Mary Jane cannabis fair opens in Berlin for tenth anniversary

A trade fair with festival elements

The event positions itself as a hybrid of trade fair, specialist conference and festival. "Von heute bis Sonntag findet auf dem Berliner Messegelände die Cannabis-Messe Mary Jane statt," the announcement said. A smoking ban applies inside the exhibition halls, with consumption allowed only in the designated outdoor areas. "Konsumiert werden darf nach Angaben der Veranstalter nur auf den Außenflächen," the organizers noted.

In line with the fair's "Cannabis first" principle, alcohol is prohibited across the entire grounds. "Auch in diesem Jahr gilt 'Cannabis first', heißt: Alkohol ist auch in diesem Jahr auf dem gesamten Gelände verboten," the announcement said. Lectures and discussions on legalization, medicine and youth protection run in parallel to the exhibition.

High-profile guests and strict rules

The festival component brings musical performances to the site over several days. "Zudem läuft auf dem Gelände an mehreren Tagen ein Festivalprogramm," the organizers said, with performers including Sido and Marteria expected. Rapper Marten Laciny, alias Materia, is also announced as a guest.

Among the headline guests is Mike Tyson, who has confirmed his attendance. "Auch Ex-US-Boxweltmeister Mike Tyson hat seinen Besuch angekündigt," the fair's announcement said. The Mary Jane event is considered one of the largest of its kind worldwide.

Entry to the fair is restricted to adults. "Der Zutritt ist erst ab 18 Jahren erlaubt," the organizers said, and "Minderjährige erhalten auch in Begleitung von Erwachsenen keinen Einlass." The age restriction is highlighted alongside lectures on youth protection as part of the fair's programme.

Cannabis policy across Europe

The tenth anniversary edition comes against the backdrop of a shifting European policy debate. Cannabis has been partially legalized in Germany for approximately two years, while across most of Europe the substance remains illegal. The EU Drug Report, presented this week, said cannabis was the most frequently consumed drug in Europe, with an estimated 25 million people aged 15 to 64 reporting use. Cocaine ranks second in terms of consumption, according to the report.

The same report noted that in 2024 one third of people entering drug treatment in Europe did so after consuming cannabis products. The findings were broadcast on Deutschlandfunk on 11 June 2026, the same day the fair opened in Berlin.

The fair's combination of commercial exhibition, political discussion and entertainment reflects the broader tensions within Europe's cannabis market. With legalization progressing unevenly across the continent, organizers are using the anniversary to showcase industry trends while also hosting debates on regulation, medical applications and protecting young people.

Visitors can learn about new trends in the cannabis industry and speak with representatives at the Mary Jane fair. "Besucher können sich über neue Trends der Branche informieren und mit Vertretern ins Gespräch kommen," the announcement said. The event is distributed via the dpa news channel.