The first interim report on consumer cannabis shows measurable successes of partial legalization – Grünhorn CEO Stefan Fritsch: Tightening in the medical sector inappropriate

Leipzig, September 30, 2025. The recently published initial evaluation results of the Cannabis Act show concrete successes: 100,000 fewer cannabis offenses, declining consumption among young people, and no increase in cannabis-related health problems. Grünhorn CEO Stefan Fritsch sees this as a clear endorsement of modern cannabis regulation – and continues to criticize the planned tightening of medical cannabis regulations.

"The positive results show that regulation is on the right track. This also applies to the Medical Cannabis Act, at least in its current form – that is, without the planned tightening. However, the Ministry of Health wants to prohibit initial prescriptions via telemedicine and the mail-order of medical cannabis. This step endangers patient care, and not just in rural areas," explains Fritsch. "If we want Germany to set a model for cannabis, we must act based on evidence, not ideology."

Concrete successes of partial legalization

The interim report since April 1, 2024, documents measurable improvements:

• 100,000 fewer cannabis criminal proceedings than in the previous year 2023. Especially small quantities for personal use no longer lead to charges
• Stable consumption behavior overall, even declining among young people
• No increase in serious health problems due to cannabis

"The results prove: Professional, controlled distribution works," comments Fritsch. "What we see with consumer cannabis – better youth protection, less crime, more responsible use – we at Grünhorn have been achieving this in the medical sector for years. Digital solutions and expert advice are the key, not more analog hurdles."

Patients benefit from decriminalization

The evaluation shows concrete benefits for people in need of therapy:

• More legal certainty in everyday life through less criminalization
• Scientifically based acceptance of medical use remains
• Stabilization of the legal market increasingly secures supply

Criticism of the MedCanG draft bill

The Federal Ministry of Health is planning to tighten the Medical Cannabis Act (MedCanG). While partial legalization since April 2024 has provided previously underserved patients with simplified access to cannabis therapy, Health Minister Nina Warken now wants to close this access again. Her draft bill stipulates that initial prescriptions for medical cannabis will in future only be possible through personal consultation with a doctor in a practice. Furthermore, the proven mail-order practice of medical cannabis is to be completely banned. This tightening would primarily affect patients with chronic illnesses, limited mobility, or living in rural areas.

"It's absurd: While we see that partial legalization works for cannabis for consumption, they want to do the exact opposite for sick people who rely on cannabis for medicine," criticizes the Grünhorn CEO. "Patients who can now be easily cared for via video consultation will in future be forced back into overcrowded waiting rooms. This is not only backward, but also involves unnecessary risks for many patients."

Grünhorn as a responsible market leader

Grünhorn is the largest medical cannabis network in Germany and already provides care to several hundred thousand patients according to the highest quality and safety standards. The company consistently relies on digital solutions, expert medical and pharmaceutical support, and transparent processes. "Recent years have shown that digital patient care for medical cannabis is safe and effective," emphasizes Fritsch. "This raises the question of why we should deviate from this successful approach and return to analog structures."

Regulation creates the basis for better care

The evaluation clearly shows that decriminalization works. Patients benefit from greater safety and social acceptance of their treatment. The legal market is gaining importance and forms an important foundation for future care. "The evaluation shows the way forward. Now policymakers must follow," Fritsch concluded.

The Evaluation of the Consumer Cannabis Act (EKOCAN) is investigating the impacts of the Consumer Cannabis Act. The University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), the University Hospital Düsseldorf, and the University of Tübingen are leading the project. In the first interim report, researchers examine the period from April 1, 2024, to fall 2025. Further impacts on youth and health protection will be analyzed by April 2026, particularly considering new developments in consumer behavior and prevention. The final report is scheduled for April 2028.

>> Press photo to download

Image motif: Stefan Fritsch, CEO and founder of the Grünhorn Group
Caption: Stefan Fritsch, Grünhorn CEO: “If we want Germany to set an example when it comes to cannabis, we must act based on evidence, not ideology.”