Since 2017, doctors in Germany have been able to prescribe medical cannabis without prior individual case approval – an important step toward regular supply through pharmacies instead of time-consuming exception procedures. With the revised Medical Cannabis Act (MedCanG), which came into force on 1 April 2024, this system was fundamentally reorganized. Cannabis remains prescription-only, however the procedures and regulatory framework have been substantially simplified and modernized.
The new regulation marks a turning point in German cannabis policy: instead of lengthy individual case approvals, doctors can now access medical cannabis more directly. This enables patients to receive faster access to supply and significantly reduces administrative procedures. At the same time, control and medical supervision remain guaranteed – medical cannabis is and remains a pharmaceutical that requires a doctor's prescription.
The development from exception approvals to a regular supply structure demonstrates how legal recognition of cannabis in medicine in Germany has continuously evolved. For more details on the history and regulations of the MedCanG, see the detailed article on Hanfjournal.
