The approvals were issued following a thorough review process and apply to associations in the districts of Rosenheim, Bad Kissingen, and Freising.
According to the Bavarian Ministry of Health, the licenses were granted due to legal obligations under a federal law that came into effect on July 1, 2024. The law allows collective cultivation in so-called Cannabis Social Clubs (CSCs), provided they meet specific criteria. The move was first reported by the German Press Agency (dpa).
Three Registered Clubs Receive Conditional Approval
The licenses were approved by the Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety (LGL) after a detailed examination. The approved clubs include “CSC Inntal Raubling” in Rosenheim, “Exotic Kingdom CSC Fulda” in Bad Kissingen, and “The Marihuana Club Kirchdorf” in Freising. All three operate as registered associations.
However, the authorization does not allow immediate cannabis distribution. Extensive security measures must first be implemented on the cultivation sites and related facilities. Only after these have been inspected and approved by the LGL may the clubs begin growing cannabis.
Strict Monitoring Announced Before Cultivation Begins
Health Minister Judith Gerlach had previously warned that stringent monitoring would accompany any cultivation activities. She stated that inspectors would closely oversee operations with a particular focus on health, and the protection of children and adolescents. She emphasized that the license does not imply unrestricted cannabis use, which remains under tight legal regulation in Bavaria.
State Government Maintains Opposition to Legalization
Despite the approvals, the Bavarian government reaffirmed its opposition to the federal partial legalization of recreational cannabis. Gerlach criticized the policy, particularly with regard to public health and youth safety, and called for its reversal during the legislative review scheduled for autumn. She stated that Bavaria continues to pursue a complete rollback of the reform.
Bavaria Lagged Behind Other States in Approvals
Although the national law came into force in April 2024, allowing adult cannabis consumption under certain conditions and enabling cultivation applications starting July 1, Bavaria initially hesitated to implement the changes. While other German states moved forward with approvals, Bavaria introduced additional restrictions such as bans at festivals, in beer gardens, and in specific parks.
Application Data and National Context
The LGL reported receiving 37 applications for cultivation licenses by March 2025, of which eight were withdrawn and one was denied. Nationally, around 100 CSCs have been licensed across other German states.
Drug Crime Declines but Police Workload Remains High
Official statistics for 2024 indicated a significant drop in drug-related offenses in Bavaria following the partial legalization, with overall drug crimes falling by 39 percent compared to the previous year. Cannabis-related offenses alone declined by 56 percent to 15,270 cases.
Despite these figures, Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann and Justice Minister Georg Eisenreich (both CSU) maintained their stance against legalization. Herrmann argued that the lower case numbers did not equate to reduced workloads for law enforcement, noting that oversight of legal cannabis activities placed additional demands on police resources.
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