Germany Cannabis Law

Germany became the largest cannabis market in Europe with the passage of the Cannabis Act (KCanG) in April 2024, legalizing personal possession and cultivation. The second pillar — commercial licensing for cannabis retail stores — is proceeding under regional pilot programs. Germany's status as the EU's largest economy makes it the anchor market for European cannabis investment and regulatory strategy.

Bob Hoban advised US operators and European investment funds on the regulatory pathway following the KCanG's passage, analyzing license structures, import/export frameworks under EU law, and German GmbH entity structures for market entry. The interaction between German federal law and the EU's Schengen treaty framework creates unique cross-border compliance obligations for multi-country operators.

Hot topics include the BfArM's implementing regulations, the tension between KCanG and EU treaties, the German medical cannabis import regime (still the world's largest by volume), and M&A opportunities in the legacy German pharmacy distribution network adapting to the new regime.