What is a cannabis doctor? What does he or she do for patients? A cannabis doctor is a doctor who specializes in prescribing medicinal cannabis. Since the legalization of medical cannabis in Germany in 2017, it has been possible for patients to receive cannabis on prescription for certain conditions. Learn in 3 minutes which doctors are allowed to prescribe medicinal cannabis, which requirements must be met for a prescription and how to find the right doctor. Not in the mood for full waiting rooms? Start your online treatment.
A cannabis doctor is not a specialist, but a doctor who is willing to prescribe medical cannabis and has knowledge and experience with this form of therapy. They must have experience in dealing with cannabinoids, such as THC and CBD, and know how these substances can help with certain illnesses.
Can any doctor prescribe cannabis to me?
In principle, all registered doctors, regardless of their specialty, may issue a prescription for medicinal cannabis. This includes general practitioners, pain therapists, neurologists, oncologists and other specialists (with the exception of veterinarians and dentists).
Especially experienced doctors who specialize in pain therapy or the treatment of chronic diseases are often open to the use of medical cannabis.
Experienced in pain therapy
Open for cannabinoids
Specialists and general practitioners
Prescription of medicinal cannabis
Advice on the application
How is the treatment going?
Cannabis therapy begins with determining the patient’s needs. The doctor takes a medical history and checks whether other therapies have already been used and what success they have had.
The doctor weighs up treatment with cannabis, recommends a dosage and issues a prescription. The prescription for medicinal cannabis can then be filled at any pharmacy.
Such special cannabis pharmacies can often provide the medication much faster, as they focus more on the sale of medical cannabis than normal pharmacies. To ensure the effectiveness and tolerability of the therapy, it is advisable to consult your doctor regularly.
Treatment in 6 steps
This is how your treatment as a cannabis patient works.
Needs assessment, medical history and testing of alternative therapies
Recommendation of an individual dosage
Issue of a prescription
Redeem in the pharmacy
Regular check-ups for adjustment
Tip! Did you already know? Doctor’s appointments for cannabis patients can also be made online. You can do everything, even without a waiting room.
A cannabis doctor can treat patients with a variety of conditions for which conventional therapies are not effective enough. Medical cannabis is frequently used for chronic pain, sleep disorders or anxiety disorders in particular, and is even used in anti-ageing treatments in some cases. Patients suffering from neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS), epilepsy or spasticity can also benefit from cannabis therapy.
In addition, cannabis doctors often prescribe cannabis to alleviate the side effects of chemotherapy. Many cancer patients who suffer from nausea and vomiting are given cannabis to improve their quality of life.
Cannabis is also increasingly seen as an effective treatment option for chronic illnesses such as multiple sclerosis, migraines and chronic pain. More and more studies on cannabis are showing its effectiveness in use.
In order to obtain a prescription from a cannabis doctor, it is necessary for the doctor to take a detailed medical history (as described above) and check whether treatment with medicinal cannabis is appropriate. You can get your cannabis prescription from a local doctor, or get your cannabis prescription online.
The 6-step treatment also applies here:
Needs assessment, medical history and testing of alternative therapies
It can sometimes be difficult to find a doctor who is willing to write a prescription for cannabis. Many doctors hesitate because they don’t have enough experience with the treatment or because they have concerns about the legal situation. To find an experienced cannabis doctor, use search engines like Google to find the right doctors in your area.
To simplify the process of cannabis therapy for you, we have created a cannabis map: With doctors, pharmacies and all other points of contact on the subject of cannabis:
Does the health insurance company cover the costs?
In some cases, the health insurance company may cover the costs of the cannabis prescription, especially in the case of severe chronic illnesses.
To apply for the costs to be covered, the doctor must submit an application to the health insurance company, explaining why cannabis is the best treatment option. The health insurance company reviews the application and decides whether or not to cover the costs. In some cases, it may be necessary for patients to lodge an objection if the application is rejected.
You can find out more about this here at AOK and Barmer, for example.
Health insurance application required
Application via the doctor
Cost coverage for serious illnesses
Possibility of objection
Cannabis doctor: what you need to know!
A cannabis doctor is the main point of contact for patients interested in treatment with medical cannabis. It is often not easy to find a doctor who is willing to issue such a prescription, but doctors are tending to become more and more open to this therapeutic option, especially in areas where cannabis has been showing positive results in the treatment of ailments for years.
Important support for patients
Long-term support
Adaptation of the therapy if necessary
Important role in chronic diseases
Individual adaptation of the treatment
Become a patient! Cannabis prescription online… instead of waiting for appointments
Order medical cannabis – easy, safe and discreet with CannaZen! Start your treatment with CannaZen now:
CannaZen saves you long waiting times in doctors’ surgeries. Instead, you have a short online consultation with a specialist doctor who analyzes your symptoms. Once a prescription has been issued, the cannabis product is sent directly to you – quickly, discreetly and safely.
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