May adult students have cannabis on school grounds?

Adult students may not consume cannabis on school grounds. The Cannabis Act (KCanG) prohibits public consumption at schools and within their sight, and this provision relates to the location. Age plays no role here. This article explains where the limits lie and which rules your school sets in addition.

What the KCanG prohibits at schools

Under section 5(2) no. 1 KCanG, public consumption of cannabis is prohibited at schools and within their sight. The provision sits alongside other places where public consumption is banned, such as children's playgrounds and child and youth facilities. A breach of the consumption ban is an administrative offence (section 36(1) no. 4 KCanG). The maximum amount of the fine is set out in section 36(2) KCanG.

The term sight is decisive. The Act sets a limit: at a distance of more than 100 metres from the school entrance area, there is no longer any sight (section 5(2) sentence 2 KCanG). Whether a specific place is still within sight is a question for the individual case. Anyone who cannot judge this safely should avoid consumption in such places altogether.

Why age plays no role here

Many people assume that adulthood permits everything. For possession, that is not accurate. From 18, possession of at most 25 grams of cannabis is permitted (section 3(1) KCanG). This rule sets out what an adult may carry. It says nothing about where they may consume. For consumption on school grounds, the location therefore counts.

For adult students, this means that they are subject to the same requirements on the grounds as younger fellow students. This applies to evening schools as well as to vocational colleges (Berufskolleg) and other vocational schools. Anyone who studies there should not rely on their age when it comes to locations.

What your school can additionally regulate

The Act sets the framework. Beyond that, every school has its own rules for its grounds. These are often set out in the school regulations or house rules. Such rules can be stricter than the law, for example where they also ban consumption before lessons start or during breaks in the yard.

Ask the school management which rules apply at your school. The answer is usually in writing. Once you know the rules, you also know which body is responsible in the event of a breach.

Typical questions from everyday life

What about a break in the park opposite the school building? Sight is decisive. If the park is within sight of the school, the ban applies. If it is more than 100 metres from the school entrance area, the law no longer treats it as being within sight. This changes nothing about other provisions, such as the ban on consumption in the immediate presence of minors (section 5(1) KCanG).

And at weekends, when the school is closed? The ban depends on the location only, and the time of day has no bearing. Whether the grounds may be entered outside lessons is governed by the house rules. Anyone unsure should check in advance, with the school or with the police.

What can happen in the event of a breach

Consumption at schools or within their sight is an administrative offence under section 36(1) no. 4 KCanG. By contrast, passing cannabis on to others is a criminal offence under section 34(1) no. 7 KCanG, and where a person over 21 passes cannabis on to a child or young person, a particularly serious case applies as a rule (section 34(3) KCanG). The school may also apply its own rules. This article cannot assess which consequences arise in an individual case.

For criminal law questions, a specialist criminal lawyer can help.

Health and learning

According to cannabispraevention.de, the risks of cannabis are particularly high for young people. Frequent cannabis use can impair concentration, which can also lead to problems at school and in training. If you notice that study material is harder to retain or that appointments are slipping, you can speak to a counselling service. This also applies to adults.

Where you can find help

If cannabis use is shaping your studies or everyday life, counselling is the next step. The website drugcom.de explains the effects and risks of cannabis in plain language. The online counselling service at suchtberatung.digital is a further option. Addiction counselling services also help on site.

Common misunderstandings

A widespread mistake is the belief that an adult may consume anywhere where there is no explicit sign. That is wrong. Section 5(2) KCanG names specific places, and schools are expressly among them. A missing sign changes nothing.

A second misunderstanding concerns distance. The ban extends beyond the school yard boundary and ends only when sight is no longer given, that is, at a distance of more than 100 metres from the entrance area. In between, the situation has to be judged in each individual case.

Possession is also often misunderstood. Possession of at most 25 grams is permitted for adults (section 3(1) KCanG). However, this does not settle where one may consume. This distinction is the most common misconception in everyday school life.

What you can do now

• Read the school regulations or ask the school management about the rules for the grounds.
• Refrain from consumption on school grounds and within the school's sight.
• In the event of an incident, inform the school management and, for legal questions, ask a specialist criminal lawyer.
• If you are concerned about your own use, visit a counselling service on site or online.

The article on youth protection under the KCanG explains the framework for young people. The article on sight at schools describes how far the distance from the school applies. Further topics on youth protection are in the section Prevention and youth protection.