Germany's federal cabinet has approved new measures to prohibit the online sale of cannabis in an effort to curb a sharp rise in the country's cannabis imports since the legalization of adult- use cannabis last year.
The amendment, announced in Berlin on Wednesday, seeks to ensure stricter control over the distribution of cannabis by mandating that all prescriptions involve direct, in-person consultations with a licensed medical practitioner. It will also ban mail-order and internet-based cannabis sales, limiting access to registered physical pharmacies where patients can receive proper medical guidance.
"The massive increase in cannabis imports and the practice of prescribing cannabis online without personal medical contact require political action," Health Minister Nina Warken said in a statement.
According to government data, cannabis imports surged by more than 400 percent in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period the previous year. Officials say the spike is largely due to the expansion of online platforms offering prescriptions and deliveries without adequate oversight, rather than a genuine rise in demand from patients with severe medical conditions.
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