Germany to restrict online cannabis sales to curb ballooning imports
Germany’s cabinet passed plans on Wednesday to restrict the online sale of cannabis to tackle a surge in imports of the drug since the legalisation of its recreational use in 2024.
The amendment to the existing law will require direct, in-person contact with a doctor for a cannabis prescription and ban mail-order delivery of the drug, with distribution restricted to physical pharmacies to ensure proper counselling.
Germany became the ninth country to legalise the recreational use of the drug from April 2024.
In the first half of 2025, imports increased by more than 400 per cent from the same period in the previous year, the government said.
“The massive increase in cannabis imports and the practice of prescribing cannabis online without any personal medical contact require political action,’’ said Health Minister Nina Warken in a statement.
This rise is not due to increased demand from seriously ill patients, the government said, as prescriptions through the social health insurance system only rose by a single-digit percentage.
(Reuters/NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
World
Von der Leyen accuses Russia of waging hybrid war against EU
“It’s time to call it by its name; this is hybrid warfare,” the commission president said in her speech to the European Parliament.
States
Kidnapped immigration officer’s wife rescued after N2.5 million ransom payment
Mr Elijah said the kidnappers fled the scene when they discovered that police and immigration officers were on their track.
Politics
Enugu senator dumps Labour Party for APC
Mr Chukwu’s letter of defection was read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary on Wednesday.
World
Israel intercepts new pro-Palestinian aid flotilla bound for Gaza
The group said in a post on X that Israeli naval forces “attacked and illegally intercepted” the ships.
NationWide
Nigeria needs local, international investments for economic growth: Obasanjo
Mr Obasanjo highlighted that both local and international investments must be mobilised to accelerate national economic growth.
States
Ekiti police deploy more operatives to enhance security
The command’s public relations officer, SP Abutu Sunday, said the move followed recent security concerns in some neighbouring states.
