Days ago, officials in Wiesbaden, a city in the western German state of Hesse, published a letter of intent to participate in the nation’s eventual regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot program. Cannabis pilot trials are part of ‘pillar 2’ of Germany’s legalization model.
Regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials involve permitting a limited number of producers, retailers, and adult consumers to create, distribute, and/or purchase legal cannabis for recreational purposes, with the data gathered from the pilot trials providing insight for national researchers, lawmakers, and regulators.
Current European Union policies prohibit nationwide recreational sales, such as what is found in Canada. However, recreational commerce for research purposes is permitted under EU law. Back in February 2023, Switzerland’s first pilot research trial launched in Basel.
“So far, a total of nine pilot trials with cannabis for non-medical purposes have been authorized in various Swiss cities, among them the one in Zürich, which is the largest,” Daniel Dauwalde, media spokesman for Switzerland’s Federal Department of Home Affairs, stated in an email to Forbes in March 2024.
Pilot trials in the Netherlands launched earlier this summer, and currently, ten municipalities are part of the public policy research experiment. By comparison, 25 cities in Germany have already issued their intent to launch pilot trials, including Wiesbaden.
“At the end of 2021, Wiesbaden city councilors had already decided that the state capital should pursue a model project for the distribution of cannabis through specialist shops together with other municipalities. On Thursday, August 15, Health Minister Milena Löbcke signed a letter of intent, which is a first step towards implementing the decision.” city officials stated in a recent press release.
“The Cannabis Research Germany association will soon apply for a nationwide and research-based model project under the scientific supervision of the Center for Interdisciplinary Addiction Research Hamburg at the federal level. In addition to Wiesbaden, other cities from all over Germany and the Rhine-Main region want to join this project. At the request of the Health Department, the pharmacies established in the city and with a high level of expertise are to be considered as future dispensing points for Wiesbaden. The Cannabis Coordination Office in the Health Department, which is currently being filled, will be primarily responsible for municipal support.” the city also stated.
“The Cannabis Research Germany association will soon apply for a nationwide and research-based model project under the scientific supervision of the Center for Interdisciplinary Addiction Research Hamburg at the federal level. In addition to Wiesbaden, other cities from all over Germany and the Rhine-Main region want to join this project. At the request of the Health Department, the pharmacies established in the city and with a high level of expertise are to be considered as future dispensing points for Wiesbaden. The Cannabis Coordination Office in the Health Department, which is currently being filled, will be primarily responsible for municipal support.” stated Wiesbaden officials.
“The final participation of the state capital Wiesbaden in the research project will be decided after the application has been approved by the Federal Office for Food and Agriculture, once the final framework conditions have been established by this office.” the city concluded.
According to local reporting by Hassenschau, “a total of up to 25 cities want to take part” in German cannabis pilot research projects, which is more than what is currently operating in both Switzerland and the Netherlands combined. Although, even more German cities are expected to announce their intentions to launch pilots in the coming months.
Over 178 applications have already been submitted in Germany for noncommercial cannabis cultivation associations, which will combine with pilot trials to serve as the main legal ways for adult consumers to source their cannabis in Germany. Home cultivation by adults is also permitted in Germany.