News12 June 2025
one year on, German cannabis legalization has uncertain future
Last year, Germany took a bold step in European drug policy by decriminalizing cannabis possession, permitting home cultivation, and allowing non-profit associations, an initiative that has already led to over 100,000 criminal cases avoided and a sharp drop in cannabis-related arrests. However, the pivotal Phase 2, which would enable commercial sales, has stalled amid political shifts, leaving non-profit associations burdened by strict regulations, high startup costs, and sluggish licensing procedures. Despite these challenges, the "cannabis-reform genie is out of the bottle," positioning Germany to lead Europe in building an evidence-based, harm-reduction-oriented regulatory model; if lawmakers choose to follow facts rather than fear.
