Demonstrators advocate for "cannabis over contempt"
In the heart of Berlin, the city's governing mayor, Kai Wegner (CDU), watched over as protesters gathered for the Cannabis March. The final rally was announced for the evening at the Red City Hall, a symbolic starting point for the march that aimed to make its way along Unter den Linden boulevard towards the government district, including the Bundestag and the Chancellery, before returning.
The march was a reflection of Germany's ongoing evaluation and potential revising of its cannabis legalization framework. With a focus on adult use and the expected establishment of specialty stores in autumn 2025, the country is moving towards regulated adult cannabis retail. An interim report, scheduled for release on October 1, 2025, will assess various aspects, including consumption patterns, youth prevention, public health, and legal impacts, potentially shaping future regulatory changes.
Currently, medical cannabis, legal since 2017 and dispensed as a prescription medicine, could see more restrictive amendments. Proposed changes include mandatory in-person doctor consultations and bans on mail delivery of medical cannabis, which could affect patient access negatively.
The broader adult-use legalization initiative is still unfolding, with delays in pilot projects but expectations for significant regulatory announcements and possibly the introduction of licensed specialty cannabis retail stores aimed at adults by late 2025. These stores will likely be regulated under the evolving framework that balances consumer access with public health and safety concerns.
The German Hemp Association, a strong advocate for cannabis legalization, was present at the march. They demanded that cannabis should be available for adults to purchase in specialty stores at reasonable prices. The association also criticized the current law's home cultivation and cultivation association provisions, stating they are not suitable for all consumers and that the black market for cannabis continues to exist.
During the event, some cannabis users took the opportunity to smoke a joint, while the Pirate Party distributed cannabis seeds at information stands. The slogans "Hash instead of hate" and "Yes we smoke" were displayed on banners, echoing the sentiments of many protesters.
As Germany moves towards regulated adult cannabis retail, the details and rules of the new framework remain to be seen, with evaluations and policy decisions due in autumn 2025. In the meantime, medical cannabis regulations may see more restrictive amendments focused on patient control.
- The German Hemp Association, who advocated for cannabis legalization during the Cannabis March, emphasized the need for adults to purchase cannabis from specialty stores at affordable prices.
- Mental health, fitness-and-exercise, and health-and-wellness could all potentially benefit from cannabis use, factors that the interim report, due to be released in October 2025, will consider in evaluating the implications of cannabis legalization.
