Germany Now Has 343 Licensed Cannabis Clubs, Led by North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony

About one and a half years after the partial legalization of cannabis came into force, there are 343 clubs in Germany that are allowed to grow cannabis for their members.

This is the result of a survey of the relevant state ministries and their subordinate authorities, which “Spiegel” reports it conducted. As expected, North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous federal state, leads the way with 96 approved cannabis associations, followed by Lower Saxony with 68.

Germany sees rapid growth in cannabis clubs 18 months after legalization, as officials call for stricter regulations and lower THC levels

Cannabis smokers have the easiest access to cannabis in Lower Saxony, where there are 8.5 clubs per million inhabitants. This number is expected to increase soon: According to the Lower Saxony Chamber of Agriculture, there are currently more than 50 applications from clubs that could also receive a permit. In Hamburg, 13 clubs currently have permission to cultivate and distribute weed, and in Schleswig-Holstein, 10.

Meanwhile, cannabis clubs in Bavaria apparently have a much harder time obtaining licenses—or perhaps there are fewer people there who want to establish such a club: The authorities in the Free State have so far approved only eight clubs. In Baden-Württemberg, there are 26 cultivation associations. In eastern Germany, Saxony has the most clubs: 21 in total.

During the federal election campaign, CDU leader and current Chancellor Friedrich Merz promised to repeal the law legalizing cannabis. “I want to protect my children and grandchildren from legally taking such drugs,” he said at the time. In their election platform, the CDU and CSU announced they would reverse the legalization. After the federal election, the CDU-CSU coalition agreed to have the law evaluated by 2028.

Germany experiences a surge in cannabis clubs following legalization

It is now considered unlikely that it will be repealed again, as announced by the CDU/CSU. Hendrik Streeck (CDU), the Federal Government’s Commissioner for Addiction and Drugs, responded to a query from “Spiegel” that the law needed to be “tightened in some areas.”

Streeck stated that the average THC content of legal cannabis products is too high in Germany. The drug commissioner also criticized the fact that private individuals are allowed to grow three cannabis plants at home. “The intention of the law was not for one talented hobby gardener to supply their entire circle of friends.” Three plants could produce up to one kilogram of cannabis, which is equivalent to around 4,000 joints and has little to do with personal use.

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(Featured image by Erik Mclean via Unsplash)

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

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