German Political Divide Deepens Over Interim Cannabis Report Findings
October 6, 2025
Last week, Business of Cannabis reported on the publication of Germany’s first official evaluation of its Recreational Cannabis Act (KCanG) and the early data suggesting limited social and health impacts from legalisation. The EKOCAN interim report also underscored the growing political tensions surrounding the country’s cannabis policy. In this follow-up, Matthias Meyer examines how those divides are shaping the national debate — from coalition disputes and calls for revision to demands for a more robust legal supply system.
The Recreational Cannabis Act (KCanG), in force for almost a year and a half, continues to stir debate among German politicians.
Since the start of the government’s cannabis policy shift, lawmakers have frequently revisited the consequences of this paradigm change. While the governing coalition partners were involved in drafting the legislation, many conservative CDU members of the Bundestag remain highly critical of legal access to the previously prohibited substance. Even before the publication of interim scientific results, their stance was clear: the law needs to be significantly revised or even abolished.
The first interim report by EKOCAN — Evaluation of the Cannabis Consumption Act — has now been released. It was compiled by research teams from the Centre for Interdisciplinary Addiction Research at the University of Hamburg, the Centre for Health and Society at the University of Düsseldorf, and the Institute of Criminology (IfK) at the University of Tübingen.
EKOCAN was commissioned to study the effects of partial legalisation on child and youth protection, public health, and cannabis-related crime. The interim findings cover data collected up to August 2025.
The full report is available here (in German).
Key Findings
The report concludes that no significant changes have occurred since the KCanG came into force compared with the period of prohibition. Consumption rates have remained relatively stable, and cannabis-related health problems have not risen notably. According to the study, ‘While cannabis use among young people continues to decline slightly, a slight increase in cannabis use among adults can still be observed.’
An estimated five million people in Germany used cannabis in 2024, with around one million consuming daily or almost daily. Lead researcher Jakob Manthey noted that consumption patterns have remained stable in the short term.
Criminologist Jörg Kinzig described the reform as ‘the most significant decriminalisation in the history of the Federal Republic in terms of quantity’. In 2024, at least 100,000 fewer cannabis offences were recorded than the previous year. However, reductions in prison sentences and police workloads are not yet fully realised due to the emergence of new administrative offences.
The report also found no substantial rise in cannabis-related road safety risks
October 2, 2025
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Black Market Impact
One of the key objectives of legalisation was to reduce the black market. Yet, the interim report offers no reliable data on how much cannabis is still bought through illegal channels. It is evident, however, that access to legal supply remains limited.
Only around 300 cannabis social clubs (CSCs) currently operate, covering an estimated 0.1 per cent of demand. Several thousand clubs would be required for nationwide coverage, but many prospective founders face lengthy licensing procedures that hinder operations. The researchers recommend that the ‘framework conditions for licensing and operation of cultivation associations’ be simplified.
Given the scarcity of CSCs, demand for telemedicine platforms providing access to medical cannabis is increasing. In 2024 alone, 100 tonnes of medical cannabis were sold legally — fuelling political suspicion of misuse.
Home Cultivation Trends
EKOCAN estimates that 35 per cent of regular consumers now grow their own cannabis. Although the law permits three plants and 50 grams at harvest, some growers produce more, sharing within their social circles. This informal exchange has become an important source for many users, while pharmacies are only occasionally used — and it remains unclear whether all purchasers are medical patients.
With imports of medical cannabis sharply rising, the report suggests that ‘consumers without medical needs also obtain medical cannabis’. Total national demand in 2024 was between 670 and 823 tonnes, with 12 to 14 per cent of this supplied through legal medical channels.
October 6, 2025
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September 24, 2025
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Political Reactions
Supporters of the KCanG within the SPD and Green Party see the findings as validation of their approach. SPD legal expert Carmen Wegge said the data confirm that ‘the legalisation of cannabis was the right and long overdue step’, while acknowledging that CSC licensing must be improved to strengthen legal supply.
Green Party health spokesperson Linda Heitmann argued it is ‘important to continue consistently along the path we have chosen’ and to refine existing regulations. She added that since legalisation has been carefully managed, there has been no rise in youth consumption, addiction, or traffic risks, and the policy has eased burdens on law enforcement.
Georg Wurth, spokesperson for the German Hemp Association, also welcomed the findings, saying: ‘It was right and long overdue to finally end the mass prosecution of simple cannabis users. No significant negative effects have been detected. Now is the time to expand legal supply channels in order to ensure greater consumer protection and further reduce the black market.’
Conservative Criticism
By contrast, CDU/CSU politicians interpret the results as evidence of failure. Alexander Hoffmann, CSU regional group leader, claimed that addiction problems among young people are still increasing and that the law has ‘done a disservice to youth protection and road safety’.
Federal Government Drug Commissioner Hendrik Streeck said ‘undesirable developments are already becoming apparent, particularly in youth protection’, adding that early intervention has declined as fewer minors now enter the juvenile justice system. He warned that higher-potency cannabis and easy access among young people present growing health risks.
Streeck concluded that the law ‘urgently needs more clarity, more enforceability and, above all, a clear focus on prevention and help for young people’, arguing that otherwise ‘it will go in the wrong direction’.
Although EKOCAN’s conclusion states that ‘there is currently no urgent need for action with regard to changing the KCanG’, several CDU politicians have called for the law’s complete repeal. Thuringia’s CDU Minister-President Mario Voigt described it as ‘absolutely the wrong approach to what Germany needs from start to finish’.
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