We are the ÖCB – The Voice of the Cannabis Industry in Austria
The Austrian Cannabis Association (ÖCB) is the official alliance of cannabis and CBD specialty shops in Austria.
Austrian politics is heading in a completely wrong direction with its regressive, hard-line approach to cannabis – to the detriment of all Austrians. The ÖCB has presented all necessary concepts that can set our country on a modern and secure path regarding cannabis.
As a strong advocacy group for an entire industry, the ÖCB is committed to preserving free trade in legal cannabis flowers.
The trigger for our founding was the ruling of the Supreme Administrative Court (VwGH) of November 21, 2024, which declared the sale of cannabis flowers for smoking to be subject to tobacco tax. Since then, the Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF) has incorrectly interpreted this ruling as placing hemp flowers under the tobacco monopoly. This is factually and legally incorrect, but in practice, the BMF is now prohibiting sales through harassment by the customs authorities.
Our association represents around 500 companies that collectively secure about 1,500 jobs and generate an estimated annual turnover of 500 million euros – a significant economic sector that was thrown into massive distress overnight by this legal decision, as up to 80% of our industry's sales are made with flowers.
The ÖCB has obtained a legal opinion from Prof. Heinz Mayer, which clearly states that cannabis does not fall under the tobacco monopoly and that the tobacco tax for cannabis flowers cannot be legally and securely assessed under the present law. Based on this legal opinion, the ÖCB has filed a complaint with the Federal Fiscal Court against the sales ban and compulsory monopoly imposed by the BMF.
This process will certainly be taken through all instances and will last at least two years. During this time, numerous companies that are ÖCB members will have been driven into ruin.
First and foremost, the patients who rely on high-quality CBD flowers every day are the ones suffering – for the relief of chronic pain, the treatment of sleep disorders, anxiety, epilepsy, and much more.
Numerous studies from renowned institutions – including the WHO, Harvard Medical School, and the New England Journal of Medicine – prove the medical efficacy and safety of CBD, particularly in its natural flower form.
The natural CBD flower offers a synergetic effect (entourage effect) where cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids act together – an effect that isolated oils often fail to achieve.
View all studies and sources >A state monopoly prevents competition. And without competition, there is no incentive for quality, diversity, or innovation. The market is left to a few large players whose focus is not on high-quality production, but on maximum profitability. The small, regional producers who work with passion and expertise are left behind. An ethically managed industry that has grown over decades is wiped out – all because of a ruling that leaves many questions unanswered.
We at the ÖCB stand for a free, fair, and responsible market. For securing jobs, strengthening the domestic economy – and above all: for the right to self-determination and medical care.
A coexistence of specialty CBD stores and tobacconists represents the fairest and most sustainable solution in the view of the ÖCB. Instead of completely banning free trade and regulating distribution exclusively through the state monopoly, space should be given to both sales channels. This allows customers to decide for themselves where and in what quality they want to purchase their CBD products – be it in specialized stores with expert advice or in tobacconists as an additional offering.
This dual structure would not only ensure the comprehensive supply of the population with high-quality CBD flowers, but also preserve jobs, promote competition, and continue to give small producers the opportunity to remain part of the market. Such a solution strengthens diversity and ensures that patients do not have to suffer from bureaucratic hurdles or limited product choices.