Are there training courses for teachers on cannabis?

Yes, training courses on cannabis exist for teachers. On cannabispraevention.de the BIÖG lists, for example, the online course “Cannabisprävention: wissen, verstehen, handeln” for teaching staff, specialist staff and parents (total duration about four hours), and the training “MOVE Cannabis” in motivational interviewing for specialist staff. Which offers are available in your federal state can be found from the state offices for addiction issues (Landesstellen für Suchtfragen). What matters is that the content is factual and fits your role in school life.

Who offers training courses

State offices for addiction issues provide information and materials on cannabis. In Lower Saxony this is the Niedersächsische Landesstelle für Suchtfragen (NLS). For method sets such as the “Grünen Koffer” toolkit (from grade 8), cannabispraevention.de names the specialist addiction prevention services as lending points.

At federal level the BIÖG lists programmes and offers for schools on cannabispraevention.de, with details of year group and target audience. The Federal Government's Commissioner for Addiction and Drug Issues (Bundesdrogenbeauftragter) held a conference in 2024 on the role of schools in addiction prevention and reported on it.

What a good course covers

A good course conveys basic facts about cannabis, the current legal position and its effect on young people. It also shows how conversations with pupils can succeed and how teachers can recognise warning signs early.

• facts on effects and health risks
• the legal position for minors, including possession limits and consumption bans
• conversation technique in lessons and in one-to-one talks
• dealing with incidents and working with counselling services

What to check when choosing a course

Check the provider, the qualifications of the presenters and how up to date the content is. Ask whether the course uses substantiated statements and how it deals with questions that go beyond its scope. A reliable event names its sources and clearly separates knowledge from opinion.

Also check whether the course sells products. An event that mainly promotes a particular product or provider does not offer a neutral setting.

Anchoring training in everyday school life

A course is of more use to the staff when what has been learned flows into everyday school life. Plan therefore how you will pass it on: in team meetings, in work with parents and in lessons. A colleague who knows the subject particularly well can act as the contact person.

A short record after the course is helpful. It notes which content you want to adopt and which questions remain open.

Handling school conflicts after training

Even after a course, teachers should not act on their own. Incidents need an agreed procedure with the school management and counselling services. Anyone planning sanctions should have the legal questions clarified in advance. This includes the question of when the police are brought in.

Prevention: building confidence in conversations

The specialist site cannabispraevention.de recommends a factual and differentiated approach to young people. According to the BIÖG, in the worst case a school or vocational qualification is at risk because memory works much worse. An overview is given in the article How does cannabis affect memory and school leaving qualifications?.

Checking costs and funding

Courses may charge fees, but they do not have to. Ask in advance about participation fees, travel costs and possible funding. Agree with the school management who covers the costs before you register.

If you book a course through a private provider, read the contract terms carefully. Check the cancellation terms and which services are actually included.

Training for the school management and staff

It makes sense for the school management and the staff to work on a topic together. Joint training days can create a common language and clarify how the school responds in an emergency. The school management can also schedule time for follow-up in the timetable.

Using networks and working groups

Find out from the state office for addiction issues or the local addiction counselling service whether your region has a working group on addiction prevention in which schools, youth welfare services and counselling services cooperate. There you can get to know contacts and hear about regional offers.

Why regular refreshers help

Knowledge goes out of date, including on cannabis. The legal position and research can change. Plan regular refreshers, for example once a year. This keeps your expertise current and gives you confidence in conversations with pupils.

Next steps

• Research offers from the state office for addiction issues in your federal state.
• Compare content, provider and qualifications before you register.
• Plan with your colleagues how what you have learned reaches everyday school life.

Information on how prevention can be organised in everyday school life is given in How does cannabis prevention work at schools?. For teaching materials, see Which BZgA material suits lessons?.