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Cannabis clubs flourish in Germany, but critics see persistent black market
🇩🇪 Germany /Economy & Trade

Cannabis clubs flourish in Germany, but critics see persistent black market

From Die Zeit · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency New plan
  • Lower Saxony, Germany, is leading the nation in the number of cannabis cultivation associations, with its 100th club set to receive authorization.
  • Despite the legal framework allowing cultivation and possession, critics argue the black market remains largely unaddressed.
  • While police report a decrease in cannabis-related offenses due to decriminalization, they also note new burdens and difficulties in pursuing drug dealers.

Lower Saxony is emerging as a national leader in the establishment of cannabis cultivation associations, with the 100th such club slated to receive its official permit in Göttingen. This development positions the German state at the forefront of implementing the country's partial cannabis legalization, which took effect in April 2024. The state's Ministry of Agriculture reports that Lower Saxony has the highest per capita number of cultivation clubs, with 1.25 per 100,000 inhabitants, although North Rhine-Westphalia has more clubs overall.

One of the central goals was to push back the black market.

— Michael CuypersExpert on addiction issues commenting on the effectiveness of cannabis legalization.

The cannabis law permits adults to possess up to 50 grams of cannabis, cultivate it at home or in designated cultivation clubs, and consume it in specific public areas. However, critics question the effectiveness of these measures in achieving their primary goal: curbing the black market. Michael Cuypers from the State Center for Addiction Issues stated that the aim has only been "very limitedly" achieved through cultivation clubs and home cultivation. He noted that illegal sources remain readily available and may have even benefited from the slow rollout of legal cannabis.

Illegal sources are available quickly and easily in many places.

— Police union spokespersonDescribing the continued accessibility of illegal cannabis.

Law enforcement also faces challenges. A spokesperson for the police union in Lower Saxony indicated that distribution through social clubs has been slow, making illegal sources more accessible. The Interior Minister of Lower Saxony previously commented that decriminalization has complicated the prosecution of drug dealers. Cuypers further observed that consumers are increasingly turning to prescription medicinal cannabis, with a significant rise in online pharmacy prescriptions. He warned that the lines between recreational and medical use are blurring.

The decriminalization has also made the prosecution of drug dealers more difficult.

— Daniela BehrensLower Saxony's Interior Minister on the impact of legalization on law enforcement.

On the positive side, the partial legalization has eased some burdens on the police. The Interior Ministry reported a significant decrease of over 50 percent in police-recorded cannabis-related offenses in 2025 due to decriminalization. However, this has been accompanied by new challenges and increased workloads, according to police union representatives.

The boundaries between recreational use and medically indicated consumption are blurring.

— Michael CuypersWarning about the convergence of recreational and medical cannabis use.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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