In the past year Germany seized a record amount of cannabis. According to the “FAZ”, customs alone took more than 50 tons. In 2024 police and customs together confiscated about 24 tons, and nationwide police data for 2025 are still pending.
Security officials see the higher seizure numbers as evidence that the partial legalization of cannabis has, in fact, enlarged rather than shrunk the black market. However, research by the “FAZ” suggests otherwise: the main reason for the customs’ increased seizures is a shift in smuggling routes.
Scientific studies indicate that cannabis consumption has not risen sharply since the legalization. What has risen considerably is the import of medical cannabis, which can be obtained through pharmacies in Germany. Jakob Manthey of the Center for Interdisciplinary Addiction Research at the University Hospital Hamburg‑Eppendorf stated, “I expect that the overall demand for illegal cannabis has declined since the partial legalization”.
