and opioid reduction.
Population-Level Data: Cannabis Legislation and Prescribing Behavior in the U.S.
On a broader scale, a U.S. nationwide analysis (Lozano-Rojas et al., 2025) explored how cannabis legislation affects opioid prescribing among cancer patients. The results were significat: in states that allowed cannabis dispensaries to open, opioid prescriptions decreased by about 25%. Medical cannabis thus emerges as a subtle public health factor – fewer opioids, fewer risks, improved quality of life. The findings indicate that cannabis could serve as a partial substitute for opioids in managing cancer-related pain. Still, the data are correlational, not causal. Further research is needed to understand individual mechanisms and long-term effects. Yet the evidence supports the notion that broader access to medical cannabis may have positive population-level impacts on medication use and public health outcomes.
Medical Cannabis Can Change – and Possibly Save – Lives
The evidence base is still young, but it points in a clear direction. While cannabis does not replace classical opioid therapy, it may become a credible adjunct or substitution therapy in certain areas. It enables a gentler, safer approach to pain management, especially where conventional medications reach their limits. In an aging society where people live longer and approach medication use more consciously, medical cannabis could become a genuine opportunity – for greater quality of life, less risk, and a form of medicine that once again places the individual at its center.
Anything else?
Do you have specific questions or suggestions for the Cannabis Briefing? Then send us an email to briefing@cansativa.de. If you are interested in revolutionising the cannabis industry with us, then stay tuned and follow our briefings!
We wish you a good read!
Medical Cannabis on Its Way to Parliament – What the Cabinet Approval Means Now
What could change for patients?
As already proposed in the July draft, the core elements of the initiative remain unchanged in the version now approved by the Cabinet. Initial prescriptions of cannabis flower would still be permitted only after a personal consultation – either in a doctor’s office or during a house visit. For repeat prescriptions, at least one such in-person consultation per year would be required. The planned ban on shipping cannabis flower by mail also remains part of the draft. This point had already sparked debate in the earlier draft, particularly regarding access in rural areas and for patients with limited mobility.
Import figures, telemedicine – and a question of interpretation
The Federal Ministry of Health continues to justify its proposal by pointing to a sharp rise in import figures, which it links to growing use of telemedical platforms. But this is exactly where political and public debate begins. After all, the numbers tell more than one story. While cannabis flower imports rose by around 170% in the second half of 2024, the number of prescriptions issued through statutory health insurance (GKV) increased only moderately. This suggests that reclassification of medical cannabis – which is no longer listed as a narcotic – has opened access to therapy for many patients who were previously excluded. These may include those without a qualifying serious diagnosis under insurance regulations. At the same time, feedback from the field shows that patients with chronic illness or mobility issues in particular have benefited from mail-order access – especially in rural areas, where local pharmacies offering cannabis flower are often hard to find.
Legislation in motion: Parliament will have its say
With the cabinet’s approval, the draft bill is now on its way to the Bundestag – and it is widely expected that key aspects of the proposal will be amended in the legislative process. Early voices, including from within the governing coalition, have already indicated that revisions are needed – especially regarding the proposed shipping ban and the requirement for in-person doctor-patient contact. At the same time, a separate review process is underway at the EU level: the notification submitted to the European Commission allows both the Commission and other Member States to raise concerns, particularly around restrictions on telemedical services and potential conflicts with the EU’s freedom to provide cross-border services. While it remains to be seen when and in what form objections will be raised, one thing is clear: this is not the end of the debate.
Now is the time to get involved
This is a crucial time to stay engaged. While the public consultation phase has ended, the parliamentary process still offers opportunities to contribute – through professional associations, policy dialogues, or direct outreach to lawmakers. Those who support a balanced, patient-focused, and legally robust regulatory framework should make their voices heard now. Because once again, this legislative process shows just how narrow the path can be between political steering and the practical realities of care. That’s why it’s so important to help shape it constructively.
The Cannabis Act Under Review: What Can We Expect?
Germany: No increase among adolescents
The latest Drug Affinity Study shows higher use among 18–25-year-olds than a decade ago, while adolescent use has not increased. Frankfurt’s 2024 MoSyD survey points in the same direction, reporting new lows among 15–18-year-olds. In short: no youth “boom,” just a modest uptick among young adults — a pattern also reflected in the new figures from the Federal Institute for Public Health (BIÖG). At the same time, evidence at home and abroad suggests that clear legal channels can shrink the illicit market over time. Tracking this shift in sources of supply will be a core focus of the evaluation.
Canada: Youth stable; edibles as the outlier
The evaluation will ultimately show what this means for Germany, but Canada offers a useful benchmark: since 2018, the share of illicit purchases has fallen to around three percent — a strong sign that legal channels can displace black markets. Youth prevalence has remained broadly stable, while product use shifted after edibles were introduced — a pattern that matters less for Germany, where edibles aren’t permitted under the CanG. For Germany’s assessment, the key question is whether non-commercial clubs and home growing deliver the intended protections without introducing new risks.
Uruguay: A steady state model
A quick look at Uruguay rounds out the picture. As the first country to legalise adult-use in 2013, it provides valuable lessons. Despite early concerns, the state-regulated model — home grow, clubs and pharmacies — has not produced a sustained increase in youth consumption. In practice, design matters more than the legal label: channels, product rules and prevention make the difference.
Evaluation: Data before interpretation
How will Germany’s evaluation proceed? By law, there’s a phased timetable: an initial assessment is due by 1 October 2025, focused on consumption bans around schools (§5 KCanG) and their impact on child and youth protection. An interim report follows by 1 April 2026, including effects on cannabis-related organised crime. The final report is due by 1 April 2028. The EKOCAN consortium, commissioned by the Health Ministry, coordinates secondary data, original surveys and market monitoring.
Evidence-based adjustment, not symbolic debate
That sequence is right for evidence-based policy: measure first, then adjust. Expect sober findings — on real youth trends, child and youth protection, and easing pressure on the illicit market. The open question is how federal and state governments will weigh the data — and whether they’ll fine-tune policy consistently in line with the evidence.
Switzerland Moves Forward with Legalization
A Process Gathers Momentum
It comes as no surprise that Switzerland is following its own path. For several years now, pilot projects in cities such as Basel, Zurich and Lausanne have tested the controlled distribution of cannabis for recreational use. These scientifically monitored programs provide valuable data on consumption patterns, public health and the displacement of the black market. The new legislative draft builds directly on these findings. Unlike recreational cannabis, medical cannabis in Switzerland has already been regulated since 2022 and is dispensed via medical prescriptions through pharmacies.
The Proposed Market Model
The preliminary draft of the Cannabis Products Act sets out a series of strict rules. Adults will be permitted to purchase, possess and consume cannabis legally, but only through tightly regulated, licensed outlets. Distribution may not be profit-oriented. Advertising will be banned, packaging must be neutral and child-resistant, and an electronic tracking system will ensure transparency across the entire supply chain. In addition, a steering levy will make high-THC products more expensive, with the aim of encouraging consumption of lower-risk alternatives.
A Look at the Neighbors
In a European comparison, Switzerland is charting a very distinct course. In Germany’s Cannabis Consumption Act (KCanG), the focus is on cannabis clubs or so-called cultivation associations, complemented by the option of home cultivation. Possession has also been decriminalized by removing cannabis from the Narcotics Act. Switzerland, on the other hand, intends to continue classifying cannabis as a narcotic and to restrict sales exclusively to licensed outlets. A particular feature is the so-called online license: the federal government plans to grant only a single concession for digital sales. This would allow consumers to order cannabis products directly through a central, federally licensed online shop — in addition to purchases from local, licensed stores.
From Consultation to Law
The road to full legalization is still long. After the consultation period, parliamentary deliberations will follow, and in the end, a referendum could be held. Realistically, implementation is not expected for another two to three years. What is clear already, however, is that Switzerland aims to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework built on the experience of its pilot projects — a nationwide structure ensuring legal access to recreational cannabis. With this model, Switzerland could set benchmarks across Europe.
New GACP Guidelines Bring Stricter Requirements for Medical Cannabis
GMP and GACP – two parts of the same system
To put it simply: GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) defines how medicines must be manufactured to ensure the highest levels of quality and safety. GACP (Good Agricultural and Collection Practice), on the other hand, governs the agricultural side – how plant-based raw materials are grown and harvested. These two frameworks are interconnected: only when GACP and GMP work seamlessly together can the pharmaceutical quality of cannabis flowers be guaranteed.
Change is coming after nearly 20 years
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is currently revising the GACP guidelines, which have remained unchanged since 2006. After nearly two decades, an update is long overdue – the market for herbal medicines has changed a lot since then, including medical cannabis.
A closer alignment with GMP requirements is expected as part of the revision. While quality checks have always been necessary, the previous rules left room for interpretation. The new guideline is likely to spell out these requirements more explicitly, providing greater clarity. Documentation obligations are also expected to become more stringent. In the future, producers will need to demonstrate without gaps every step a plant undergoes from cultivation through to the finished product. Finally, more extensive validations will be required — a point that comes with investments, whether in systems, or digital tools for traceability in systems and tools for quality management.
“For us in Quality Management, the key point is this: the new GACP guideline does not fundamentally change our day-to-day operations, it simply describes existing requirements in a more precise way. This reduces room for interpretation and creates more clarity. It also makes it easier for us to coordinate with new suppliers to ensure that the highest quality standards are maintained. In the long run, the entire market will benefit from the more efficient availability of new, safe, and high-quality products.”
— Dr. Richard Böser, Vice President of Quality at Cansativa
More trust through clear standards
The new requirements are not a revolution — the quality of medical cannabis has always been safeguarded by the GMP process. What the revised GACP guideline does is shift the focus earlier in the chain: it ensures, better than before, that quality is consistently documented and secured right from cultivation.
For patients, this doesn’t change the end result — they have always been able to rely on safe products. But the added clarity brings greater transparency, reduces room for interpretation, and makes cooperation across the supply chain easier. For the young medical cannabis industry, this is an opportunity to further strengthen efficiency and trust — and to secure its place in the European healthcare system for the long term.
Anything else?
Do you have specific questions or suggestions for the Cannabis Briefing? Then send us an email to briefing@www.cansativa.de. If you are interested in revolutionising the cannabis industry with us, then stay tuned and follow our briefings!
We wish you a good read!
Best wishes from both of us,
Jakob Sons
Founder & Managing Director Cansativa
Benedikt Sons
Founder & Managing Director Cansativa
Jakob Sons
Founder & Managing Director Cansativa
Benedikt Sons
Founder & Managing Director Cansativa
On a personal note: Our Nomination for the Pioneer Award 2025
Our shared journey in a dynamic industry
For nearly a decade, we, as brothers, have been leading Cansativa through an industry that is constantly evolving—especially on the regulatory front. In a sensitive field like medical cannabis, which is still in the early stages of medical application, it is important to us to take responsibility and advocate for greater transparency and destigmatization.
Medical cannabis has been prescribable in Germany since 2017 and can be reimbursed by health insurance for seriously ill patients. Since then, there have been continuous adjustments that have simplified the prescription process for patients and helped advance the destigmatization of this form of treatment. At the same time, scientific research is steadily growing, more therapeutic uses are being incorporated into guidelines, and more countries across Europe and worldwide recognize medical cannabis as an effective therapy. We are proud to have actively helped shape this development in Europe and especially in Germany from the beginning, even though there is still much work to be done.
A modern family business with a course toward Europe
Cansativa is not a traditional family business that has been passed down through generations. Instead, as brothers, we took a bold step in 2017 together with our father to realize our dream of founding a joint business: Our father supported us in the beginning, providing medical expertise and backing. Jakob, as a lawyer, decided to navigate and actively shape the complex regulatory environment, while Benedikt, with his background as a strategy consultant, drives business development and growth. Today, as a family-scale-up in the German Mittelstand, we are building the infrastructure for a safe, responsible, and digital cannabis market in Europe—with clear values, regulatory depth, and technological precision. Our goal is to make Germany a hub for medical cannabis.
A strong signal for the European cannabis industry
Alongside renowned companies from the fields of industry, technology, tourism, and mobility, this nomination shows that the cannabis economy is also one of the forces actively shaping progress and responsibility in Europe. We are very pleased with this recognition—it is a powerful signal of the relevance and future viability of our industry.
A huge thank you to our team, our partners, and everyone who supports our mission.
The public voting is open until September 1, 2025, and we would be delighted if you support us with your vote.
Please vote for us! Click here to vote!
Medical Cannabis Under Scrutiny? The new draft bill from the German Health Ministry
What does the current draft bill say?
The Federal Ministry of Health's draft bill provides for stricter regulation of the prescription and dispensing of cannabis flowers for medical purposes. Specifically, the initial prescription of cannabis flowers will only be permitted after personal contact between doctors and patients, either in the doctor's office or during a home visit. For repeat prescriptions, personal contact with a doctor is also required at least once every four months. Furthermore, the bill proposes a ban on shipping medical cannabis flowers.
What are the reasons behind this?
According to the BMG, these changes are due to a sharp increase in cannabis flower imports. The ministry links this increase to the growing use of telemedicine platforms. There was a 170% increase in cannabis imports in the second half of 2024, while prescriptions covered by statutory health insurance only increased by 9%.
While this development may appear problematic at first glance, it also shows that more patients are gaining access to medical cannabis therapy, even without a prescription from their health insurance provider. Reimbursement by statutory health insurance remains reserved for seriously ill patients, such as those with chronic illnesses, cancer, or multiple sclerosis. Since medical cannabis was reclassified as non-narcotic over a year ago, access has become easier and less stigmatized. In the further legislative process, it will be crucial to differentiate between undesirable developments and improved patient care and refine where necessary.
What happens next?
The public consultation phase is now beginning. Stakeholders from the healthcare sector, pharmacies, industry, and patient organizations have been invited to submit comments on the draft. Experience has shown that important suggestions from practitioners are considered during this phase, so this step is crucial. The draft will then be voted on in the cabinet before going through the parliamentary process in the Bundestag and Bundesrat. As the saying goes, "No law leaves the Bundestag as it entered it." Currently, this is only a proposal that may change significantly during the process.
The new government had already announced an open-ended evaluation of the Cannabis Act (CanG) for the fall. This evaluation will examine the effects on youth, consumers, and health protection, as well as the effects on cannabis-related crime, based on data. At least, this was provided for in the coalition agreement.
This is an opportunity to help shape the future.
The current phase offers all stakeholders an opportunity to play a constructive role. Rather than resorting to fear-mongering rhetoric, it is time to propose objective suggestions for improvement. The goal is to ensure the long-term supply of medical cannabis is secure, patient-focused, accessible, and comprehensive. We look forward to hearing the various interest groups' views and seeing which changes will ultimately be incorporated into the final draft law.