First Cannabis Cultivation Association Approved In Berlin
Marzahn-Hellersdorf recently became the first district in Berlin to approve a cannabis cultivation association. Starting on July 1st, 2024, entities can apply with local regulatory authorities in Germany to create cannabis cultivation associations for adult cannabis consumers.
“The Green Leaf Society eV association received permission, which, according to district councilor Gordon Lemm (SPD), is due to the high sense of responsibility and the well-thought-out structure of the application.” the German Cannabis Business Association stated in a recent newsletter (translated from German to English).
“After a thorough review of the submitted documents, they meet the approval criteria set out in the law. The law places particular emphasis on the issues of youth protection, security, non-commercial structures and information on health and addiction risks for club members.” the District Office of Marzahn-Hellersdorf stated in a news release announcing the application approval.
“The Green Leaf Society’s proposal can certainly be seen as exemplary in many ways. I am sure that other potential cultivation associations can and will learn from it. I fundamentally hope for a responsible approach to cannabis in our society, the protection of our young people and the decline of criminal structures surrounding the issue. Every consumer can contribute to this.” stated district councilor Gordon Lemm (SPD).
After a rocky start, local German governments have started to receive applications for cultivation associations at an increasing rate, with over 200 applications received so far. Cultivation association memberships are capped at 500 members, and associations must adhere to various rules and regulations.
The first cultivation association approval occurred in Lower Saxony in early July. Officials in North Rhine-Westphalia previously estimated that their state could eventually be home to as many as 3,000 cultivation associations based on population. Applying the same population-based calculation, Berlin could eventually be home to over 600 cultivation associations.
Cannabis cultivation associations are part of the first phase (pillar 1) of Germany’s adult-use legalization model. Starting on April 1st, 2024, adults in Germany can cultivate, possess, and consume cannabis for recreational purposes.
The second phase of Germany’s legalization model (pillar 2) involves permitting local municipalities to launch regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot research trials. Per our recent reporting, over two dozen municipalities in Germany have indicated that they will launch their own pilot trials once the regulatory process is implemented.
A supermajority of respondents in a recent survey in Germany hold a positive or neutral view of the nation’s modernized approach to cannabis policy and regulation.
“According to a recent representative survey by the Björn Steiger Foundation, 61 percent of Germans have never consumed cannabis, or at least not in the last 12 months. In the new federal states, the figure for never-consumers is almost 50 percent, which is almost 10 percent higher than the figure in the old federal states.” stated the Björn Steiger Foundation.
“Around 70 percent of respondents see the partial legalization as positive or neutral, with male respondents showing significantly greater approval.” the organization also stated.
