german Cabinet to Tighten Medical Cannabis Access Amid Surge in Imports
Berlin – The German federal cabinet has decided to amend both โthe Medical Cannabis Act and police law, alongside ongoing โฃhospital reforms, responding to a more than 400 โคpercent โincrease in medical cannabis imports during theโข first half of 2025. Theโ changes aim to restrict availability and addressโ concerns that the currentโ regulations โare being exploited, whileโ simultaneously bolstering โฃlaw enforcement capabilities and โmodernizing hospital infrastructure.
The decision to revise theโ Medical Cannabis Act stems from observations of a critically important rise in cannabis flower consumption forโ medical purposes as the law’s โimplementation in April 2024. According toโ the Federal Ministry ofโ Health, imports jumped โfrom approximately โ19 tons to around โฃ80 tons between the first halves of 2024โ and 2025. Officials assert this increase does not correlate with a comparable โขrise in โฃmedical need, as โclaimsโค toโค statutory health insurance onlyโข increasedโค by a single-digit percentage.The proposed amendments will reinstate โrequirements for โฃin-person doctor consultations for prescriptionsโฃ and prohibit the directโ shipment โof cannabis products to patients.
Alongside โthe cannabis regulations, the cabinet is also movingโ forward โwith changes to the policeโข lawโข and a complete hospital reform plan. Details regarding the police law amendments whereโ not promptlyโ available, โbut are expected toโ addressโ evolving securityโ challenges. The hospital reform, โฃa long-debated initiative, โseeks to improve efficiency, modernize facilities, and ensure equitable access to โhealthcare across Germany.โ These โขreforms are โฃcritical as Germany faces demographic shifts and increasing demands on its healthcare system.
The amendments to โขthe โmedical Cannabis Actโ are expected to be debated in parliament in the coming weeks. the government anticipates the changes โwill curbโฃ misuse of the system and ensure medical cannabis is โคaccessible only to โขthose with genuine medical needs.