German medical cannabis imports declined in the first quarter of 2026 for the first time in two years. According to current figures from the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM), between January and March, 50.5 tonnes of cannabis for medical and scientific purposes were imported to Germany. This represents less than in the two preceding quarters and marks the first break in an upward growth curve that had remained uninterrupted since early 2024.
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50.5 Tonnes Imported in First Quarter 2026
The newly published quarterly figures realign the market following the record year of 2025. In the third quarter of 2025, import volumes reached approximately 59.1 tonnes, and in the fourth quarter around 60.8 tonnes. At 50.5 tonnes in the first quarter of 2026, the figure sits slightly above the second quarter of 2025 and roughly matches the annual average of the previous year. For the overall market, the scale remains intact, but the constant upward trend has been interrupted for the first time.
For context, it’s worth looking back: In the first quarter of 2024, shortly after the Cannabis Act came into force and medical cannabis transitioned to the Medical Cannabis Act (MedCanG), imports stood at merely 8.1 tonnes. Within eight quarters, the monthly import volume has more than sextupled. In total, approximately 200 tonnes were imported in 2025, while exports accounted for only a fraction. Exports for the entire year 2025 reached about 6.4 tonnes, and approximately 1.5 tonnes in the first quarter of 2026.
Canada Remains Clear Market Leader; Czech Republic on the Rise
Source countries show the familiar pattern. More than half of the import volume once again comes from Canada: 26.8 tonnes in the first quarter of 2026 were supplied by the North American market leader. Canada continues to provide the majority of flowers and extracts distributed in German pharmacies. We reported in April that Canada temporarily sent around 62 percent of its flower exports to Germany. For the German market, this concentration also represents a dependency on Canadian supply chains and exchange rates.
Portugal ranks second as the most important source with 10.3 tonnes. However, this figure remains below the previous year’s average. This shift aligns with the observation that Portugal is gradually losing its status as Europe’s cannabis processing hub because other EU-GMP facilities are scaling faster. Denmark increased slightly with 3.3 tonnes compared to the 2025 average, while North Macedonia remained just below the previous year’s average at 1.7 tonnes.
Notable is the movement in the Czech Republic. At roughly two tonnes per quarter, the volume has increased significantly compared to the 2025 average. Czech cultivation benefits from a regulatory environment that is more relaxed, new GACP and EU-GMP capacities, and geographic proximity to German wholesale distribution. Even smaller locations like Jersey have established themselves in Germany’s import balance over recent quarters.
Consolidation Rather Than Collapse
A single quarter with declining imports is not a crisis signal but rather an indication of normalizing market development. Following the rapid expansion since early 2024, inventory levels in pharmacies and wholesale distribution, a broader product portfolio, and increasing competition likely play a role in determining import volumes. With the achievement of the 200-tonne mark in 2025, the market has reached a size where individual quarters can fluctuate more significantly without breaking the overall trend.
Regulatory dynamics also contribute. The ongoing revision of the MedCanG with stricter personal contact requirements between patient and physician, as well as discussions about reimbursement rules for cannabis flowers, create uncertainty among suppliers and prescribers. When new regulations change operational procedures, import planning also shifts. Early effects of the revision may already be visible in Q1 figures without being evident in pure volume statistics.
What the Figures Mean for Patients and the Industry
For patients, the slight dip in import volumes changes little in the near term. Supply in German pharmacies remains broad, and the product range is extensive. Those relying on medical cannabis should monitor import fluctuations when a specific strain or batch is needed. Supply shortages for individual products in recent months have been less related to overall volume than to distribution among suppliers.
For the industry, the message is double-edged. On one hand, the quarter demonstrates that German demand is more saturated than the linear trend from 2024 and 2025 suggested. On the other hand, import volumes remain at historically high levels—the BfArM has set the annual maximum import quantity for 2026 at 192.5 tonnes. Suppliers with their own EU-GMP production in Europe are likely to benefit from the growing importance of Czech and Danish volumes. Those relying exclusively on North American supply chains face tougher competitive pressure for distribution amid stagnating demand.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much medical cannabis was imported to Germany in the first quarter of 2026?
According to the BfArM, import volumes in the first quarter of 2026 reached approximately 50.5 tonnes. This is the first declining quarterly figure since early 2024 and is about ten tonnes below the previous quarter.
Which countries are the largest suppliers of medical cannabis to Germany?
Canada remains the clear market leader with 26.8 tonnes, supplying more than half of total import volumes. It is followed by Portugal with 10.3 tonnes, Denmark with 3.3 tonnes, the Czech Republic with around two tonnes, and North Macedonia with 1.7 tonnes.
Does this decline indicate a trend reversal in the German market?
A single quarter is insufficient for a reliable trend assessment. The decline likely reflects a combination of inventory management, regulatory uncertainty surrounding the MedCanG revision, and gradual market normalization following the rapid growth of 2024 and 2025.
How much cannabis does Germany export from domestic cultivation?
Export volumes are very small compared to imports. In total, approximately 6.4 tonnes were exported from Germany in 2025, and around 1.5 tonnes in the first quarter of 2026. The market thus remains heavily import-driven.
What is the annual maximum import quantity for 2026?
The BfArM has set the annual maximum import quantity for 2026 at 192.5 tonnes. At the current quarterly average of 50.5 tonnes, this figure would be roughly exhausted should the level remain stable throughout the year.
Source: Krautinvest citing BfArM, quarterly figures Federal Opium Office May 2026.
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