Germany imported a record amount of cannabis in the final quarter of 2024, seeing imports more than double for the full year as the acceleration of its thriving medical cannabis market shows no signs of slowing down.
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.
It comes just days after the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which has stated its intention to crack down on the industry and even repeal the country’s newly established liberal cannabis laws, received the most seats in Germany’s federal election.
Yet, with the CDU required to form a coalition with another party to form a government in the coming weeks, it remains unclear whether it will have the political capital to enforce these campaign pledges.
Imports continue staggering growth
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%.
Canada once remained the largest exporter to Germany throughout the year, seeing volumes double from 16,895 kg in 2023 to 33,155 kg in 2024.
Portugal also significantly increased its exports to the country, up 318% from 4,118 kg to 17,230 kg over the year.
Elsewhere, Spain’s imports grew 179% to 2212 kg, Denmark grew 214.37% to 7396 kg, North Macedonia grew 189.56% to 2666 kg, and the UK increased its imports by 393.94% to 326 kg, though this still represents one of the smallest amounts by country.
A large portion of this growth has been driven by the rapid expansion of telemedicine clinics, with their proliferation likely responsible for the significant growth in Q4.
According to data collected by Prohibition Partners, which analysed the website traffic of Germany’s largest telemedicine players, the market is being dominated by Doktor ABC.
However, it must be mentioned that DrAnsay and DoktorABC provide other services such as sick notes and weight loss medicine prescriptions, with the latter also offering its services in the UK, France and Switzerland.
“When assessing the monthly visitor count of the leading telemedicine providers of medical cannabis in Germany, the numbers provide a clear picture of how frequently they are used. The leading six providers have a monthly visitor count of over 150,000, although the visitor count does not provide a 100% accurate representation and translation of prescription and patient numbers, it does highlight the extremely high use of these platforms which is fueling the dramatic demand for medical cannabis in the market,” Alex Khourdaji, Senior Analyst at Prohibition Partners explained.
The second largest, Dr Ansay, is currently being sued by The North Rhine Pharmacists’ Chamber (AKNR) in a legal battle which could have major implications for the market moving forward.
This week, a civil trial against Dr Ansay began in the Hamburg District Court, with the online clinic standing accused of violating Germany’s Medicinal Products Advertising Act and the Act Against Unfair Competition.
Furthermore, the ANKR argues that long-term medical cannabis patients are being stigmatised following the passage of CanG and the dramatic loosening of restrictions around access to medical cannabis.
As such, they argue that medical cannabis patients are now being equated with recreational users, thanks to the growing dominance of such online clinics and the ease at which prescriptions are granted.
“Some platforms market themselves as a supposedly legal alternative to street dealers—this is alarming and clearly a case for regulatory authorities. They will be watching the court’s ruling with just as much anticipation as we are. It remains to be seen whether policymakers will introduce clearer regulations soon,” the ANKR said.
With a ruling expected in early March, the implications on the telehealth and wider medical cannabis market remain unclear, but given the change of administration to one less supportive of cannabis reform many businesses will be concerned a crackdown is looming.
Political outlook
As previously reported, the CDU and its Bavarian sister party, the CSU, made an election pledge to ‘abolish the previous government’s cannabis law’.
Many believe this would only refer to the recreational market, which is already stalled, but such legal cases against medical cannabis operators could see this extend to the medical market, as recently seen in Poland.
The latest data from the e-Health Centre, Poland’s official registry, shows that the market also experienced significant growth during 2023 compared to 2022, seeing consumption volume increase from 800 kilograms to 2,600 kilograms, while the number of patients grew from 36,000 to 90,000. Sales also surged, rising from €15m to €42m.
In August, Poland’s Ministry of Health stepped in, citing concerns over non-medical use following this dramatic expansion.
New regulations were implemented in November 2024, no longer allowing private clinics to offer remote consultations for cannabis prescriptions, and national health physicians are now only able to provide remote consultations and prescriptions for patients who have previously had an in-person consultation.
As for the political outlook, Bloomwell Group CEO and Co-Founder, Niklas Kouparanis believes that cannabis’ status as a non-narcotic is safe, regardless of the shape the new administration takes.
Should the CDU join forces with the Social Democratic Party (SPD), one of the architects of Germany’s reform, he said that ‘reverting cannabis’s reclassification as a non-narcotic would be a massive undertaking that even conservative politicians would not have time to implement.’
“Also, if the SPD took actions to make CanG more restrictive, the party would go back on its election promise and lose credibility.
“Government leaders must consider the economic impact of the German cannabis industry. Today, thousands work in the hemp and cannabis industry, and sales and import volumes of medicinal cannabis have multiplied in recent months. The German cannabis market is now the focus of investors and new business partners worldwide.
“In order for millions of patients in Germany to benefit from low-threshold digital access to cannabis therapy in the future, the entire industry must now pull together and, above all, appeal to our ‘economic chancellor’ Friedrich Merz to promote digital innovation in the healthcare system, not to prevent it.”
