Germany has emerged as Europe’s biggest regulated marijuana market since introducing limited legalization two years ago, with imports climbing sharply. The expansion has renewed debate over public health, illegal supply, and whether the country’s reforms have gone too far.
Figures from the Federal Health Institute show that legal cannabis imports have increased roughly sixfold since 2024. The changes were introduced under the government of former Chancellor Olaf Scholz, allowing adults to possess limited quantities, grow plants privately, and obtain cannabis through medical prescriptions.
The policy now faces criticism from conservative politicians. Members of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democrats and the Bavarian CSU have raised concerns about enforcement and potential health consequences. CSU Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has strongly criticized the legislation, arguing that it has weakened efforts to prevent drug use and tackle related offences.
Family Minister Karin Prien has separately called for greater investment in preventing cannabis use among young people. She has stressed the importance of early intervention due to the potential risks associated with drug consumption during adolescence.
The Ministry of Health has proposed legislation aimed at tightening access to medical marijuana, particularly to reduce the possibility of prescriptions being used to obtain cannabis for recreational purposes. The Social Democrats oppose parts of the proposal, which is expected to reach parliament for discussion in the autumn.
The scale of the medical market has expanded considerably. Imports rose from 8,143 kilograms during the first quarter of 2024 to 50,539 kilograms during the same period this year.
Research from the University of Hamburg estimated that over 200 tons of marijuana were available across Germany in 2025, with domestic production accounting for only 2.6 tons. Prohibition Partners valued the market at about $997 million that year.
Researchers also reported an increase in cannabis-related hospital admissions, which they linked partly to stronger varieties of the drug. Jakob Manthey, who led the study, said the illicit market appears to be contracting even though overall consumption has changed little.
Manthey has argued that products should provide clearer information about THC levels. He also warned that some producers take advantage of regulatory weaknesses by selling products without strong scientific evidence supporting their claimed benefits.
Despite legal changes, much of Germany’s cannabis supply remains outside the formal medical system. A 2025 study found that social networks accounted for 35.2% of consumption, while home cultivation represented another 21%.
Meanwhile, cannabis-related crime has fallen by about two-thirds, while overall use has remained broadly steady. Wastewater testing shows crack and cocaine consumption has nearly doubled over the same period, although researchers say the rise in harder drugs began before cannabis reform.
For companies like Curaleaf Holdings Inc. (CSE: CURA) (OTCQX: CURLF) that have subsidiaries operating in Germany, the expansion of the market presents opportunities to scale up operations and benefit from this market growth.
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