Are there online programs for young people about cannabis?

Yes, there are online services aimed at young people and at parents. The BIÖG runs cannabispraevention.de, which offers information for young people, parents and specialists. In addition, there is a chat run by drugcom and the online counseling of DigiSucht. The legal age limit is also important, because possessing cannabis is only permitted from age 18.

Services for young people

cannabispraevention.de has its own pages for young people. There you will find information on health aspects, the legal situation and practical tips. The pages explain why cannabis is especially risky for young people.

The drugcom cannabis check is a self-test. It asks about use over the past 12 months, including loss of control. It cannot replace a conversation with a counselor, though it can be a starting point for sorting out your own questions. According to the site, the drugcom chat counseling is free and can be used anonymously. It has fixed times, and the current ones are listed on the drugcom chat page.

Services for parents

Parents have several places they can turn to. You can reach the parents' phone line of Nummer gegen Kummer at 0800 111 0 550. Times and costs are listed at nummergegenkummer.de. DigiSucht offers addiction counseling for relatives, which according to the platform can be anonymous and free on request. The drugcom chat is open to anyone who is interested.

If you prefer to talk in person, the DHS addiction help directory can help. There you will find counseling services that offer support on cannabis, and you can search by postal code or town. You can read more in the article Where can parents get counseling about cannabis?

What young people need to know legally

Under section 3 KCanG, only people who have reached the age of 18 may possess cannabis, with a maximum of 25 grams. The article At what age may you possess cannabis? explains the rule in detail.

Consuming cannabis in the immediate presence of minors is prohibited under section 5 KCanG.

Passing cannabis on to minors is a criminal offense. Under section 34 KCanG, passing it on carries a prison sentence of up to three years or a fine. If a person over 21 passed cannabis on to a child or a young person, the law lists this as a typical particularly serious case. The sentencing range then is three months to five years in prison.

Prevention: young brains need protection

According to the BIÖG, the risks of cannabis are especially high for young people, because THC disrupts the maturing processes of the brain. Frequent use also impairs concentration, which can lead to problems at school and in training. According to drugcom, it has not been conclusively established whether a young person's brain recovers after abstinence.

A program is also available for schools. According to the DHS, the free prevention program Cannabis Kompakt is aimed at grades 8 and 9.

Where young people are especially protected

The KCanG protects young people in several places. In an association, only people who have turned 18 may become members (section 16(1) KCanG). Persons under 18 may not enter the enclosed premises of a cannabis association (Anbauvereinigung) (section 23(1) KCanG).

Consumption is also prohibited wherever children and young people are present. This applies in the immediate presence of minors (section 5(1) KCanG). In addition, public consumption is prohibited at schools and within sight of schools, and likewise on children's playgrounds, in facilities for children and young people, and on publicly accessible sports facilities (section 5(2) KCanG). The line of sight ends at a distance of more than 100 metres.

Passing cannabis on to young people

Anyone who gives cannabis to a child or young person, or passes it on, commits a criminal offense. The basic offense under section 34 KCanG provides for imprisonment of up to three years or a fine. This applies regardless of whether the recipient is a friend or a schoolmate. The protective rule also applies to people the young person already knows.

Young adults have their own limits

The law calls people between 18 and under 21 young adults (Heranwachsende). See section 1(2) of the Juvenile Courts Act (JGG). When cannabis is passed on from a cannabis association, a maximum of 30 grams per calendar month applies to them, with a daily maximum of 25 grams. The THC content may not exceed 10 percent (section 19(3) KCanG). Anyone aged 18 may therefore possess cannabis, but when passing it on they are subject to stricter rules than older members.

Preparing conversations in the family

1. Ask what your child knows about cannabis and where they got it from.
2. Listen before judging. A verdict at the start often makes the conversation end sooner.
3. Talk about consequences that are concrete, such as school, memory and sleep.
4. Name a person your child can turn to if they have questions.

Memory is one example of a concrete consequence. The BIÖG points out that, in the worst case, poorer memory can jeopardize a school or vocational qualification. This can be raised well without dramatizing it.

Take warning signs seriously without judging too quickly

Changes in school, sleep, mood or circle of friends are not proof of cannabis use. They are, however, worth a conversation. If you are unsure, counseling for parents can help before the situation becomes entrenched. The offers for parents above in the article are a possible starting point.

What young people can check for themselves

If you are unsure whether your own use is still within limits, you can ask yourself three questions. Do you use cannabis more often than you intended? Do you miss it when you cannot use it? Do school, sport or friendships suffer as a result? If you answer yes to several of these questions, it is worth talking to a counseling service.

• Write down when and how often you use before deciding whether something is a problem.
• Talk to someone you trust before the worry grows.
• Use the self-test and the information pages, and then decide whether you need further help.

School and cannabis

On school grounds and within sight of the school, consumption is prohibited under section 5(2) KCanG. This applies regardless of your age. If you have questions about the rules at your school, clarify them directly with the principal or the school's designated trusted teacher.

What you can do now

• Young people can use the drugcom self-test and read the BIÖG information pages.
• Parents who are unsure can use the parents' phone line (0800 111 0 550), the DigiSucht online counseling or the drugcom chat.
• If you would like to talk in person, search for a counseling service near you in the DHS addiction help directory. You will find an overview in the article Where do youth counseling services advise on cannabis use?