International

Germany: Cannabis imports soar 400%. Government asks European Commission to tighten access rules

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1 month ago

October

Laura Ramos

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Germany recently submitted a draft bill to the European Commission that proposes tightening controls on prescriptions and dispensing of cannabis for medicinal purposes in the country. This is a clear sign of the government's intention to limit practices previously facilitated by telemedicine, which has caused cannabis imports into the country to skyrocket by approximately 400%, from 19 to 80 tons. The proposal was approved today in the Council of Ministers and it is now up to Parliament to take the next step.

The German government has submitted to the TRIS mechanism (notification of regulatory barriers) the bill to amend the “Medizinal-Cannabisgesetz” (MedCanG) as a way to curb the explosive growth in prescriptions and imports of cannabis flowers for medicinal use in the country. The notification may proceed via an urgent procedure, which will allow for shorter moratorium periods.

According to the proposal published by the German government, “dSince the law came into effect in April 2024, a worrying trend has been observed regarding the consumption of cannabis flowers for medicinal purposes. In the first half of 2025, imports increased by more than 400% compared to the same period last year – from approximately 19 to approximately 80 tons,” the document states, which continues, noting that “this increase is not due to increased demand among seriously ill patients, as medical prescriptions for mandatory health plans increased by only a single digit percentage.”

The number of prescriptions within the public system has barely increased, suggesting that much of the growth has occurred through private prescriptions and telemedicine platforms. The government interprets this phenomenon as evidence of overuse or abuse in the digital connectivity of cannabis supply, potentially confusing medicinal with recreational purposes.

Thus, the aim of the bill is to “correct these negative trends while ensuring the supply of medicinal cannabis to patients with serious illnesses.”

Federal Minister of Health Nina Warken added that "medical cannabis is a prescription-only medicine and not a product for purely recreational purposes. The massive increase in cannabis imports and the practice of online prescribing without any personal medical contact require political action. The use of cannabis for medicinal purposes must be regularly clarified in a face-to-face consultation between doctor and patient. We will prohibit the misuse of online prescriptions. For patients who rely on medical cannabis for medicinal purposes, supply will continue to be guaranteed," she explained.

Main changes proposed by the German government:

Mandatory face-to-face contact
The new draft bill requires that the initial prescription of cannabis flowers only occur after a face-to-face consultation between the physician and the patient, either in the office or during a home visit. This requires consideration of the patient's health status, medical conditions, and other medications being taken, which generally requires a careful medical history and physical examination. Furthermore, it is necessary to obtain ongoing information about the risk of dependence and the potential physical or psychological consequences of consumption, which can vary depending on the extent and duration of use.
Prohibition on sending by mail
The proposal eliminates the possibility of dispensing cannabis flowers by mail, arguing that the informational, counseling, and pharmaceutical supervision nature requires direct patient care. However, "Botendienst" (deliveries made by local pharmacies under their responsibility) will continue to be permitted.
Medical and scientific use only in formal clinical trials
The proposal also clarifies that uses termed “medical-scientific” should be restricted to formal clinical trials, preventing the justification of experimental initiatives under informal scientific labels.

Legislative procedure and legal risks

For now, the draft is in the “Referentenentwurf” (administrative consultation) phase, still pending approval by the Cabinet (which has already occurred) and subsequent parliamentary processing.

TRIS notification No. 2025/0552/DE was registered on October 2, 2025. Field 11 of the TRIS form, to which Germany responded positively, indicates the possible use of an emergency procedure to waive the standard three-month moratorium. If validated by the European Commission, this could speed up the process.

There are legal analyses that question the compatibility of these restrictions with EU law, particularly with the freedom to provide services and the proportionality of restrictions on telemedicine.

Expected consequences and reactions

If approved, the measures will represent a significant tightening of German medical cannabis policy, undermining telemedicine models and reducing digital access to therapy. Patients will now rely on more frequent travel and in-person appointments. From the perspective of doctors and digital platforms, criticism is emerging regarding professional freedom and potential regulatory discrimination between national and European practices.

There is also debate over whether the government acted prematurely by interfering with the regulatory review process that was due to take place in autumn 2025, as stipulated in the coalition agreement.

Next Steps

The European Commission will now review the TRIS notification and decide whether or not to apply the urgency procedure.
Amendments may be introduced in the German Parliament and the Bundesrat, and many points may still be changed.
Compatibility with European law will be tested, especially with regard to the cross-border provision of medical services and the proportionality of restrictions.
Patient organizations, medical associations, and telemedicine platforms should participate in the public consultation phase to suggest adjustments.

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[Disclaimer: Please note that this text was originally written in Portuguese and is translated into English and other languages using an automatic translator. Some words may differ from the original and typos or errors may occur in other languages.]

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Laura Ramos

With a degree in Journalism from the University of Coimbra, Laura Ramos has a postgraduate degree in Photography and has been a Journalist since 1998. Winner of the Business of Cannabis Awards in the category "Journalist of the Year 2024", Laura was a correspondent for Jornal de Notícias in Rome, Italy, and Press Officer in the Office of the Minister of Education of the 21st Portuguese Government. She has an international certification in Permaculture (PDC) and created the street-art photography archive “Say What? Lisbon” @saywhatlisbon. Co-founder and Editor of CannaReporter® and coordinator of PTMC - Portugal Medical Cannabis, Laura directed the documentary “Pacientes” and was part of the steering group of the first Postgraduate Course in GxP's for Medicinal Cannabis in Portugal, in partnership with the Military Laboratory and the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Lisbon.

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Germany: Cannabis imports soar 400%. Government asks European Commission to tighten access rules

International