30/10/2024
Falk Altenhöfer
With the recent legalization of cannabis for personal use and cultivation in Germany, the cities of Frankfurt and Hannover are pioneering model projects aimed at testing controlled retail sales in specialized stores. Scheduled to launch in early 2025, these initiatives mark a significant shift from theory to practice in the German cannabis policy landscape. Guided by scientific research, these projects are set to provide valuable insights into consumption behaviors, public health impacts, and ways to curb the illegal cannabis market.
Hannover: Regulated Cannabis Sales with Public Health at the Forefront
Hannover’s project, introduced by Mayor Belit Onay, will involve up to three official sales locations for THC products like cannabis flowers and hashish. With a five-year timeline, the project is backed by a robust scientific framework led by the Hannover Medical School (MHH), and will invite around 4,000 local adults to participate. Key components of the project include:
- Controlled Access: Participants must be Hannover residents, aged 18 or over, and will use a pseudonymized ID to verify their eligibility at the points of sale.
- Sales Monitoring: A QR code system on product packaging will enforce legal purchase limits and monitor adherence. Participants caught sharing products with others will be dismissed from the study.
- Education and Intervention: Sales staff will be trained to counsel participants, with an option to intervene if any signs of dependency or harmful patterns emerge.
