How many cannabis associations has Saxony approved?

Status: October 2026. In a notice dated 25 June 2026, the Landesdirektion Sachsen published figures on licences for cannabis associations. For 2026, the table shows five licences as of Q2 2026: two in the city of Chemnitz, two in the city of Leipzig and one in the district of Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge; all other districts stand at zero. For 2024 and 2025 together, there are 24 licences, without a breakdown by year or quarter. The figures come from the statistical tables on the authority’s website and should be read with the status of the respective quarters.

What are cannabis associations?

Under § 1 No. 13 KCanG, cannabis associations (Anbauvereinigungen) are registered non-profit associations or registered cooperatives. Their purpose is shared, non-commercial cultivation and passing cannabis on to members for personal use. An association formed for this purpose therefore may not make profit from sales. In everyday language they are often called cannabis social clubs.

The figures at a glance

• 2026: five licences, according to the statistics for Saxony as of Q2 2026.
• 2024 and 2025 together: 24 licences, according to the statistics for Saxony for 2024 to 2025.
• Notice of the Landesdirektion Sachsen: 25 June 2026.

The tables show the licences separately. A total across all periods does not follow directly from them, because the tables report the periods separately. Anyone quoting the figures should therefore name the respective period.

Who grants the licence?

Anyone who grows cannabis together and passes it on to members for personal use needs a licence from the competent authority under § 11(1) KCanG. The Landesdirektion Sachsen has made these figures public. Which authority is responsible in an individual case depends on state law, and it should be asked directly.

What the application requires

The application for a licence must be submitted in writing or electronically under § 11(4) KCanG. It must contain the information and evidence in German that the law prescribes. This includes information on the association and its board, the estimated number of members, the location of the enclosed premises, criminal record certificates (Führungszeugnisse) that may be no older than three months, and the health and youth protection concept. Anyone planning to found an association should work through this list early.

What the authority examines

The number of licences depends on the applications and also on the review of the documents. A licence presupposes that the requirements of the law are met, and the authority examines this case by case. Anyone applying should therefore expect waiting times and submit complete documents. The process of founding an association is explained in the article on the rejection of a founding.

Distances and location

The question of location is decisive for many foundations. Under § 12 KCanG, a licence may not be granted if the site lies within 200 metres of the entrance area of a school, a child and youth facility or a children’s playground. This distance is one of the most frequent hurdles and is explained in more detail in the article on the 200-metre distance.

What matters for members

For members, the number of licences means above all that an association may only operate with a licence. Anyone wanting to become a member should check whether the association holds a valid licence. The process of admission is described in the article on membership and admission. Members may receive cannabis only for personal use, and only people who are 18 years old may become members.

Youth protection and prevention

Under § 23(1) KCanG, cannabis associations may not give people under 18 access to their enclosed premises. In addition, they must draw up a health and youth protection concept (§ 23(6) KCanG) and appoint a prevention officer (§ 23(4) KCanG). The topic page Prevention and youth protection brings together the basics.

How the figures can be put in context

Five licences for 2026 as of Q2 and 24 for 2024 and 2025 together show the order of magnitude. The page reports licences granted, not applications, not rejections, and not the number of members. Whether the figure for 2026 refers only to the second quarter or to the year up to that point does not appear in the table. Anyone comparing the figures should use the same period and the same term.

What a licence means for members

A licence granted shows that the authority has examined the requirements of the law in the individual case. Members benefit because the association then operates under the rules of the KCanG. The duties on youth and health protection apply to the association on an ongoing basis. Anyone considering membership should therefore know the articles of association and the licence notice.

Where prospective founders can get information

The competent state authority is the first point of contact for questions about the procedure. There you can learn which documents are needed and what timetable applies. Counselling can help with choosing a location, because the distance to schools and facilities plays a central role. Write down your questions before you attend an appointment.

What you can do now

• Read the statistics together with their period before you pass on any figures.
• When looking at an association, check whether a valid licence exists.
• Ask the competent authority about the current procedure if you want to found an association.