On Wednesday, Germany’s Health Minister, Nina Valken, described the decision to legalize cannabis as a “mistake” and shared a disconcerting report on the drug’s usage, two years after it ended government prohibition.
This Wednesday marked the second anniversary of cannabis legalization in Germany, which took effect on April 1, 2024, a move initiated by Valken’s predecessor, Karl Lauterbach, known for his strict pandemic policies.
The current German administration has labeled the legalization a “political failure.” A mid-term review revealed that, two years post-legalization, a “large but somewhat diminished yet almost completely unregulated cannabis market has developed.”
During the report’s presentation, Valken emphasized, “The partial legalization of recreational marijuana was a mistake!”
She highlighted ongoing research projects at universities in Düsseldorf, Hamburg, and Tübingen that are examining the legalization’s effects on youth protection, health, and crime rates.
Valken pointed out a concerning study indicating that youth prevention initiatives have declined since the Cannabis Act’s implementation.
“The number of early interventions aimed at preventing children and young people from cannabis use has dropped significantly,” Valken warned. “The lines between recreational and strictly medical cannabis are increasingly blurred,” she noted.
“Ignoring this trend puts young people’s health in jeopardy,” Valken added.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrind also criticized the cannabis legislation, calling it a “total failure” that poses serious risks to internal security. He explained that the black market continues to thrive, making it “ever more difficult for police and enforcement to apprehend dealers.”
Professor Hendrik Streeck, who leads Germany’s federal drug commission, suggested revisiting the current legal limits on cannabis possession, arguing they are too lenient and encouraging abuse.
“It would be irresponsible to maintain the status quo,” Streeck asserted.
Euronews reported that Germany has developed the largest legal commercial cannabis market in Europe, importing around 200 tonnes of medicinal cannabis in 2025. This figure marks a nearly 200% increase compared to 2024.
Experts warn that Germany’s cannabis market is expanding quicker than regulatory measures can keep up, with growing concerns over the transparency of cannabis origins and its ultimate use. There are also indications that Germany is becoming a distribution center for cannabis in Europe.
“A significant market aimed at recreational users has emerged through dubious online platforms and deceptive advertising, which is far removed from any medical intent,” Streeck explained.
A comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness of the law is still pending, with a final report not anticipated until 2028.
