Since the introduction of the cannabis law in Germany in 2017, healthcare provider, the BARMER, will have  received 14,986 applications for medical cannabis products by the end of January this year.

BARMER’s analysis shows that of the number of medical cannabis product applications they have received since the inroduction of the cannabis law in Germany, a total of 10,255 (68.4%) were approved and 4,731 rejected.

As we enter a new year and a new decade, it's exciting to predict where the cannabis industry will be in another ten years, and also to reflect on how far the industry as come. The legal industry has made incredible strides over the course of the last few years with more people than ever jumping on board for its benefits. The year 2019 was an especially interesting year with many highs and lows for cannabis businesses and consumers alike. It was an exceptionally rough year for cannabis stocks and it doesn’t look like 2020 will be much better. However, things continued to move forward despite financial woes.

Here’s a recap on some of the top stories from 2019:

The success of the robust German medical cannabis program is an example for the rest of Europe, claims a newly-formed lobby group.

As patients in other European jurisdictions struggle to access cannabis medicine, Germany is leading the way with over 142,000 prescriptions written in 2018. It is also leading the way in cutting prices with a new wholesale prices of 2.3 euros per gram set to substantially reduce the current cost of medical cannabis, reports the Mjbizdaily website.

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During the last year, the cannabis sector has been in the middle of a major transition that has been centered around the expansion into new markets. The European Union (EU) has been a point of emphasis for these cannabis operators and we are favorably on this strategy for growth.

When compared to the Canadian and US cannabis markets, the opportunity in the EU is much less saturated and is in the early innings of a major growth cycle. Currently, the production of cannabis is not allowed in most of Europe and the product is imported from either Canada or the Netherlands.

Germany’s regulatory approach to medical cannabis is good practice and should be replicated across Europe, according to newly-born European Medicinal Cannabis Association (EUMCA).

The recently established lobby group is taking its first steps in the Brussels bubble, advocating for an EU-wide regulatory framework on medical marijuana.

While the market for medical cannabis is already well developed in some EU member states, only EU-wide standards can ensure patients have the same across Europe.

Different legislation across EU countries on prescribing cannabis-based medicines can hinder patients’ access to their treatment when they travel abroad, EUMCA said.

Commercial cannabis cultivation is a complex and delicate process often made even more difficult with so many suppliers to choose from. Choosing grow lights can be particularly challenging with so many options on the market claiming to be the best in the cannabis industry. How do you choose and who do you trust?

CBD just ran into a brick wall in Germany.

A recent court ruling in the EU country reinforced the government’s position that products infused with the non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis should be classified as a “novel food.”

Given to products that were not consumed widely before 1997, the classification means CBD-infused products will not be authorized for sale until further research is conducted, reports foodnavigator.com.

Germany is home to the largest economy on the European continent, and the fourth largest economy on the planet.

The medical cannabis industry in Germany has grown at a steady rate in recent years. With a population over twice the size of California’s population, there is no end to growth in sight for Germany’s emerging cannabis industry.

How big will Germany’s medical cannabis industry get? A new projection by Prohibition Partners provides an answer to that question, and the figure involved is staggering. Per Benzinga:

Pain and spasticity are the two most common patient ailments for medical cannabis prescriptions, say the German Government 

Almost three quarters of all German cannabis prescriptions from a Government sample of over 6,500 are for pain – at 71%. This was followed by spasticity – a muscle condition at 11% – and anorexia at 7%, with epilepsy ADHD and Tourettes Syndrome all featuring, too. The data is based on an ongoing government survey involving 6,538 patients, as of September this year, reports the Marijuana Business Daily website.

Germany's center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is openly considering a momentous u-turn in the party's attitude to the legalization of cannabis.

"Cannabis could be freed for personal use, of course with controlled production and distribution," CDU interior policy spokesman Marian Wendt told the RND network on Friday. "The resources freed in the police and judiciary should be used to fight the illegal trade."

Wendt's statement came after the German government's drug commissioner, Daniela Ludwig, also signaled a more liberal new drug policy in the conservative party.