Germany’s Cannabis Legalization Struggles to Curb Black Market

Drying up the black market, decriminalizing consumption: The goals of the coalition government were ambitious. The cannabis law came into effect just over two years ago. Since April 1st, 2024, the possession and cultivation of cannabis has been legal for adults in Germany under certain conditions. And those who don’t want to grow their own at home have the option of joining a cannabis social club.

There are currently six cultivation associations in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Rostock and Greifswald each have two clubs, and Wismar and Anklam each have one. The associations received their permits for cannabis cultivation from the State Office for Agriculture, Food Safety and Fisheries Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (LALLF-MV).

This authority not only grants the permits but also monitors the clubs. A total of eleven cultivation associations have submitted applications in the past two years. One was rejected, and four other applications were withdrawn by the associations themselves.

The black cannabis market continues to flourish

One of the first to receive approval is the “SoChill-Green” association from Greifswald. Founder and chairman Marc Thalus , who faced numerous challenges in recent months, said, “I’m just glad it’s over and we passed. It was a huge task, but we mastered it.” The club now has over 250 members. In their growing facilities on the outskirts of Greifswald, there are just over 400 hemp plants. Another harvest is planned for July.

Despite the cultivation associations, the black market is still thriving. According to the Ministry of the Interior, twelve illegal cannabis plantations were raided in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in 2023. In 2024, 15 plantations were discovered by police, and last year the number was 14. The ministry therefore assumes that a significant portion of the supply continues to be obtained through the illegal market and that legal sources cannot meet the existing demand for cannabis.

High bureaucratic hurdles

Interior Minister Christian Pegel (SPD) minces no words: “The partial legalization of cannabis is not a free pass. Our benchmark remains public safety. A look at the figures makes it clear that the black market hasn’t automatically disappeared. It is therefore crucial to effectively curb illegal structures and reliably enforce existing regulations.”

But why does a black market still exist? Marc Thalus of the cannabis club “SoChill-Green” is convinced there are too few legal dispensaries. Furthermore, the bureaucratic hurdles are enormous: “The requirements for a club are extremely stringent.”

Advice centers are reporting a slight increase in inquiries

Part of the cannabis law is the scientific evaluation. A research group commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Health is investigating the social impact, consumption patterns, and the development of the black market. The interim report after two years shows that cannabis consumption has barely increased significantly despite partial legalization. At the same time, legal sources of supply are growing. How the law will affect the work of addiction counseling centers is not yet clear.

“However, there are slight indications that the number of inquiries at addiction counseling centers, as well as at the psychiatric outpatient clinic, regarding cannabis use has increased since partial legalization, although for many patients, consumption often has other underlying causes,” says Stefan Papke, head of the counseling and treatment centers at the Johanna Odebrecht Foundation.

An addiction counselor in Waren talking to an alcoholic who is now sober.

Addiction support services in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: When support centers are under pressure to cut costs

Nowhere else in Germany are there as many alcoholics as in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Yet districts and cities are looking for potential savings in support services.

Medical cannabis: High risk of addiction

In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the organization operates a total of six addiction counseling centers and outpatient clinics. Patients, particularly those aged 30 to 50, are increasingly consuming cannabinoids.

Self-medication plays a central role in this. “These patient groups sometimes receive private prescriptions for medical cannabis, which has a much higher THC content, significantly increasing the risk of developing further mental health problems and addiction,” Papke continued.

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(Featured image by Elsa Olofsson via Pexels)

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First published in Ndr. A third-party contributor translated and adapted the article from the original. In case of discrepancy, the original will prevail.

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