Officials from Germany’s Federal Office for Agriculture and Food confirmed that it had approved at least four cannabis research projects out of the dozens of applications that it has received, as originally reported by krautinvest.
“According to a recent inquiry, the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE) has approved four cannabis research projects submitted to the agency between the end of 2024 and the end of 2025. None of the four applications involve the distribution of cannabis to test subjects as consumers; therefore, they are not pilot projects.” krautinvest reported in its local coverage (translated from German to English).
“According to the BLE (Federal Office for Agriculture and Food), a total of 69 research project applications were received during this period. 46 of these research projects were reviewed. Since a single research project can encompass multiple applications, the total number of applications reviewed by the end of 2025 will reach 77. 23 research projects, comprising 46 applications, have since been rejected.” the outlet also reported.
The research projects that were approved by BLE all seem to focus on the cultivation of cannabis and hemp in one way or another. Cannabis advocates have long hoped that BLE will approve regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trial applications, but it appears that the wait for such approvals will continue for the time being.
In 2024, German lawmakers passed the historic CanG measure. The first provisions of the CanG went into effect in April 2024, legalizing personal cannabis cultivation, possession, and use by adults. Later, in July 2024, adults could start applying to operate member-based cultivation associations.
The ‘second pillar’ of Germany’s legalization model focuses on adult-use pilot trials. Below is a list of jurisdictions in Germany that have applied for or expressed interest in pilot trials via the German Cannabis Business Association (BvCW). As you can see, the desire to launch regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials is strong:
“Scientific monitoring will allow for the measurement and evaluation of the economic, health-related, and social impacts of regulated distribution. These findings could help to realistically assess the opportunities and challenges of potential legalization across Germany and the EU.” BvCW states on its website.
Commerce-based pilot trials are not a new concept in Europe, and there is no need for Germany to ‘reinvent the wheel.’ Several pilot trials have operated in the Netherlands and Switzerland for multiple years now, with no major issues reported. If those jurisdictions can successfully launch and operate pilot trials, so can local German jurisdictions.
