A penguin, a joint machine and gummy bears – welcome to the hemp fair Mary Jane
Since partial legalization in April 2024, the cannabis business has been booming in Germany. Manufacturers showcase the latest innovations at the "Mary Jane" hemp trade fair.
The "cannabis business" is booming: Since the partial legalization by the "traffic light" government, cannabis has become significantly easier to prescribe as a medicine. One market in particular is benefiting from this: startups focused on the green substance.
The hemp fair “Mary Jane” in Berlin shows how far the excesses of the green innovation frenzy go.
Through legalization, Germany has become the most important trendsetter
Speaking of intoxication: As much as cannabis has become mainstream, its use is not harmless. Especially in adolescents and young adults, regular use can impair brain development, increase the risk of psychosis, and lead to addiction.
Experts also warn against starting with so-called edibles – they have a delayed effect and make overdose easy. The trends described here are therefore expressly not a recommendation for consumption, but rather a glimpse into a booming industry.
Insert paper tubes, fill with cannabis, press the button – done. The "Rocketbox" produces up to 5,000 joints a day fully automatically. This is made possible by a vibration-controlled system that precisely distributes the weed into pre-rolled tubes.
The machine is primarily used in Dutch coffee shops and pharmacies abroad – for example, for Parkinson's patients who can no longer roll themselves. The price: 24,500 euros.
About the size of a joint, the small figure serves as a portable smoke filter – with a built-in system to combat odors and pollutants. According to the manufacturer, Smoke Fiends, anyone who blows smoke through the plastic bird can exhale odor-free and virtually unnoticed.
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However, it's not entirely inconspicuous: Anyone who sucks on a penguin in public will likely attract more attention than with a traditional joint. The smoke filter is also available in pineapple or cactus designs.
In addition to gimmicks and devices, the focus of the trade fair is primarily on medical cannabis. The focus is on the most gentle and precise application possible – without harmful byproducts like tobacco.
Modern vaporizers with temperature control are designed to facilitate healthier consumption. Edibles—such as gummy bears, chocolate, or drinks—are also trending. Their advantage: they are easier to dose and completely smoke-free.
It's no wonder that the market is developing rapidly: in 2024 alone, imports of medical cannabis to Germany quadrupled, according to the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices.
Even though these innovations weren't honored at the trade fair, there was still one award: This one went to Stefan Raab. The Mary Jane Award honors one of the cannabis faces of the year. The nominees are usually involuntary.
Organizers say Raab creatively fueled the debate about cannabis with songs like "Gebt das Hanf frei" (Free the Hemp) and "Rambo Zambo." Last year, the award went to Health Minister Karl Lauterbach.
businessinsider
