UK → Germany travel
Can I take prescribed medical cannabis from the UK to Germany?
Germany permits travellers to carry medicines for normal personal travel needs, and its Medical Cannabis Act contains a specific travel-needs exemption for prescribed medical cannabis. UK travellers should still carry strong prescription evidence and confirm the position for their exact product before departure.
Quick answer.
German law allows prescribed medical cannabis to be imported or exported as travel needs in qualifying circumstances. Separately, Germany’s Health Ministry says travellers may bring medicines in quantities corresponding to ordinary personal travel need, normally up to three months.
UK → Germany checklist.
- Carry the current prescription. It should identify the patient, medicine and prescribed use.
- Carry a clinician letter or certificate. Include the medicine, strength, dose and quantity so border or health authorities can assess that the amount matches the trip.
- Keep the medicine in original labelled packaging. Do not decant it into unlabelled containers.
- Keep the quantity proportionate to the trip. Germany’s general medicines guidance treats up to three months as ordinary personal need, but this is not a reason to carry more than your prescribed travel requirement.
- Confirm any product-specific issue with the competent German Land authority. The Federal Health Ministry notes that the Länder supervise medicines-law compliance in individual cases.
- Check transit countries separately. German law does not authorise possession elsewhere.
Why the Schengen certificate is not the UK route.
Germany’s Article 75 certificate process applies to travellers moving under the Schengen controlled-drug framework. The UK is not a Schengen state. A UK patient should therefore carry robust prescription and clinician evidence and, where the exact product or quantity is unclear, obtain confirmation from the German authority responsible for the destination.
Can I obtain medical cannabis while I am in Germany?
Medical cannabis remains a prescription medicine in Germany and is dispensed through pharmacies. Germany’s current framework no longer requires a special narcotics prescription for medical cannabis covered by MedCanG.
That does not mean a UK prescription is automatically dispensable in Germany. If you may need replacement or continuing supply, contact a German doctor or pharmacy in advance rather than relying on the UK prescription alone.
Before departure.
Recheck the Federal Ministry of Health and destination-state guidance shortly before travelling, especially if your product format, quantity or itinerary changes.
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