Germany’s medical cannabis imports continued their historic run in Q3 of 2025, seeing the country bring in just under 57 tonnes, though growth levels dipped slightly from Q2.
Cannabis importers appear entirely undeterred by looming market challenges, both structural and political, as imports grew a further 19.3% compared to the previous quarter, seeing the total for the year to date top 140,000kg, nearly double the entire imports of 2024.
These latest figures from BfArM come just days before proposals to restrict the booming medical market will be considered during the Bundesrat’s 21 November 2025 plenary session, and just weeks after the regulator was forced to expand the upper limit of import quotas by a further 70 tonnes after the 122 tonne limit was exceeded by September.
As seen in Poland when it introduced its restrictions on cannabis telemedicine, analysts suggest fears of a crackdown could actually be driving up demand.
What do the latest figures show?
Germany’s medical cannabis imports hit a new all-time high between July and September 2025, rising nearly 20% quarter on quarter to 56.9 tonnes, bringing total imports for the first nine months of the year to 142 tonnes, up from 72 in all of 2024.
While the growth of +9,209 kg in Q3 fell from an increase of 10,018 kg (26%) in the previous quarter, even with a further reduction in growth, Germany is on track to top 200 tonnes by year’s end, once again exceeding its import quota (now 192 tonnes).
The gains were once again heavily concentrated in Canada and Portugal, which together supplied around 80% of the total.
Canada remained the dominant exporter of medical cannabis worldwide, increasing shipments by 49 per cent from 20.1 tonnes in Q2 to 30.1 tonnes in Q3.
Portugal also continued to consolidate its position as Europe’s key export hub, with volumes rising 23 per cent to 16.6 tonnes over the same period.
Further growth was recorded across a range of emerging European and African markets. North Macedonia posted a 56 per cent rise to 2.7 tonnes, while Spain more than doubled its exports to 2 tonnes.
Malta, a smaller but fast-maturing player, saw a three-and-a-half-fold increase to 1.9 tonnes, marking its largest quarter on record.
Shipments from South Africa and Lesotho rose 54 per cent and 34 per cent respectively, highlighting Africa’s continued role as a growth frontier. Colombia also re-emerged as a meaningful contributor, expanding exports from just 0.1 tonnes in Q2 to 1.2 tonnes in Q3.
By contrast, a number of established markets saw declines. The Netherlands fell a further 6 per cent to 0.46 tonnes, continuing a gradual downward trend. The Czech Republic dropped 37 per cent, while Argentina contracted by 45 per cent.
Is the threat of a crackdown boosting demand?
Last week (November 06) Germany’s Bundesrat Health Committee issued its formal recommendations to amend the country’s Medical Cannabis Act (Medizinal Cannabisgesetz or MedCanG), marking the latest escalation in tensions between the government and industry.
The proposals, which call for stricter controls on prescribing, pricing, advertising and distribution, are set to be debated during the Bundesrat’s November 21, 2025, plenary session.
One key recommendation is to exclude medical cannabis from the provision in the Arzneimittelverschreibungsverordnung that permits prescriptions from other EU, EEA and Swiss physicians to be recognised in Germany.
This takes direct aim at what industry sources have described as ‘middlemen’, often foreign operators who are largely detached from the market. Regulators argue that they cannot verify whether foreign prescribers have fulfilled the mandatory in-person consultation required under the revised MedCanG, and therefore cannot enforce compliance with the new prescribing rules.
Federal states also report that pharmacy pricing has become inconsistent since medical cannabis was removed from the Narcotics Act, with some pharmacies arguing that the price regulation framework does not apply because cannabis is governed by the MedCanG rather than by the Arzneimittelgesetz. The committee argues that medical cannabis should remain subject to standard German medicines price rules, noting its classification as a prescription medicine and the need to avoid price competition in this category.
Prohibition Partners Lead Analyst Alex Khourdaji suggests the government’s push to restrict the market could actually be pushing up demand.
He told Business of Cannabis: “This substantial growth is being driven by several factors. One of the key reasons is the ease of obtaining medical cannabis prescriptions through telemedicine clinics following the adoption of CanG.
“Additionally, anticipated restrictions on mail-order pharmacies and online prescriptions are prompting suppliers to compete aggressively through variety and prices during the final months, when the German medical cannabis market will be the most liberalised it has been for the foreseeable future.
“Domestic distributors are also motivated to boost their sales in order to maintain high valuations and maximize their company value ahead of the inevitable market consolidation.”
In Poland, which imposed similar restrictions on the booming medical cannabis market last year, data shows that this precise dynamic played out there.
According to official data from the e-Health Centre, Poland’s official registry, collated by Hemp & Health, Poland’s medical cannabis prescription numbers peaked in October 2024, just a month before the rules change was implemented.
Mikołaj Rusin, a specialist in the Polish medical cannabis market, told Business of Cannabis: “After the 7th of November, when e-prescriptions were banned, everything changed. Patients rushed to stock up, some were prescribed 100 to 120 grams in one visit.”
Another critical amendment proposed by the German Health Committee would classify any mail order distribution of cannabis flowers as an administrative offence, noting that the draft law already prohibits mail order sales, and argues that violations should be penalised in line with similar provisions for controlled prescription forms.
Khourdaji added that while now is a particularly good time for patient access in Germany, it is looking increasingly likely to be temporary.
“For patients, this is a positive development: prices are at their lowest ever, and product variety has never been greater. However, this is a temporary dynamic, and patient access could soon be significantly impacted.”
