## The short answer
When you submit an online request via Medicanova, you choose the pharmacy in the questionnaire itself, because the prescription is transmitted electronically to exactly this pharmacy. According to service information as of 14 September 2026, of the 380 partner pharmacies, 376 offer collection, 294 shipping, 270 courier service and 168 express shipping; the most common standard shipping price is €7.95. The main factors in choosing are accessibility, delivery method, price and product range; the information provided by the pharmacy itself is always binding.
Why choosing a pharmacy before your request matters
When you submit an online request via Medicanova, you choose the pharmacy in the questionnaire itself. If a prescription is issued, Medicanova transmits it electronically to exactly this pharmacy. The prescription does not move with you to another pharmacy. You should therefore make your choice before submitting, and it should suit your everyday life: do you want to collect the medicine, have it delivered or receive it by post? What applies when the prescription is redeemed after transmission, for example regarding its validity and partial dispensing, is explained in the article Filling a cannabis prescription.
The pharmacy takes on three tasks in the process: it dispenses the medicine, provides pharmaceutical advice and bills you directly for the medicine. Medicanova is not involved in dispensing or billing.
Four ways to get your medicine
The following figures have been counted from the service information of the 380 partner pharmacies, as of 14 September 2026 (methodology: market data).¹ They describe what the pharmacies offer, not what is available in an individual case.
| Option | How it works | Pharmacies offering it |
|---|---|---|
| Collection | You collect the medicine in person, with no shipping costs | 376 of 380 |
| Shipping | Delivery by parcel service, nationwide | 294 of 380 |
| Express shipping | Faster delivery, usually for a surcharge | 168 of 380 |
| Courier service | Delivery by the pharmacy itself within its local area | 270 of 380 |
Collection is the fastest option if a partner pharmacy is near you and the preparation is in stock. You save the shipping costs and can clarify questions directly on site.
Shipping is a good option if there is no pharmacy within reach or you prefer discretion. The most common standard shipping price is €7.95 (at 178 pharmacies); the range extends from free of charge to €14.95.¹ In the analysis of 2 September 2026, 79 pharmacies shipped free of charge above a minimum order value, most commonly from €150.² A planned ban on shipping cannabis flowers has not been passed as of 14 September 2026; what the bill provides for is explained in the article Will online cannabis prescriptions be banned?
Express shipping shortens delivery time but does not replace stock-keeping: if a preparation is not in stock, the pharmacy must order it first.
Courier service (Botendienst) is delivery by the pharmacy itself, regulated in § 17 of the Pharmacy Operations Ordinance (Apothekenbetriebsordnung).³ It is limited to the pharmacy's local area and is handled differently by each pharmacy; ask the pharmacy directly about time slots and costs.
What matters when choosing
- Accessibility. For collection and courier service, distance is what counts. The pharmacy overview lists the partner pharmacies by location with address, telephone number and service information.
- Delivery method. Check on the pharmacy's detail page whether the method you want is offered and what shipping costs.
- Price. The price of the same preparation varies considerably between pharmacies, because the pharmacy mark-up is calculated as a percentage of the purchase price. How this comes about and where prices lie is shown in the cost guide. Current daily prices are provided by the pharmacy itself.
- Product range. Some pharmacies stock only a few preparations, others more than a thousand. The detail pages state the breadth of the range as of the date the data was retrieved.
- Advice. Pharmaceutical advice is the pharmacy's responsibility. If you have questions about taking the medicine or interactions, the pharmacy is the right place to ask, not Medicanova's customer service.
What happens if the preparation is not available
Availability changes daily. If the prescribed preparation is not available at your pharmacy, the pharmacy may not dispense a different strain; the doctor decides on an alternative by issuing a new prescription. Details are in the article Filling a cannabis prescription. If you have questions about the status of your request, customer service can help.
How up to date is the pharmacy information?
Address, service information and shipping costs on the pharmacy pages come from the partner network and bear the date they were last retrieved. They are a snapshot, not a commitment. The information provided by the pharmacy itself is always binding. If you notice outdated information, we would be grateful for a note.
---
This article is for organisational information and does not replace pharmaceutical or medical advice. Whether a preparation is prescribed, and which one, is decided solely by the treating doctor.
Sources
- Service information from the connected partner pharmacies, retrieved on 14 September 2026: 380 partner pharmacies, of which 376 offer collection, 294 shipping, 168 express shipping and 270 courier service; most common standard shipping cost €7.95 (178 pharmacies), range €0 to €14.95. Analysis by the Medicanova editorial team.
- Service information from the connected partner pharmacies, retrieved on 2 September 2026: free delivery above a minimum order value at 79 of the then 370 partner pharmacies. Analysis by the Medicanova editorial team.
- Apothekenbetriebsordnung (ApBetrO), § 17 – Erwerb und Abgabe von Arzneimitteln und Medizinprodukten [acquisition and dispensing of medicines and medical devices], para. 2 (Botendienst)