At the moment, no new permits for the import of medical cannabis into Germany can be granted. This was confirmed by the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) in response to a request from krautinvest.de.
The reason? Germany's estimated medical cannabis demand for 2025, reported to the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), stands at 122 tons. That quota is already exhausted. Still, the authority stresses this does not amount to an import stop. What it does mean, however, is longer processing times for pending and future applications.
According to BfArM, the annual estimates for narcotic substances are tied to international treaty obligations, which require the figures to be set "restrictively." Overshooting those estimates can result in painful cuts by the INCB. There is, however, some wiggle room: the so-called Nachschätzung (re-estimation) allows for additional quantities to be requested during the year. In practice, this means applications are put on hold until the INCB confirms a new figure. What that new figure might be, or how far along the process is, BfArM did not disclose. The agency did emphasize, though, that "in general, this does not lead to a stop of imports or formal rejections of import applications." No details were given on how long current delays could last.
The quota reported to the INCB only applies to medical cannabis flower; extracts are calculated separately. As for how much medical cannabis wholesalers and pharmacies in Germany currently have in stock, no data is available.
Industry veteran Deepak Anand highlighted the international context in a LinkedIn post: the INCB does not impose global limits or quotas on the production of narcotics, including cannabis, for medical and scientific purposes. But when imports or exports exceed estimates, the INCB may ask countries for explanations or corrective measures. This could mean clarifying whether an "over-import" is meant for re-export, or submitting an additional estimate if more cannabis is required within the year.
For now, as BfArM puts it, the "matter is under clarification." The agency has not published data on how much medical cannabis has actually reached German pharmacies since cannabis was reclassified.
Source: Kraut Invest
