## In short: who may prescribe cannabis?
In Germany, any licensed doctor may prescribe medical cannabis, regardless of their specialty. This is laid down in § 3 of the Medical Cannabis Act (Medizinal-Cannabisgesetz, MedCanG), which has applied since 1 April 2024. The prescription must be issued in the context of medical treatment. Dentists and veterinarians are expressly not authorised to prescribe it.¹
The MedCanG does not require any special additional qualification. Since cannabis no longer falls under the Narcotics Act (Betäubungsmittelgesetz), a narcotics prescription form is also no longer needed for most cannabis medicines; one exception is the active substance nabilone.⁶ An overview of the legal situation is given in the article Cannabis on prescription in Germany.
However, the fact that a doctor may prescribe cannabis does not mean that they will do so in an individual case. Whether treatment is an option is decided by the doctor based on their own medical assessment. There is no entitlement to a prescription.
Private prescription and statutory health insurance prescription: two different routes
Which practice is an option for you depends largely on who is to bear the costs.
| Private prescription (Privatrezept) | Statutory insurance prescription (Kassenrezept, GKV) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who may prescribe | any licensed doctor | doctors contracted to statutory health insurance (Vertragsärzte) |
| Requirements | medical indication in the individual case | serious illness, no suitable standard therapy, prospect of a noticeable improvement |
| Approval from the health insurance fund | not required | usually required for the initial prescription, exceptions for certain specialist groups |
| Cannabis flower | can be prescribed | no longer at the expense of the health insurance fund since 30 July 2026 |
| Costs | borne by you | statutory co-payment |
The requirements for a statutory health insurance prescription are set out in § 31 para. 6 of Book V of the Social Code (SGB V).² How the application works and when the health insurance fund declines it is explained in the article Health insurance and medical cannabis.
Statutory insurance prescription: the approval requirement and its exceptions
In principle, the initial prescription at the expense of statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, GKV) requires approval from the health insurance fund. The fund may only refuse it in justified exceptional cases.² Under the Pharmaceuticals Directive (Arzneimittel-Richtlinie), it decides within two weeks, or within four weeks if an expert opinion is obtained, for example from the Medical Service (Medizinischer Dienst).³
On 18 July 2024, the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) decided for which doctors this approval requirement no longer applies. The decision was published in the Federal Gazette (Bundesanzeiger) on 16 October 2024 and has applied since 17 October 2024.³ ⁴ The exception applies to contracted doctors who hold one of the following designations:³
Specialist and sub-specialty designations: General Medicine; Anaesthesiology; Obstetrics and Gynaecology with a focus on Gynaecological Oncology; Internal Medicine, as well as Internal Medicine and Angiology, Endocrinology and Diabetology, Gastroenterology, Haematology and Oncology, Infectiology, Cardiology, Nephrology, Pneumology or Rheumatology; Neurology; Physical and Rehabilitative Medicine; Psychiatry and Psychotherapy.
Additional designations: Geriatrics, Drug-Based Tumour Therapy, Palliative Medicine, Sleep Medicine, Special Pain Therapy.
Important: the medical requirements for prescribing remain unchanged. Doctors in these groups can also apply for approval voluntarily, for example if it is unclear whether the requirements are met.³ ⁵ For doctors outside these groups, follow-up prescriptions do not require renewed approval, except in the case of a change of product; a mere dosage adjustment and a switch to another standardised extract are expressly excluded from this.² If, on the other hand, treatment switches, for example, from an extract to a medicine containing dronabinol, new approval is required.
What changed for patients with statutory health insurance on 30 July 2026
The GKV-Beitragssatzstabilisierungsgesetz (an act to stabilise statutory health insurance contribution rates) has changed the rules for statutory health insurance prescriptions once again. Since 30 July 2026, the following has applied:⁶ ⁷
- Dried cannabis flower may no longer be prescribed at the expense of the statutory health insurance funds. The entitlement continues to cover extracts of standardised quality and medicines containing dronabinol or nabilone.²
- Treatment initially begins with an authorised finished medicinal product containing cannabis as part of a six-month therapeutic trial.²
How far this obligation to use a finished medicinal product extends is disputed. The National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (Kassenärztliche Bundesvereinigung, KBV) now interprets the law more strictly than the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds (GKV-Spitzenverband), is calling for clarification from the Federal Ministry of Health and recommends that practices obtain approval in advance if in doubt.⁸
These changes do not apply to private prescriptions, because § 31 SGB V only governs the benefits of statutory health insurance.
Cannabis prescription from your GP: possible, but not an obligation
The GP practice (Hausarztpraxis) is often the first port of call, and rightly so: it holds your findings, your medication and the history of previous treatments. Since October 2024, GPs with a specialist title in general medicine or internal medicine have been among the groups allowed to issue initial prescriptions without approval from the health insurance fund.³
Nevertheless, by no means all practices prescribe cannabis. There are understandable reasons for this:
- Cost-effectiveness: the principle of cost-effectiveness (Wirtschaftlichkeitsgebot) also applies to cannabis. The KBV advises practices to observe the prescribing requirements carefully in view of possible cost-effectiveness audits.⁵
- Documentation: the German Pain Medicine Society (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Schmerzmedizin) stresses that good documentation of the reasons for prescribing is important to protect against recourse claims (Regresse).⁹ This takes time.
- Legal uncertainty: the new rules of July 2026 are interpreted differently by the KBV and the health insurance funds.⁸
- Professional scepticism: during the legislative procedure, the German Medical Association (Bundesärztekammer) stated that there is no scientific evidence for prescribing cannabis flower.¹²
If your GP declines, an open conversation makes sense: ask about the reasons and whether a referral to a specialist practice is an option.
Specialists, pain therapy and palliative medicine
Depending on the condition, a specialist practice may be the better place to go. For chronic pain, doctors with the additional designation Special Pain Therapy (Spezielle Schmerztherapie) are an obvious choice; for neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis, neurology; for cancer, oncology or palliative medicine. Many of these specialties are on the G-BA's exception list.³
Specialist practices often have waiting times. For people with statutory health insurance, a referral from the GP practice can make things easier; the patient service number 116117 is responsible for arranging appointments.
Telemedicine: the private route
In addition to local practices, there are telemedicine services. The process is usually similar: you complete a medical questionnaire or book a video consultation, and a doctor reviews the information and decides. Under § 7 para. 4 of the Model Professional Code for Physicians (Musterberufsordnung, MBO-Ä), exclusive remote treatment is permitted in individual cases if it is medically justifiable.¹⁰ If the doctor concludes that an in-person examination is necessary for this, the request is declined.
You should be aware of the limits:
- Telemedical requests generally result in a private prescription. You bear the cost of the medicine yourself; applications to the health insurance fund are not made this way.
- Remote treatment is not suitable for everyone, for example if findings are missing, an examination is needed or pre-existing conditions argue against treatment.
- Telemedicine for cannabis is politically controversial. On 8 October 2025, the Federal Government adopted a draft amending the MedCanG, under which cannabis flower would only be allowed to be prescribed after personal contact in the practice or during a home visit.¹¹ The Health Committee heard experts on this on 14 January 2026.¹² The amendment has not been passed so far. The current status is explained in the article Will online cannabis prescriptions be banned?.
Medicanova also forwards such requests to independent doctors licensed in Germany; the prescription goes to a pharmacy you choose yourself. How this works in practice is described in How it works and in the article Requesting a cannabis prescription online. How to recognise reputable services, for example by transparent information about the doctors, is covered in the article Cannabis prescription online: how to recognise a reputable provider.
How to find a doctor
There is no official directory of “cannabis doctors”. These routes are realistic:
- Talk to your GP practice. It knows your medical history and can assess whether a referral makes sense.
- Ask the specialist practice treating you. If you are already receiving neurological, pain or oncological treatment, raise the topic there.
- Use the doctor search of the Associations of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (Kassenärztliche Vereinigungen). At arztsuche.116117.de you can search by specialty, additional designation such as Special Pain Therapy, and location.¹³ Whether a practice prescribes cannabis is not listed there; ask when making an appointment.
- Consider telemedicine as a private option if you can pay for the private prescription yourself and are not seeking cost coverage.
Anyone searching for “cannabis doctor near me” or for a specific city should know: for a local practice, the doctor search is the best starting point. A telemedical request, by contrast, works the same way from any city; an overview by city can be found under Cannabis prescription in your city.
The first consultation: what to expect
Whether in the practice or by video, the first consultation is mainly about your medical history. Expect questions about:
- your symptoms, how long you have had them and how much they restrict you
- the diagnosis and who made it
- previous treatments, their effect and their side effects
- current medication, because of possible interactions
- pre-existing conditions, especially mental illnesses
- previous experience with cannabis
- your job and everyday life, for example whether you drive regularly
The doctor informs you about effects, risks and intake and determines how the course of treatment will be monitored. Answer all questions fully and honestly: the decision depends on this information.
Which documents help
Being well prepared shortens the consultation and makes the decision easier to follow. Helpful documents include:
- doctors' letters and findings that confirm the diagnosis
- an overview of previous therapies with period and outcome
- your current medication plan
- for pain, a pain diary where applicable
- if you are seeking cost coverage: documents showing that standard therapies have not helped or were not tolerated
A detailed checklist is provided in the article Documents for your medical request.
Frequently asked questions
May my GP prescribe cannabis?
Yes. Any licensed doctor may prescribe cannabis.¹ Since October 2024, GPs with a specialist title in general medicine or internal medicine no longer need approval for an initial prescription at the expense of the health insurance fund.³ However, the practice is not obliged to prescribe.
Can a dentist prescribe cannabis?
No. The MedCanG excludes dentists, as well as veterinarians, from prescribing.¹
Can I get cannabis without a doctor?
Not as a medicine. The pharmacy only dispenses medical cannabis on a doctor's prescription.¹ CBD products sold over the counter are not cannabis medicines.
Does health insurance pay if the doctor prescribes cannabis?
Only for a statutory health insurance prescription and only if the requirements of § 31 para. 6 SGB V are met. Since 30 July 2026, cannabis flower can no longer be prescribed at the expense of statutory health insurance.⁶ You pay for a private prescription yourself.
Do I have to go to a practice for a cannabis prescription?
Under the current legal situation, not necessarily: exclusive remote treatment is permitted if it is medically justifiable in the individual case.¹⁰ A planned change in the law would require personal contact for cannabis flower; it has not yet been passed.¹¹
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This article is for general information only and does not replace medical or legal advice. As of: 14 September 2026.
Sources
- Medizinal-Cannabisgesetz (MedCanG), § 3 – Verschreibung und Abgabe [prescribing and dispensing]: https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/medcang/__3.html
- § 31 para. 6 SGB V – Versorgung mit Cannabis [supply of cannabis]: https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_5/__31.html
- Gemeinsamer Bundesausschuss: resolution of 18 July 2024 amending the Arzneimittel-Richtlinie, Abschnitt N § 45 and Anlage XI (Genehmigungsvorbehalt Cannabisarzneimittel) [approval requirement for cannabis medicines], BAnz AT 16.10.2024 B3: https://www.g-ba.de/downloads/39-261-6728/2024-07-18_AM-RL_Abschnitt-N-Paragraf-45-Genehmigungsvorbehalt-Cannabis_BAnz.pdf
- Gemeinsamer Bundesausschuss: Cannabisverordnung ohne vorherige Genehmigung der Krankenkasse – Beschluss tritt in Kraft, press release of 16 October 2024: https://www.g-ba.de/presse/pressemitteilungen-meldungen/1210/
- Kassenärztliche Bundesvereinigung: Erstverordnung von Cannabis – kein Genehmigungsvorbehalt mehr für bestimmte Fachgruppen, practice news of 17 October 2024: https://www.kbv.de/praxis/tools-und-services/praxisnachrichten/2024/10-17/Erstverordnung%20von%20Cannabis-%20Kein%20Genehmigungsvorbehalt%20mehr%20f%C3%BCr%20bestimmte%20Fachgruppen
- Kassenärztliche Bundesvereinigung: Cannabis – Verordnung, as of August 2026: https://www.kbv.de/praxis/verordnungen/arzneimittel/cannabis
- Deutsches Ärzteblatt: KBV und Kassen einigen sich auf Regeln für Cannabisverordnungen, 7 August 2026: https://www.aerzteblatt.de/news/kbv-und-kassen-einigen-sich-auf-regeln-fur-cannabisverordnungen-4c3ec7e2-79d7-49c2-a4cc-9329ece7bcb9
- Deutsches Ärzteblatt: Cannabis-Erstverordnungen – KBV bewertet gesetzliche Regelung neu, 21 August 2026: https://www.aerzteblatt.de/news/cannabis-erstverordnungen-kbv-bewertet-gesetzliche-regelung-neu-ba765493-b07d-4ebc-bdf7-24681deb56e6
- Deutsches Ärzteblatt: Verordnung cannabisbasierter Arzneimittel – Fachgesellschaft gibt Praxishinweise, 5 December 2024: https://www.aerzteblatt.de/nachrichten/156211/Verordnung-cannabisbasierter-Arzneimittel-Fachgesellschaft-gibt-Praxishinweise
- Bundesärztekammer: Fragenkatalog zur Fernbehandlung nach § 7 Absatz 4 MBO-Ä [questions on remote treatment]: https://www.bundesaerztekammer.de/bundesaerztekammer/recht/publikationen/fragenkatalog-zur-fernbehandlung
- Bundesministerium für Gesundheit: Gesetz zur Änderung des Medizinal-Cannabisgesetzes: https://www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de/service/gesetze-und-verordnungen/detail/aenderung-medizinal-cannabisgesetzes
- Deutscher Bundestag: Experten für Nachbesserungen am Medizinalcannabis-Gesetzentwurf, hearing of the Health Committee on 14 January 2026: https://www.bundestag.de/dokumente/textarchiv/2026/kw03-pa-gesundheit-1135486
- Kassenärztliche Vereinigungen: Arzt- und Psychotherapeutensuche 116117 [doctor and psychotherapist search]: https://arztsuche.116117.de/