Legalization Of Cannabis In Germany

After the legalization of medical marijuana in Germany in 2017, there has been a surge in interest from both patients who may benefit from cannabinoids and companies that produce and sell the drug.

Patients who meet the criteria for medicinal cannabis use and have failed to respond to traditional medicine will now expect to receive cannabis-based medications, though marijuana products are still out of reach for those looking to use them recreationally.

We will discuss some main points about the legal and political status of cannabis in Germany.

Is it legal to own and use cannabis in Germany?

The German Federal Narcotics Act makes it illegal to possess cannabis in Germany. If found in possession of certain drugs, the criminal faces a maximum sentence of five years in jail.

Cannabis use, on the other hand, is not classified as a crime. If a criminal is found with small quantities of cannabis for personal use, the legislation provides several options for punishment. These options are chosen based on the following criteria:

Cannabis’ current legal status in Germany

Cannabis is currently only legal for medical purposes in Germany. Only with the approval of the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices can the plant be cultivated, marketed, owned, imported, or exported, and critically ill patients can be prescribed cannabis-based drugs.

Other than that, possessing cannabis is illegal, punishable by fines or, depending on the number, up to five years in jail under the country’s Narcotics Act (BtMG).

Even so, the penalty for private consumption is comparatively light. According to the statute, those in possession of a small quantity of the substance may prevent punishment — however small is a subjective term.

Germany’s medical cannabis

Pot imports are at an all-time high as a result of medical cannabis legalization, and the German industry is considered the largest legal cannabis market outside of North America. There are many medical cannabis provider health care companies like Drapalin, if you need cannabis for medical purposes you can get from there.

About 4 million Germans use marijuana, according to estimates. The graph of cannabis flower imports demonstrates Germany’s high demand for medicinal cannabis. 4126 kg of marijuana was smuggled in the first half of 2020, up 60 percent from the same time in 2019.

Though medical marijuana was supposed to be legalized in Germany, no one expected the demand among patients to be so high. Germany depended exclusively on imported cannabis products from other countries to meet the needs of its patients until 2019. As a result, problems arose, with production often failing to reach demand. However, as the country progresses in developing its domestic industry, the situation is likely to improve. The first medicinal cannabis harvest in Germany is expected at the end of 2020.

Available Medication

Patients in Germany can currently choose from three medicinal cannabis products. Sativex, Dronabinol, and Nabilone are the three. However, they are all costly, which ensures that certain patients will be unable to afford them (unless their health insurance covers them). Medical cannabis can only be bought from a legal cannabis provider like Drapalin.

Cannabis flowers, such as those created by Bedrocan, Tweed, and Aurora, are also available. These flowers may be bought from the pharmacy at the patient’s expense.

Is it possible for cannabis to be legalized in the future?

At the time of writing, the Green Party is likely to play a role in the next administration. This is focused on their most recent polling findings, which indicate a high level of public support for their policies. If this is the case, their Cannabis Control Act may be passed, effectively decriminalizing recreational cannabis use. Until cannabis gets legalized you can get cannabis for medical purposes from Drapalin.

The number of patients rose from 1000 to 8000 in the first year after legalization. By November 2018, the number of patients had risen to 40 000. Legal cannabinoids sales brought in $73 million to the budget by the end of 2018, and the sales volume is exponentially increasing every year. By 2028, revenues are expected to reach 136 billion. Approximately two-thirds of health insurance providers now cover the costs of patients who have been prescribed medicinal marijuana. There are more chances of cannabis getting legalized as the market is developing day by day.