Demand for products containing cannabidiol (CBD) has increased exponentially during the last decade in many markets across the globe. CBD flower, sometimes referred to as ‘cannabis light’, is popular in many parts of Europe, including Germany. However, demand for CBD flower has fluctuated in Germany after the adoption of adult-use legalization in 2024.
CBD040 recently published a market analysis report focusing on demand for CBD flower in Germany in recent years. The report was recently the subject of a guest article by Soheil Daneshvar, founder and managing director of HanseartiQ GmbH, for krautinvest.
The report analyzed anonymized order data from CBD040’s online shop and examined over 22,000 orders for CBD flowers between September 2019 and September 2026.
“With the Cannabis Act (CanG) coming into force on April 1, 2024, a question arose for the CBD industry: Would CBD flower lose its significance if THC-containing cannabis became legally available to adults?” the report stated (translated from German to English). “This report analyzes order data from CBD040 over seven years and contextualizes it using publicly available data from authorities, scientific projects, and Google Trends. It describes the development of a single online retailer, not the market as a whole.”
Below are key findings from the research effort:
- In May 2024, orders for CBD flowers were 49% lower compared to orders between January 2024 and April 2024.
- Between January and September 2026, orders were 13% higher overall than during the same period the previous year.
- Google searches for “CBD flowers” were 62% lower in 2025 compared to 2021. Orders for CBD flowers were only 5% lower in 2025 compared to 2021.
- In 2024, 41% of all orders included cannabis seeds. By 2026, that figure dropped to 18%.
“In the first two months after the Cannabis Act came into force, demand declined significantly, recovered from July 2024 onwards, and reached its highest level since the beginning of 2021 at the beginning of 2026. Since the second quarter of 2026, it has been declining again.” the report stated.
“The theory is supported that legal THC cannabis does not necessarily displace the demand for CBD flowers,” the report added. “It remains unclear how the decline since the second quarter of 2026 should be classified.”
Starting on April 1st, 2024, adults in Germany can cultivate, possess, and consume personal amounts of cannabis. This includes cannabis that is high in THC content. Additionally, starting on July 1st, 2024, adults in Germany can join one of the nation’s registered cultivation associations (sometimes referred to as ‘social clubs’).
According to the most recent data from the Federal Association of Cannabis Growers (BCAv), regulatory authorities in Germany have received at least 916 applications for adult-use cultivation associations. Of those, 494 applications have received approval.
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