📋 Tender Overview
From July 1, 2024, applications to operate cannabis cultivation associations in Baden-Württemberg can be submitted to the Freiburg Regional Council. The Tübingen Regional Council will be responsible for monitoring the cultivation associations across the country.
The state of Baden-Württemberg has set the course for the implementation of the Consumer Cannabis Act (KCanG), which came into force on April 1, 2024, and regulated the responsibilities for licensing procedures and monitoring of cultivation associations: The Freiburg Regional Council will assume statewide responsibility for permitting the operation of cultivation associations. Applications can be submitted from July 1, 2024. The Tübingen Regional Council will assume statewide monitoring of cultivation associations. The corresponding cabinet proposal will be submitted to the Council of Ministers shortly.
As a licensing authority, the Freiburg Regional Council is the point of contact for the whole of Baden-Württemberg for all licensing procedures that a cultivation association needs for its operation. This ranges from receiving applications, examining them and making decisions to issuing a license. Changes and adjustments to permits that may become necessary and, if necessary, decisions on the continued existence of a permit are also part of the new task.
Cultivation for personal consumption for adults only
"I would like to thank the Freiburg and Tübingen regional councils for taking on these tasks. This means that we are very well positioned to operate cultivation associations under the Consumer Cannabis Act in Baden-Württemberg. From an addiction policy perspective, I support the goals of the Consumer Cannabis Act to contribute to improved health protection , to strengthen cannabis-related education and prevention, to curb the illegal cannabis market and to strengthen child and youth protection . The collective cultivation of cannabis in cultivation associations is only permitted for personal consumption by adults and is subject to strict requirements, which we ensure are adhered to. At the same time, we will continue to strengthen cannabis-related education and prevention as well as child and youth protection," said Social Affairs and Health Minister Manne Lucha on June 24, 2024 in Stuttgart.
District President Carsten Gabbert (RP Freiburg) stressed: "Although we cannot yet predict how many applications will be received from cultivation associations in Baden-Württemberg, we are expecting a figure in the three-digit range. We in the Freiburg District Council have prepared ourselves as well as possible in recent weeks to process the applications and are excited about what awaits us."
District President Klaus Tappeser (RP Tübingen) said: "The legislature places high demands on the cultivation associations, both in terms of the conditions for the cultivation and distribution of cannabis and in terms of the protection of children and young people. That is why we are happy to take on the new task assigned to us and are preparing intensively for it."
Requirements available in the regional councils’ thematic portal
Applications for permission to operate a cultivation association can be submitted in writing or electronically. An initial orientation on the information and evidence required can be found on the regional councils' thematic portal . An information sheet (PDF) helps with compiling complete application documents. This is continuously being developed further based on the experience gained from the incoming applications. An email box has been set up for electronic communication with the licensing authority , through which the cultivation associations can submit their applications and attachments as well as all other inquiries and notifications.
The Tübingen Regional Council will act as a supervisory authority across the country. Among other things, it will inspect the cultivation areas and facilities of the respective cultivation association, check their documentation and other documents, and take samples and then examine them in laboratories. It is also responsible for the transport notifications of the cultivation associations.
Grower associations
Cultivation associations can operate the regulated, non-profit cultivation of cannabis either as a registered non-profit association or as a registered cooperative. Community cultivation and the distribution of cannabis to members for their own consumption are permitted. Legal requirements must be observed here, as well as when distributing propagation material and in relation to addiction prevention .
In the draft law for the KCanG, the Federal Ministry of Health estimates that 3,000 cultivation associations nationwide will initially seek a permit, with around 150 new applications being added each year. Roughly broken down to the state of Baden-Württemberg, this would mean that around 390 permit applications would initially be expected nationwide. Around 20 new applications would be added each year.
