Table of contents
- A look at the official legal situation
- Are cannabis cuttings legal in Germany?
- Buying cannabis cuttings - what is allowed
- Rules for growers' associations
- Important guidelines for trading in cuttings
- Uncertainties in practice
- Production in Austria as a safer alternative
- The legal situation regarding cannabis cuttings can be summarized as follows.
Growing cannabis is becoming increasingly popular in Germany. Whether for medical reasons, personal use, or simply out of curiosity about the plant, many people are considering cannabis cuttings. The question quickly arises: Are they even legal to buy? And if so, where and under what conditions? Here you'll find all the important information about the current legal situation and what to consider when buying cannabis cuttings in Germany.
A look at the official legal situation
Since April 1, 2024, the new Cannabis Act (CanG) has been in effect in Germany, comprehensively regulating the handling of cannabis. According to this law, adults aged 18 and over are now permitted to possess up to 25 grams of cannabis for personal use and to cultivate up to three female cannabis plants privately. The law states the following:
- Possession: Adults aged 18 and over are allowed to possess up to 25 grams of cannabis for personal use.
- Home cultivation: Three female cannabis plants per person are allowed.
- Consumption: In public only at a distance from schools, daycare centers, playgrounds and pedestrian zones (restricted during the day).
- Distribution: No retail sales. Only growers' associations ("cannabis clubs") are allowed to cultivate collectively and distribute to members.
- Medical cannabis will continue to be available through pharmacies and is not part of the Cannabis Act.
- CBD products remain legal as long as the THC content is below 0.3% and they are not intended to produce a high .
Are cannabis cuttings legal in Germany?
Under the new Consumer Cannabis Act (KCanG), cannabis cuttings – meaning young plants or unflowering shoots – are not considered cannabis in the legal sense. They are therefore not subject to the strict regulations for flowering or THC-containing plants. Only when they enter the flowering phase are they legally classified as "cannabis." Until then, cuttings – like feminized cannabis seeds – are considered propagation material and may therefore be legally traded and sold, as long as they do not contain flowers or measurable THC levels.
Buying cannabis cuttings - what is allowed
- Production: Cuttings can be legally ordered in Germany. Mother plants are permitted as long as they do not bear flowers or seeds.
- Trade: Commercial vendors can sell cannabis cuttings to both private individuals and growers' associations.
- Distribution: End consumers may purchase cuttings, but only for use in legal home cultivation. A maximum of three flowering plants per household applies.
Rules for growers' associations
Under the new Consumer Cannabis Act (KCanG), the communal cultivation of cannabis by so-called cultivation associations is also subject to clearly defined legal requirements. These regulations are intended to ensure the controlled handling of cannabis plants and simultaneously prevent illegal trade. The transfer and documentation of seeds and cuttings are particularly strictly regulated to guarantee transparency and traceability. The following restrictions therefore apply to cultivation associations:
- Maximum amount per member: 7 seeds or 5 cuttings per month
- No mail order : Cuttings may not be shipped, but must be handed over on site.
- Documentation: Clubs must accurately record the origin of seeds and cuttings.
Important guidelines for trading in cuttings
Although trading in cannabis cuttings is generally permitted, there are reports of individual authorities attempting to prohibit the sale or registration of related businesses. Such cases are legally controversial and will likely only be resolved through court rulings. If you want to sell cannabis cuttings in Germany, you must comply with certain regulations:
- Product safety & labeling: Information on THC content (below 0.3%), genetics, feminization, etc.
- Youth protection: Sale only to persons over 18 years of age.
- Obligation to inform: Customers who wish to order cannabis cuttings must be informed that these are intended exclusively for home cultivation.
Uncertainties in practice
The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) has clarified that the commercial trade in cannabis seeds and cuttings is permitted in Germany. Crucially, this involves non-flowering plants or propagation material that do not contain a measurable amount of THC. Therefore, companies and retailers may legally sell such products in stores or online, provided they comply with the applicable regulations of the Consumer Cannabis Act (KCanG) and the Seed Marketing Act.
Commercial trade in cannabis seeds and cuttings is therefore permitted in Germany!
Production in Austria as a safer alternative
Because legal uncertainty still exists in some parts of Germany and authorities sometimes take action against the trade in cuttings, a trend has emerged in practice: many producers are turning to Austria . There, the production of cuttings has been established for years and is subject to fewer legal gray areas.
Anyone wanting to play it safe currently prefers to have cuttings produced in Austria and then legally import them to Germany. This is precisely where Guardians of Genetics' dropshipping model comes in: A simple interface allows online shops in Germany to offer their customers cannabis cuttings, which are then shipped directly from Austria to the end customers. In this way, retailers in Germany can operate legally while simultaneously offering their customers easy access to legal plant material.
The legal situation regarding cannabis cuttings can be summarized as follows.
| Allowed | Forbidden |
|---|---|
|
Production of mother plants without flowers or seeds (under certain conditions) |
Distribution to minors |
| Trading in cuttings for home cultivation (maximum three plants per household) | Shipping of cuttings by growers' associations |
| Sale to adult end customers with quantity limits |
Anyone wishing to purchase cannabis cuttings in Germany today can do so legally – whether through commercial retailers or growers' associations. It remains important to note: their use is exclusively for personal cultivation .
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