Medical cannabis remains a medication even when you’re out and about—but not every form of administration is permitted in every location. So when, where, and how are patients allowed to consume medical cannabis in public? Different rules apply depending on the method of use: If flowers are inhaled using a vaporizer, legal no-use zones apply. Extracts, drops, capsules, or mouth sprays taken orally are not covered by these restrictions. In addition, there are protections for non-smokers, local regulations, and the respective property owner’s rights.
The most important facts in brief
- Medical cannabis may also be used outside one's own home.
- The locations prohibited under § 24 of the Medical Cannabis Act (MedCanG) apply to the inhalation of cannabis flowers using a vaporizer.
- Schools, playgrounds, facilities for children and youth, as well as publicly accessible sports facilities and the areas within their line of sight, are protected.
- In pedestrian zones, smoking is prohibited between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.
- Extracts, drops, capsules, and oral sprays taken orally are not subject to these specific consumption restrictions.
- Vaporizers are prohibited on public transportation and in fully enclosed areas of train stations.
- A cannabis patient ID card is neither required by law nor an official form of identification.
- The general 25-gram limit for recreational cannabis does not apply to legally prescribed medical cannabis.
What does the Medical Cannabis Act cover?
Since April 2024, the medical use of cannabis has been governed by the Medical Cannabis Act, or MedCanG for short. Medical cannabis remains a prescription drug that is dispensed by pharmacies based on a doctor’s prescription. The article “What Is Medical Cannabis?” explains which products fall under this category and how they differ from non-medical cannabis.
Section 24 of the Medical Cannabis Act (MedCanG ) is particularly relevant for use in public spaces. It states:
“Section 5, paragraph 2, of the Recreational Cannabis Act applies mutatis mutandis to the public consumption of cannabis for medical purposes by inhalation.”
Simply put: The special no-use zones apply to medical cannabis only when it is inhaled. The text of the law thus distinguishes between inhaled and non-inhaled forms of use. The term “use” comes from the law and also corresponds to the most common phrasing in search queries. In a medical context, however, “use,” “ingestion,” and “inhalation” are the more precise terms.
What rules apply to the various dosage forms?
The Federal Ministry of Health specifically classifies dried cannabis flowers, standardized extracts, and medications containing dronabinol or nabilone as cannabis-based medications.1 When it comes to use in public, it is not only the product that matters, but also the specific route of administration.
| Dosage Form | Typical Use | Is § 24 of the MedCanG applicable? |
| Dried cannabis flowers | Inhalation using a vaporizer | Yes |
| Standardized Cannabis Extracts | Take orally as directed by a doctor | No |
| Dronabinol Formulations | Drops or capsules | No |
| Capsules containing cannabis | Swallow | No |
| Oral sprays | Use in the Oral Cavity | No |
| Preparations expressly prescribed for inhalation | Inhalation | Yes |
There is therefore no separate category of cannabis-based medicines that are specifically approved “for public use.” The decisive factors are the medically prescribed use, the location, and the regulations in effect there.
Medical Use of Cannabis Flowers: Vaporizers Instead of Joints
In a therapeutic setting, dried medicinal cannabis flowers are inhaled using an appropriate vaporizer, as directed by a doctor. The device heats the flowers without burning them. The released compounds are then inhaled as vapor.
The Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices states this clearly:2
"Smoking is not recommended as a method of use."
Burning produces additional substances that are harmful to health. Smoking a joint should therefore not be presented as a standard form of medical use. Legally, the term is defined more broadly. According to the legislative rationale, “inhalation” encompasses both vaporization and smoking. The legally designated no-use zones therefore also apply to medically prescribed use with a vaporizer.
Publicly Inhaling Medical Cannabis: Where Is It Prohibited?
Section 24 of the MedCanG extends the restrictions on use set forth in Section 5(2) of the KCanG to the public inhalation of medical cannabis.
| Location | Regulation |
| Schools | Prohibited on the premises and within sight of the premises |
| Children's Playgrounds | Prohibited on the premises and within sight of them |
| Facilities for Children and Youth | Prohibited on the premises and within sight of the premises |
| Publicly Accessible Sports Facilities | Prohibited inside the sports facility and within sight of it |
| Pedestrian Zones | Prohibited between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. |
| Farmers' Associations | Prohibited on the secured property and within its sightline |
What does the 100-meter rule mean?
The regulation is often described as a blanket 100-meter radius. The text of the law is more precise. Section 5 of the KCanG states that visibility “is no longer guaranteed […] at a distance of more than 100 meters.”
Thus, beyond 100 meters from the entrance area, the legal line of sight no longer applies. Within 100 meters, however, a prohibited zone does not automatically exist. According to the legal classification published by the German Bundestag3 the facility must also be recognizable to the naked eye. If, for example, it is completely obscured by a wall or a building, the required line of sight may be lacking. Maps of cannabis consumption exclusion zones therefore provide only a rough guide. They take into account neither the actual line of sight nor all local regulations.
What are the rules on the street or in the park?
Ordinary streets and public parks are not generally listed as prohibited locations in federal law. Vaping is permitted there, provided that:
- there is no protected facility in sight,
- it is not a pedestrian zone between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.,
- there are no special local regulations, and
- provided that no building or parking regulations prohibit it.
Even outside the locations expressly prohibited, inhalation should be avoided in the immediate vicinity of children and adolescents. The protection of children and adolescents is the basis for these legal restrictions.
Smoke-free policies also apply to vaporizers
In addition to the MedCanG, federal and state laws protecting non-smokers apply. The Federal Non-Smoker Protection Act also explicitly mentions devices used to vaporize cannabis products.4
The ban on vaping applies in particular to:
- in fully enclosed federal facilities,
- on trains, buses, streetcars, and other forms of public transportation,
- on airplanes and certain passenger ships,
- in fully enclosed areas of passenger rail stations.
On an open train platform, the Federal Non-Smoker Protection Act does not apply in the same way. However, operators may still prohibit smoking there by exercising their right to enforce house rules.
In some cases, the federal states’ laws protecting non-smokers go even further. Depending on the state, these laws apply to public buildings, hospitals, educational institutions, restaurants, and other publicly accessible indoor spaces, among other places. In addition, there are the rules and regulations of hotels, employers, event organizers, and public transportation companies.
A doctor's prescription does not override these rules.
What are the regulations regarding cannabis extracts, drops, and capsules?
According to the wording of Section 24 of the MedCanG, the areas where consumption is prohibited apply exclusively to inhalation. Cannabis-based medications administered orally or through the oral mucosa are therefore not covered by this provision. A medically prescribed cannabis extract may thus be taken orally even in a location where the use of a vaporizer is prohibited.
From a legal standpoint, this method of administration is similar to the use of other prescription drops, capsules, or sprays. Oil-based extracts intended for oral use are not meant to be used in a vaporizer. The physician’s prescription and the instructions for use of the respective medication remain authoritative. Do not use the product in any other way without consulting a healthcare professional.
Carrying Medical Cannabis While Traveling
Patients are permitted to carry medical cannabis prescribed by a doctor and dispensed by a pharmacy within Germany. The general possession limits set forth in the KCanG for non-medical cannabis do not apply in this case.
Does the 25-gram limit apply to medical cannabis patients?
The 25-gram limit in public spaces applies to cannabis used for non-medical purposes. Section 5 of the Medical Cannabis Act (MedCanG) expressly exempts individuals who purchase medical cannabis based on a doctor’s prescription from the general licensing requirement.
Thus, the following applies: Medical cannabis that has been legally prescribed and dispensed by a pharmacy is not subject to the general 25-gram limit under the KCanG. Patients are permitted to possess and carry the amount prescribed and dispensed to them. Transferring it to other persons is not permitted.
Different regulations apply to cross-border travel. For travel within the Schengen Area, a medical certificate completed by a doctor and certified by the authorities is required. Detailed information is available in the checklist for traveling with medical cannabis.
What documents are useful to have on the go?
The MedCanG does not require a cannabis patient ID card. Standard patient ID cards are not official documents and do not confer any additional rights. In case of questions, it is helpful to provide documentation showing the doctor’s prescription and the source of the medication. This includes:
- a printout of the regulation data,
- a current medication plan,
- a doctor's note regarding the current treatment,
- the labeled pharmacy packaging,
- Optionally, a medical marijuana card.
In everyday life within Germany, these are primarily practical recommendations rather than a general legal requirement to carry the product. However, the labeled pharmacy packaging makes it easier to distinguish medical cannabis from non-medical cannabis, particularly in the case of cannabis flowers. For extracts, the complete pharmacy label should remain on the container.
How to Behave During a Police Stop
A medical prescription is not visible to the naked eye. Therefore, questions may arise when using a vaporizer or carrying cannabis flowers. Remaining calm and composed makes it easier for authorities to understand the situation. Prescription details, a medication plan, a doctor’s note, or pharmacy packaging provide proof of lawful medical possession. A patient ID card alone does not replace these documents.
A general check in a public space is distinct from a traffic stop. Additional regulations apply to driving a vehicle. A prescription serves as proof of a medical order but does not automatically guarantee fitness to drive. For more information, see the article “Cannabis and Driving: Rules for Patients.”
What are the potential consequences of a violation?
The inhalation of medical cannabis at the locations specified in § 24 of the MedCanG remains prohibited by law. However, the Scientific Services of the German Bundestag point out a peculiarity: Under the MedCanG, there is currently “no offense punishable by a fine” for this.
In simple terms, this means: The law establishes a prohibition but does not assign a specific fine for this violation under the MedCanG. This does not make the use of the substance permissible. The police and law enforcement authorities may enforce the prohibition, for example, by ordering the person to leave the premises.
In addition, other regulations apply. Violations of the Federal Non-Smoker Protection Act or state laws may be punishable by a fine. Failure to comply with building regulations may also result in being removed from a building, a mode of transportation, or an event venue.
Conclusion: The form of administration is the deciding factor
The use of medical cannabis in public is not generally prohibited in Germany. The legal classification depends primarily on whether the medication is inhaled or administered by another method. For cannabis flowers used in vaporizers, the consumption-restricted zones specified in Section 24 of the Medical Cannabis Act (MedCanG) apply, as do the regulations for the protection of non-smokers. Orally administered extracts, drops, capsules, and oral sprays are not covered by these specific restricted zones.
A labeled pharmacy package and documentation regarding the current prescription help prevent misunderstandings while traveling. At the same time, the usage instructions prescribed by the doctor, local regulations, and the respective property rules remain authoritative.
FAQ: Medical Cannabis in Public
Yes, outside of areas where it is prohibited by law. When inhaling prescription cannabis flowers using a vaporizer, Section 24 of the MedCanG, the consumption-restricted zones specified therein, and the regulations protecting non-smokers apply. Local regulations and property owners’ rights must also be taken into account.
Smoking is prohibited, in particular, in schools, on playgrounds, in facilities for children and youth, in publicly accessible sports facilities, and within sight of such facilities. In pedestrian zones, the ban is in effect between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. Public transportation and fully enclosed areas of train stations are also covered by the non-smoker protection regulations.
The BfArM advises against smoking medical cannabis because its combustion produces substances that are harmful to health. Medical cannabis flowers are inhaled using a vaporizer, as directed by a doctor. Legally, the term “inhalation” encompasses both vaporization and smoking, which is why the no-smoking zones apply to both forms.
No, unless the medication is inhaled. Section 24 of the MedCanG expressly refers to public use by inhalation. Extracts, drops, and capsules taken orally, as well as oral sprays, are not covered by these specific no-use zones.
The use of a vaporizer is prohibited on public transportation. In train stations, the Federal Non-Smoker Protection Act applies in buildings and fully enclosed spaces. Operators may extend the ban to additional areas under their authority as property owners. The oral ingestion of a prescribed extract is not covered by the smoking and vaporizing ban.
For everyday life within Germany, there is no general requirement to carry a cannabis patient ID card or a doctor’s prescription. However, a printout of the prescription details, a medication plan, a doctor’s note, and the labeled pharmacy packaging help demonstrate that the cannabis is being possessed legally for medical purposes. A patient ID card alone is not official proof.
Within Germany, the general 25-gram limit set by the KCanG does not apply to legally prescribed medical cannabis. Patients may carry the amount that was prescribed to them by a doctor and dispensed by a pharmacy. Separate quantity and documentation requirements apply to cross-border travel.
- https://www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de/service/begriffe-von-a-z/c/cannabis/faq-cannabis-als-medizin ↩︎
- https://www.bfarm.de/DE/Bundesopiumstelle/Medizinisches-Cannabis/Hinweise-fuer-Patienten/_artikel.html ↩︎
- https://www.bundestag.de/resource/blob/1097790/WD-8-032-25.pdf ↩︎
- https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bnichtrschg/__1.html ↩︎
As of: August 2026. This article is intended for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for individual medical or legal advice.