From what age may you possess cannabis?

Only from age 18 is possession of cannabis permitted under the KCanG. Anyone who has reached that age may possess up to 25 grams of cannabis under section 3(1) KCanG. At the place of residence or habitual abode, section 3(2) permits up to 50 grams where it concerns flowers, leaves close to the flower or other plant material. Younger people have none of these permissions.

What 25 grams means in everyday life

25 grams is a maximum for possession, and it says nothing about what is advisable. For flowers, leaves close to the flower and other plant material, the weight after drying counts. If you carry several products, keep the total amount in view. A maximum says nothing about how much is good for your body.

Possession at your place of residence: 50 grams of flowers

The 50-gram limit applies only at the place of residence or habitual abode. It concerns flowers, leaves close to the flower and other plant material. Outside this place, the 25-gram limit from section 3(1) applies. The total quantity possessed may not exceed 50 grams (section 3(2) sentence 2 KCanG). Anyone who wants to clarify a specific case should ask a lawyer.

Home cultivation: from 18 and up to three plants

Home cultivation is also tied to the age limit of 18. Under section 9(1) KCanG, no more than three cannabis plants may be present at the same time. Cultivation must take place at your place of residence or habitual abode. Cannabis from home cultivation may not be passed on to third parties (section 9(2)). Cannabis and propagation material must be protected at the place of residence from access by third parties, especially children and young people, by suitable measures under section 10 KCanG.

The amounts at a glance

The most important limits in the law are shown in this table. It does not replace the legal text. It does, however, help with a quick comparison.

Rule	Limit	Basis
Possession from 18	up to 25 grams	Section 3(1) KCanG
Possession at the place of residence	up to 50 grams of flowers or plant material	Section 3(2) KCanG
Home cultivation	up to three plants at the same time	Section 9(1) KCanG
Supply to young adults	up to 30 grams per calendar month	Section 19(3) KCanG
Supply to members aged 21 and over	up to 25 grams per day and 50 grams per calendar month	Section 19(3) KCanG

No permission for younger people

Under 18, there is neither permitted possession under section 3 nor home cultivation under section 9. Membership of a cannabis association also begins only at 18 (section 16(1)). The ban in section 5(1) on consumption in the immediate presence of minors also applies. The law contains no possession permission for persons under 18, not even with parental consent.

Why the age limit relates to health

According to cannabispraevention.de, the risks of cannabis for young people are particularly high because THC disrupts maturation processes in the young brain. In the worst case, school or vocational qualifications are at risk, because memory works much worse. According to the BIÖG, the risk of psychosis is higher for people who use cannabis than for people who do not.

Young adults aged between 18 and 21

Under section 1(2) of the Juvenile Courts Act (JGG), young adults are persons who were 18 but not yet 21 at the time of the offence. For supply by cannabis associations, stricter limits apply to them than to adults from 21: no more than 30 grams per calendar month and a THC content of no more than 10 percent (section 19(3) KCanG). The daily limit of 25 grams still applies.

What happens if the limits are exceeded

Anyone who possesses more than 25 grams outside the place of residence, and up to 30 grams, commits an administrative offence (section 36(1) no. 1 letter a KCanG). Possessing more than 50 grams in total and up to 60 grams is also an administrative offence (letter b). Beyond that, possession is a criminal offence: more than 30 grams outside the place of residence or more than 60 grams in total (section 34(1) no. 1 KCanG). Possessing more than three living plants is also a criminal offence.

What you can do now

Anyone under 18 with questions about their own use should speak to a trusted person. A counselling service can also help you assess the situation. Anyone 18 or older should know the amounts and not push them to the limit, because the limits are upper limits. Parents will find information on cannabispraevention.de that can help them start a conversation.

Common misunderstandings

Many believe that possession is allowed as soon as you come of age and that everything else is then settled. This is only partly true. The permission under section 3(1) KCanG covers possession up to 25 grams. The higher limit of 50 grams applies only at the place of residence or habitual abode and only to flowers, leaves close to the flower and other plant material. Anyone who does not keep both limits apart risks mistakes in everyday life.

A second misunderstanding concerns the family. Some believe parents can permit their child to possess cannabis. An agreement within the family does not change the age limit. The age limit applies to the minor themselves, regardless of what is agreed in the family.

What to do if you are unsure

If you are unsure whether an amount or a situation is allowed, reading the statute helps. For concrete questions about a check or a charge, legal advice is the right route, because each case needs its own assessment. Addiction counselling services also inform about use and health, even if you have not previously dared to ask such a question.

More on protecting young people is in the overview What does the KCanG say about youth protection?. For the question whether parental consent changes anything, read Is parental permission enough for young people to use cannabis?. The wording of section 3 can be found at gesetze-im-internet.de.