Releaf expands to Germany to improve European medical cannabis access

But to say we have learnt a lot throughout the process would be quite the understatement.

Every step has been a lesson in how to build something better, a clinic that offers patients the type of access that was so sorely missing, not something simply faster and/or cheaper. 

Along the way from start-up and treating our first patients in February 2024, to building partnerships with some of the best UK-based and international medical cannabis suppliers, and designing a class-leading, built-from-the-ground-up Patient Dashboard, our goals have been clear from the very beginning: put the patients first, build a truly world-class clinical team, and help fix the supply chain issues that had plagued the UK medical cannabis sector from its inception. 

Why Germany, and why now?

Germany has one of the progressive stances on both medical and recreational cannabis Europe-wide, thanks to massive legislative reforms that came into effect in 2024. The new framework took cannabis off the country’s narcotic list, made medical cannabis prescribing much more straightforward, and allowed Germans much freer access to cannabis generally.

For us, that shift opened up an opportunity to help set the same higher standard of care that we have implemented here in the UK. While access has improved in Germany, the level of clinical oversight and the overall patient experience are still somewhat lacking. That is exactly what we excel at, and we aim to bring that same experience to our European neighbours.

Tim Kirby, CEO of Releaf, explained what this next step means for the company:

“Why Germany? Because it’s the same story we saw in the UK: high demand but poor execution. Since medical cannabis was legalised in 2018, the UK market had stagnated at around 50,000 patients. When we launched in early 2024, we focused on excellent execution, and 18 months later, we have supported nearly 20,000 patients and will generate close to £3 million in revenue this October.

“If you take that same level of execution into a market as large as Germany, where demand is high, but delivery remains mediocre, the potential is enormous. The German market has grown tenfold in just two and a half years and is set to double again.

“We plan to replicate what worked in the UK: deliver an exceptional online experience, dominate the search results, and set new standards for patient access. Within three to six months, I believe Releaf will be one of Germany’s top three clinics.

“We launched with two German partner pharmacies, giving us the capacity to serve up to 2,000 patients a day, with a further 12 Germany-based pharmacies already integrated to expand that capacity beyond 7,000 and potentially 10,000 daily. This is a huge milestone for us, and I believe we will change the game in Germany, just as we did in the UK.”

Looking ahead 

Our move into the German medical cannabis market is an important step for both Releaf as a company and for patient access Europe-wide. It builds on all we have learnt and implemented here in the UK, and shows exactly what is possible when patient needs are put front and centre.  

Releaf’s German launch begins with two licensed partner pharmacies providing nationwide delivery through DHL, supported by German-registered physicians offering clinical guidance. A fully localised German-language platform is now live at Releaf.com/de, designed to give patients a simple and reliable way to begin treatment.

To put it in the simplest terms, our model works because it is built on patient trust. 

Our entire team, the technology we have brought to the sector, and our continued push to create partnerships with the most reliable and forward-thinking medical cannabis suppliers all serve one clear purpose: to make medical cannabis treatment not just effective, but accessible and dependable for all who need it. 

Germany is just the first move of many to come in the near future, and we can’t wait to see how Releaf can help patients globally, not just here in the UK. 

If you would like to learn more about UK medical cannabis treatment, and whether it might be the right fit for your health needs, head to our medical cannabis eligibility checker. It's completely free, takes just 20 seconds to complete, and will give you a clear answer whether you may be eligible for a legal UK medical cannabis prescription.