Germany's Cannabis Legalization Faces Regional Tensions and Operational Challenges

Bavaria continues to stall Cannabis Social Club approvals as other states expand, while demand outpaces supply within the current framework.

One year after legalization, Bavaria remains the only state besides Saarland to have approved no Cannabis Social Clubs, with 28 applications still pending.
Critics accuse Bavaria of deliberately obstructing the process through bureaucratic hurdles and strict interpretations of the law, while the CSU pushes for a repeal of legalization nationwide.
Sascha Jahnke, an Augsburg resident, plans to bypass Bavarian restrictions by cultivating cannabis in another state and distributing it legally to members in Bavaria.
Cannabis Social Clubs in other states, such as Ganderkesee, face overwhelming demand, with waiting lists exceeding 1,600 people and limited capacity for new members.
The disparity in state-level implementation highlights both the challenges of legalization and the persistence of the black market due to insufficient legal supply.