German court bans Bloomwell's misleading cannabis prescription ads
Berlin – "Prescription now free & flowers delivered straight to your door"—this was the slogan used by cannabis platform Bloomwell in its advertising. But the Frankfurt Regional Court has now banned this campaign in an emergency injunction, along with ads featuring rapper Sido.
At Bloomwell, customers can request a free prescription. "We have a limited-time offer where you can get your cannabis prescription at no extra cost. All you need to do is register with Bloomwell and select the free prescription request," the website states. Elsewhere, it notes that customers can only choose from a restricted product range.
The products in question appear to be from the brand "Siggis Pharm," sold exclusively through Bloomwell and backed by Cologne-based company MeinBlock and cannabis producer Demecan. MeinBlock, in turn, is a project led by lawyer Burkhard Westerhoff, who—alongside Sido—already markets spirits under the brand Kabumm.
The North Rhine Chamber of Pharmacists (AKNR) took legal action, securing the injunction from the court. Bloomwell is now prohibited from advertising free prescriptions as a bonus with medical cannabis orders. The court also banned ads featuring Sido under the headline "Get your cannabis prescription with Sido."
"This injunction underscores the urgent need for lawmakers to crack down on the business models of such platforms," says attorney Dr. Morton Douglas, who represents the AKNR in this case. With the Health Committee set to hold a hearing this Wednesday on amendments to the Medical Cannabis Act (MedCanG), he argues that the case further proves the necessity of the proposed reforms: "The business practices of these platforms have absolutely nothing to do with the proper distribution of medicinal substances. On the contrary, they employ a range of tactics and advertising strategies to target—quickly and easily—the younger audience, encouraging them to order these recognized hazardous substances."
The case also reveals that these platforms are solely focused on distributing medication, with no genuine telemedicine services involved: "Giving away medical consultations for free shows that this aspect means nothing to the providers—they simply treat prescriptions as a necessary evil to be bundled in. This is not only disrespectful to doctors who take their profession seriously but also proves that patients cannot expect real treatment from Bloomwell or similar platforms."
"We hope that policymakers will not be misled by these platform operators and will recognize that their only goal is to maximize sales at any cost—not to promote responsible handling of these substances."
