Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Germany’s first medical cannabis flower harvests are likely to occur in 2021. This was established when the government was replying to a query on the matter. The harvests were set to be done in November, this year.
According to the government, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused persistent consequences on different sectors of the economy and may cause time delays at the beginning of deliveries this year.
This delay implies that Germany may continue fully depending on medical cannabis imports for a more extended period than planned earlier.
Aphria, a cannabis company headquartered in Canada, and Demecan, a medical cannabis company based in Germany have since accepted that the new harvest plan will be in early 2021.
Hendrik Knopp, the managing director of Aphria Germany, told a Marijuana newspaper that they are experiencing slight delays in the completion of their indoor growing facility. He further stated that they expect their first harvests in early 2021 if all inspections by Germany Federal Institute for Drug and Medical Services (BfArM) and other local authorities are undertaken as they were scheduled.
Though the first medical cannabis harvests in Germany are meant to reduce imports, they are not expected to be enough to meet the demand for medical cannabis products.
While replying to queries from members of parliament from FDP (an opposition party), the government stated that it expects medical cannabis imports from any country to go on even after the harvests. However, the importing process must fulfil certain conditions.
The government clarified that it does not have any influence on which countries will be selected to import medical cannabis to Germany. The decision will be based on the market decisions made by individuals trading narcotics.
