Legal & Regulatory

Hanover and Frankfurt Will Be the First German Cities to Legally Sell Cannabis for Adult Use

Frankfurt and Hanover are launching five-year pilot projects for legal, regulated cannabis sales to adults, aiming to reduce illegal market demand, address health risks from contaminated products, and create safer environments with age verification and health monitoring. These projects, supported by public and private institutions, will provide data to guide national cannabis policy in Germany.

Pilot Projects for Legal Cannabis Sales Are Coming to Germany, with two cities, Frankfurt and Hanover, planning to open shops where participants can legally buy cannabis products under regulated conditions, creating what could become a model for national cannabis reform in Germany.

For more news like this, along with all the latest in legalization, research, and lifestyle, download our free cannabis news app.

Hanover Pioneering a Cannabis Project

The Hanover model project, led by Mayor Belit Onay of the Green Party, could launch as early as 2025. The five-year project will allow participants to buy cannabis products from up to three authorized outlets. Open to about 4,000 Hanover residents aged 18 and over, the project aims to evaluate the social, health, and economic impacts of legal cannabis sales.

Participants in Hanover will register online or in designated stores and receive a pseudonymized ID card, allowing them to purchase legal quantities of cannabis.

Research led by Hanover Medical School (MHH) will track participant behavior and health outcomes throughout the project. As the city’s mayor explains, this approach considers the rising cannabis consumption across age groups and acknowledges the ineffectiveness of prohibition policies: “The number of people using cannabis across all age groups in Germany is steadily increasing.”

By carefully monitoring legal consumption, Hanover seeks to address issues such as the rise in THC levels and contaminants in black-market cannabis, both of which pose significant public health risks.

The Frankfurt Model

Similarly, Frankfurt will undertake a five-year study allowing adults to legally purchase cannabis from four licensed stores. The initiative, coordinated by Elke Voitl and Artur Schroers of the city’s drug and health departments, aims to combat the health risks associated with the illegal cannabis market.

Sanity Group GmbH, a pharmaceutical company with experience in regulated cannabis distribution in Switzerland, will oversee the Frankfurt project’s implementation in collaboration with Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences.

A primary goal of the Frankfurt project is to curb illegal cannabis sales and provide safer, tested products. According to Voitl, contaminated cannabis products pose significant health risks, with studies indicating up to 70% of samples contain harmful impurities. The model project aims to mitigate these risks by offering clean, regulated cannabis in a controlled environment with mandatory age verification and health checks.

Participants in Frankfurt will undergo regular health screenings, and certain groups, such as pregnant women and individuals with mental health issues, will be excluded to ensure their well-being.

This medically supervised model aims not only to reduce black-market demand in Frankfurt, but also to provide early support for individuals showing signs of problematic consumption.

Expected Outcomes and Future Implications

Hanover and Frankfurt have high expectations for their model projects. These regulated systems are expected to reduce crime rates associated with illegal drug sales, decrease health risks related to contaminated products, and enhance youth protection.

Unlike illicit vendors, who do not enforce age restrictions, these pilot shops will strictly adhere to German age laws, creating a safer environment for consumers and communities.

The involvement of Sanity Group allows for collaboration between public institutions and private companies to study effective cannabis regulation. The findings from these studies in Frankfurt and Hanover could inform future national policies, potentially expanding regulated cannabis access across Germany and creating a comprehensive framework for cannabis legalization.

(Featured image by Pixabay via Pexels)

DISCLAIMER: This article was written by a third-party contributor and does not reflect the opinion of Hemp.im, its management, staff, or its associates. Please review our disclaimer for more information.

This article may include forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “become,” “plan,” “will,” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks as well as uncertainties, including those discussed in the following cautionary statements and elsewhere in this article and on this site. Although the company may believe that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, the actual results that the company may achieve may differ materially from any forward-looking statements, which reflect the opinions of the management of the company only as of the date hereof. Additionally, please make sure to read these important disclosures.

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

Although we made reasonable efforts to provide accurate translations, some parts may be incorrect. Hemp.im assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions or ambiguities in the translations provided on this website. Any person or entity relying on translated content does so at their own risk. Hemp.im is not responsible for losses caused by such reliance on the accuracy or reliability of translated information. If you wish to report an error or inaccuracy in the translation, we encourage you to contact us.

Valerie Harrison

Valerie Harrison is a mom of two who likes reporting about the world of finance. She learned about the value of investing at a young age upon taking over her family's textile business when she was just a teenager. Valerie's passion for writing can be traced back to working with an editorial team at her corporate job, where she spent significant time working on market analysis and stock market predictions. Her portfolio includes real estate funds, government bonds, and equities in emerging markets such as cannabis, artificial intelligence, and cryptocurrencies.

Recent Posts

Ontario Increases Efforts to Combat Illegal Cannabis Market

Ontario is investing $31 million over the next three years to enhance efforts against illegal…

4 days ago

CBD Decree Suspended By Italian Administrative Court for Third Time

Italy's Regional Administrative Court suspended the Health Ministry's decree labeling CBD as a narcotic, pending…

1 week ago

Which U.S. States Will Vote on Cannabis Legalization in November 2024?

This November, five U.S. states will vote on measures related to legalizing recreational or medical…

2 weeks ago

Italy to Be Investigated By EU Commission Over Proposed CBD and Hemp Ban

The European Commission has launched an investigation into Italy after its recent proposal to ban…

2 weeks ago

Prolonged Cannabis Use May Leave a Unique DNA Signatures

A new study has found that prolonged use of high-THC cannabis leaves a unique mark…

2 weeks ago

Kamala Harris Presents Federal Cannabis Legalization Plan

Kamala Harris has committed to legalizing cannabis at the federal level by removing it from…

3 weeks ago