07/04/2024
Prepared by: New Zealand Embassy Berlin, in consultation with NZTE
Summary
- On 1 April Germany became the third EU country to legalise the private cultivation and consumption of recreational cannabis (after Malta and Luxembourg), and the ninth country to do so worldwide.
- The domestic production and marketing of medical cannabis has also been liberalised which is expected to increase domestic demand and production.
- Domestic production and marketing will no longer be restricted by centralised tenders and redistribution, but will be open to any producer who obtains a licence.
- Medical cannabis is no longer classified as a narcotic, and can now be prescribed like other pharmaceuticals.
- Imports of medical cannabis continue to grow, including from New Zealand. Exporters could benefit from the expected boost in demand, but also face increasing competition from German suppliers.
© New Zealand Embassy Berlin, in consultation with NZTE