Are minors allowed to receive medical cannabis?

Medical cannabis may only be dispensed on medical prescription. The wording of section 3 MedCanG sets no age limit. Whether a child or young person receives such a treatment is a medical decision that the treating doctor makes in each individual case. This article explains the legal framework, the route to a prescription and why home cultivation or passing cannabis on are not solutions.

Who may prescribe medical cannabis?

Under section 3(1) MedCanG, cannabis for medical purposes may only be prescribed by doctors. Parents cannot issue a prescription, and counselling services or online offers do not replace the doctor.

The prescription is therefore a step embedded in a medical assessment. The doctor checks whether a treatment makes sense, which condition is present and which other therapies are possible. This applies to adults as well as to children and young people.

Dispensing only at the pharmacy

Under section 3(2) MedCanG, medical cannabis is dispensed to end users only as part of a pharmacy's operations and against presentation of the prescription. A sale in the street, in a club or through other channels is not covered. Anyone who possesses or passes on medical cannabis without a prescription acts outside this framework.

For parents, this means that dispensing runs through the pharmacy, and the prescription is the key. The pharmacy checks the prescription and explains how to use the product. Questions about dosage belong with the doctor.

What parents and young people should consider

A treatment is medically sensible only when a doctor prescribes it. Parents should therefore talk with the paediatrician or the treating doctor before taking any step. This includes openly stating previous illnesses, other medications and any cannabis use to date.

At the same time, the young brain is in an important stage of development, as the BIÖG stresses. Use can affect this phase. For that reason, the medical assessment of young people is particularly important, and it should not be replaced by self-directed trials.

Why home cultivation and passing on are not solutions

Many families ask whether home cultivation is an alternative. The KCanG permits home cultivation for people aged 18 and over, with up to three plants at the same time (section 9(1) KCanG). At the same time, it states that cannabis from private home cultivation may not be passed on to third parties (section 9(2) KCanG).

Passing cannabis on to children and young people is also a criminal offence. Section 34 KCanG provides for imprisonment of up to three years or a fine for supplying or passing on cannabis. If a person over 21 gives cannabis to a child or young person, the Act names a standard example of a particularly serious case, with a penalty range of three months to five years' imprisonment.

The route to a prescription

The first step is a conversation with your family doctor or a specialist. Prepare for it by noting symptoms, the course of the illness and previous treatments. Ask openly which alternatives exist and which risks the doctor sees.

For people with statutory health insurance, the first prescription requires approval from the statutory health insurer (section 31(6) of Book V of the Social Code (SGB V)). The entitlement covers extracts of standardised quality and medicines containing dronabinol or nabilon. The current wording does not name dried flowers. Whether the insurer pays in an individual case should be clarified with the doctor and the insurer.

Terms that are often confused

Medical cannabis is cannabis that is prescribed and dispensed for medical purposes. It is subject to the MedCanG and must be distinguished from the cannabis regulated for adults under the KCanG. The two sets of rules pursue different aims.

A prescription is the medical order that is presented at the pharmacy. Dispensing is the handover at the pharmacy to the person for whom the prescription applies. An end user is anyone who actually uses the product. These terms matter because the law ties dispensing to exactly these steps.

Common misunderstandings

A widespread mistake is the belief that if a friend has a prescription, you may take some of it. However, a prescription is issued to the person it is meant for. Supply runs through the pharmacy.

A second mistake holds that cannabis from home cultivation can be treated like a medicine. That is not the case. Home cultivation is governed by the KCanG, under which passing cannabis on to third parties is prohibited (section 9(2) KCanG).

A third mistake concerns dosage. Anyone who believes that a small amount is harmless for children should not decide this alone. Dosage and use belong in the hands of the treating doctor.

Costs also lead to misunderstandings. For people with statutory health insurance, the first prescription requires the insurer's approval (section 31(6) SGB V). Anyone who assumes the insurer pays automatically should clarify this in advance.

Questions for the doctor

An appointment for a prescription goes better if you prepare. Note the condition, previous treatments, previous illnesses and all medicines already taken. This information is important so that the doctor can assess interactions.

Ask specifically about the aim of the treatment, possible side effects, monitoring over time and alternatives. Ask for an explanation of how the dosage is set and who checks it in children. A written summary helps you read the information again later.

The role of the pharmacy

The pharmacy is where medical cannabis is dispensed under section 3(2) MedCanG. Questions about use can be clarified there once a prescription exists. A pharmacy complements medical advice and cannot replace it.

What you can do

• Book an appointment with a doctor and prepare your questions.
• Do not accept cannabis products from third parties, including friends or acquaintances.
• Speak with the pharmacy about dispensing and use once a prescription exists.
• If you are concerned about use or health, visit an addiction counselling service.

More on passing on cannabis is explained in the article on criminal liability for passing cannabis on to minors. If you have questions about home cultivation, read the article on securing plants from young people. An overview of the laws for families is in the section Prevention and youth protection.