Contents
Market Overview
Germany remains Europe’s largest medical cannabis market, serving as both a regulatory model and commercial hub for the continent. Following the enactment of the Medical Cannabis Act (MedCanG) on 1 April 2024, Germany removed cannabis from its Narcotics Act (BtMG), dramatically reducing bureaucracy and triggering record levels of market expansion.
The estimated medical cannabis market size for 2025 exceeds €670 million, with forecasts projecting growth to over €XXX million by 2029 (Prohibition Partners Market Sizing Forecasts, 2025–2029).
The MedCanG reform has simplified production, prescribing, and distribution processes, enabling rapid scaling of patient access, particularly through telemedicine platforms. While the market remains largely import-driven, domestic cultivation is expanding under new authorisation rules that have replaced the previous tender system.
Germany’s well-developed supply chain of importers, distributors, pharmacies, and digital clinics positions it as the centre of gravity for European cannabis commerce, influencing regulatory development across the EU.
Regulatory Framework
The Cannabis Act (CanG), incorporating MedCanG, took effect on 1 April 2024, introducing wide-ranging reforms:
- Articles 2, 3 and 4 removed key administrative bottlenecks affecting production, distribution, patient access, and research.
- Medical cannabis was reclassified as a prescription-only medicine, no longer subject to narcotic-handling requirements.
- E-prescriptions were introduced, accelerating telemedicine growth and cross-regional access.
- Tender requirements for domestic cultivation were abolished; the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) now authorises cultivators under standard pharmaceutical licensing rules.
Officials have indicated that the framework will undergo a review in Q4 2025, potentially introducing tighter oversight of telemedicine clinics and online prescriptions, mirroring approaches adopted in other EU markets.oice.ed by the European Medicines Agency, such as Sativex, which remains available under a restricted prescription pathway.
Patient Access
Who Can Prescribe?
All licensed physicians in Germany are authorised to prescribe medical cannabis.
Publicly Insured Patients
Patients covered by statutory health insurance (SHI) are eligible for reimbursement if all of the following criteria are met:
- No standard therapy exists for the disease.
- Standard therapy is contraindicated due to side effects or disease status.
- There is a reasonable expectation that cannabis will improve symptoms or quality of life.
Privately Insured Patients
Private prescriptions are permitted when clinically justified for a specific indication; approval from insurers is typically faster and less restrictive.
Telemedicine Expansion
The combination of e-prescriptions and the removal of narcotic classification has enabled rapid growth of telemedicine clinics.
Leading platforms include DoktorABC, DrAnsay, and Green Medical, which report accelerating patient onboarding since Q2 2024.toring conducted through hospital networks.ad patient access, though reimbursement and bureaucratic complexity often limit uptake.
Over 20 platforms now operate nationwide.
The top five providers attract more than 150,000 monthly visitors each, according to June 2025 data.
Products & Prices
Germany continues to offer Europe’s widest range of medical cannabis products, primarily flower, with growing availability of extracts and vapour formulations.
- Average retail price (July 2025): €8.28 / gram (down from €9.19 in June 2024).
- Premium imported strains (Canada): > €11 / gram.
- Price reductions are driven by imports from Portugal, Colombia, and Uruguay, improving competition.
Import Share (2025):
50% of products remain imported from:
- Canada – largest supplier
- Portugal – 24 %
- Denmark – 10 %
- Others: Netherlands, Spain, Uruguay, Czech Republic, South Africa
Emerging suppliers (2024–25): Argentina, Czech Republic, Zimbabwe, New Zealand, United Kingdom.
Product Portfolio Highlights:
Ilios Santae – first vape extract (68 % THC, launched 2023)
Remexian – broadest Canadian portfolio
Tilray (Portugal) – largest Portuguese supplier
Demecan (Germany) – leading domestic producer
Imports & Exports
Germany remains Europe’s primary import destination for medical cannabis.
Import Trends:
- 2017–2023: steady growth (+4,000–8,000 kg per year)
- 2024: imports doubled to 72,000 kg, following MedCanG reforms
- Q2 2025: imports reached 44.5 tonnes (+20 % vs Q1 2025)
Top Suppliers (2025):
- Canada > 50 %
- Portugal 24 %
- Denmark 10 %
- Additional volumes from Uruguay, Spain, UK, Argentina, Zimbabwe, New Zealand
Exports remain limited, primarily research-based or pilot-scale shipments coordinated through BfArM.
Domestic Production
Before 2024, domestic cultivation was constrained by strict government tenders, capped at 2,600 kg per year, supplied by Tilray/Aphria, Aurora, and Demecan.
Post-MedCanG, these tender restrictions were abolished, enabling market-driven licensing and expansion.
Estimated 2025 Production Capacity:
- Aurora: 1,000 kg
- Tilray/Aphria: 1,000 kg
- Demecan: 2,000 kg
- Total (post-expansion potential): up to 5,000 kg
Although domestic cultivation remains modest relative to import volumes, increased flexibility and private investment are expected to gradually diversify supply and stabilise pricing.
Outlook
Germany’s medical cannabis market is entering a phase of maturity and integration. The MedCanG framework has removed structural barriers, improved efficiency, and attracted international capital.
Key trends shaping 2025 and beyond include:
- Continued import diversification and falling retail prices.
- Telemedicine consolidation, with possible regulatory tightening after the 2025 review.
- Expansion of domestic production under BfArM’s new licensing regime.
Germany remains Europe’s benchmark medical cannabis market, combining regulatory sophistication, market scale, and commercial opportunity unmatched elsewhere on the continent.
