Berlin, 2026-03-10: From 2026-03-09 to 2026-03-14, cannabis seeds from the brand “gutmut saatgut” are being sold for private adult-use cannabis home cultivation in 255 branches of the discount retailer Netto Marken-Discount across Berlin and northeastern Germany. The Federal Government’s Commissioner for Addiction and Drug Issues, Prof. Dr. Hendrik Streeck (CDU), criticized the initiative, arguing that it creates an impression of normality around home cultivation and could lead to cannabis consumption among children and adolescents, since there are no controls within private households.

Dirk Heitepriem, President of the German Cannabis Business Association (BvCW), rejected this criticism: “The sale is a milestone for consumer protection and for combating the unregulated illicit market. Home cultivation also protects against sometimes highly dangerous extenders and additives and is therefore in the interest of health and consumer protection.”

BvCW Managing Director Michael Greif added: “We must move away from a policy of fear toward a policy of controlled quality. The sale of seeds at Netto is an important step in the right direction: secure origin, reliable quality, normalization, and destigmatization instead of criminalization. Whether alcohol, tobacco, or cannabis: instead of controlling private households, we need evidence-based regulation. For cannabis, this requires research projects on regulated distribution.”

Section 10 of the German Cannabis Consumption Act (KCanG) already stipulates that both private home cultivation and finished cannabis products must be kept inaccessible to children. By contrast, there is no legal obligation to keep alcohol or tobacco inaccessible to minors.

Cannabis seeds from the brand “gutmut saatgut”, a member of the association, were reportedly in such high demand that some stores sold out on the first day. In addition to specialized cannabis shops and online retailers, cannabis seeds are increasingly available in garden centers, late-night convenience stores, and other retail outlets for customers aged 18 and over. The seeds themselves are non-intoxicating. Intoxicating effects occur only from the flowers, which must first be heated.

According to the BvCW, the availability of high-quality seeds in brick-and-mortar retail represents a key step toward achieving the objectives of the law: promoting safe home cultivation and effectively combating illegal market structures. From the association’s perspective, this requires low-threshold access. The BvCW therefore advocates regulated sales within the framework of scientific research projects. This objective is also supported by Federal Drug Commissioner Streeck, although a political majority for such projects is currently lacking within the federal coalition government.