Germany cannabis sale: Germany has approved new curbs on how medical cannabis is prescribed and dispensed, aiming to rein in a sharp rise in imports since recreational use was legalised last year.
Under an amendment endorsed by the cabinet, patients will need in-person consultations to obtain a cannabis prescription. Mail-order delivery will be banned, and dispensing will be limited to brick-and-mortar pharmacies to ensure face-to-face counselling.
Also Read | Cannabis-based drug eases chronic back pain in trial, developers seek EU approval
Germany became the ninth country to legalise recreational cannabis in April 2024. The government said cannabis imports jumped more than 400% in the first half of 2025 versus the same period a year earlier. Health Minister Nina Warken said the surge, along with “prescribing cannabis online without any personal medical contact,” required swift political action.
Officials stressed the spike was not driven by seriously ill patients: prescriptions billed through the statutory health insurance system rose only by a single-digit percentage. The draft changes now move to parliament for consideration.
