Over Two Dozen German Cities Reportedly Want To Launch Adult-Use Cannabis Pilots
This year will go down in the history books as the most transformative year ever for German cannabis policy. The approval and continued implementation of the nation’s new CanG law has transformed Germany’s policy and industry landscape in ways that did not seem possible in decades past.
Adults in Germany can now cultivate, possess, and consume cannabis legally. Additionally, applications for German cultivation associations have been rolling in since the start of July, with reportedly over 200 applications being received so far.
Another major component of Germany’s legalization model involves the launch of regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials. Regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials involve permitting a limited number of producers, retailers, and adult consumers to create, distribute, and/or purchase legal cannabis for recreational purposes, with the data gathered from the pilot trials providing insight for national researchers, lawmakers, and regulators.
According to local reporting by Hassenschau, “a total of up to 25 cities want to take part” in German cannabis pilot research projects, which is more than what is currently operating in both Switzerland and the Netherlands combined. Although, even more German cities are expected to announce their intentions to launch pilots in the coming months.
An example can be found in Wiesbaden, a city in the western German state of Hesse, where officials recently published a letter of intent to participate in the nation’s eventual regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot program. The city’s letter of intent provides insight into the pilot trial application process.
“At the end of 2021, Wiesbaden city councilors had already decided that the state capital should pursue a model project for the distribution of cannabis through specialist shops together with other municipalities. On Thursday, August 15, Health Minister Milena Löbcke signed a letter of intent, which is a first step towards implementing the decision.” city officials stated in a recent press release.
“The Cannabis Research Germany association will soon apply for a nationwide and research-based model project under the scientific supervision of the Center for Interdisciplinary Addiction Research Hamburg at the federal level. In addition to Wiesbaden, other cities from all over Germany and the Rhine-Main region want to join this project. At the request of the Health Department, the pharmacies established in the city and with a high level of expertise are to be considered as future dispensing points for Wiesbaden. The Cannabis Coordination Office in the Health Department, which is currently being filled, will be primarily responsible for municipal support.” stated Wiesbaden officials.
“The final participation of the state capital Wiesbaden in the research project will be decided after the application has been approved by the Federal Office for Food and Agriculture, once the final framework conditions have been established by this office.” the city concluded.
Current European Union policies prohibit nationwide recreational sales, such as what is found in Canada. However, recreational commerce for research purposes is permitted under EU law. Back in February 2023, Switzerland’s first pilot research trial launched in Basel.
“So far, a total of nine pilot trials with cannabis for non-medical purposes have been authorized in various Swiss cities, among them the one in Zürich, which is the largest,” Daniel Dauwalde, media spokesman for Switzerland’s Federal Department of Home Affairs, stated in an email to Forbes in March 2024.
Pilot trials in the Netherlands launched earlier this summer, and currently, ten municipalities are part of the public policy research experiment. Pilot programs in Germany, combined with home cultivation and cultivation associations, will serve as the legal means by which adults can source their cannabis products in Germany for the foreseeable future.
