German cannabis imports rise to 34.6 tons in 2023 and a big growth is expected for 2024

Germany imported a record amount of cannabis for medical and scientific use in 2023, as international businesses looked for sales opportunities in Europe’s largest federally regulated medical marijuana market.

 

In 2023, Germany imported 31,398 kilograms (34.6 tons) of cannabis products, according to the newest data from the country’s Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM).

 

That’s a 26.2% increase over the 24,876 kilograms imported the previous year.

In previous years, Germany imported:

• 24,876 kilograms (27.4 tons) of cannabis in 2022, up 19.8% over 2021.
• 20,771 kilograms (22.9 tons) in 2021, a 77% surge over the previous year.
• 11,746 kilograms (12,8 tons) in 2020, 46% more than in 2019.
• 8,057 kilograms (8.9 tons) in 2019, which was 80% more than 2018’s total cannabis imports.

An unknown amount of those imports is re exported to other European Union countries every year, but industry experts say the data still paints a picture of an industry that is growing fast.

 

Germany has been one of the largest importers of medical cannabis for years, a relief for marijuana exporters that generally struggle to access meaningful import markets. However, Germany’s cannabis law, which took effect April 1, removed marijuana from its classification as a narcotic. That means patients seeking access to medical cannabis in Germany will no longer require a narcotic prescription form.

 

“The German market is a great possibility because of the sustained growth it has been generating for the last 4 years,” said Facundo Sosa Liprandi, co-founder of Patagonia Heritage. Likewise, the businessman stressed that, “the main thing is to promote a quality product that accompanies the economic capacity of patients.”