Traveling with medical cannabis

How to take your pet with you legally and safely

Are you a cannabis patient planning a trip? With proper preparation and the necessary documents, nothing stands in the way of bringing medical cannabis with you. In any case, you should familiarize yourself with the legal regulations and specific requirements of the country you’re traveling to beforehand to avoid legal consequences and import penalties. The following guide will explain what you need to consider when traveling with medical cannabis and what permits you need. This will ensure you’re ideally prepared for your trip.

 

 

When is traveling with medical cannabis illegal and when is it not?

In general, the import and export of cannabis (including medical cannabis and extracts) is illegal. Therefore, if you leave Germany and travel to another country and carry cannabis with you, you may be liable to prosecution depending on the country’s laws.

An exception is the transport of medical cannabis for which a prescription is available. In some cases, a doctor’s prescription and the associated official certification may also be required. For this, you must contact the relevant authority and fill out the appropriate form. In Germany, this is the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM).

Travel to the countries of the Schengen Agreement (EU) with a certified travel certificate

Do you want to travel to a European country? Patients need a Schengen form for cannabis. This is a certified travel certificate for narcotics. It is issued by the relevant authority and confirms that you are authorized to legally bring medical cannabis with you.

 

Travel to other countries outside the Schengen area

If you plan to travel to a non-Schengen country, such as Canada or the USA, and carry medical cannabis with you, the Federal Opium Agency recommends following the guidelines of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB). According to these guidelines, patients should obtain a multilingual certificate from their treating physician.

This document lists all important information in detail, such as the exact name of the active ingredient, individual and daily dosages, and travel duration. The entire document must also be certified by the highest state health authority or an appropriately authorized body.

However, there is no uniform international regulation for this. Therefore, you should carefully inquire about the individual regulations of the respective transit or travel country you wish to travel to or are passing through.

In some cases, it may also be necessary to obtain additional import permits. In some countries, certain narcotics may be completely prohibited or the quantities that can be brought into the country may be limited.

 

 

And what if bringing medical cannabis is generally prohibited?

If all else fails and you’re not allowed to bring medical cannabis into your chosen destination, there’s still another option. Ask your doctor if you can get a prescription for medical cannabis on-site.

If this option also fails, you can finally contact the Federal Opium Office and apply for an import and export permit. However, this method can be quite extensive and cumbersome in some cases.

Pay attention to the respective THC limits of your destination country

Please note that many countries have different THC limits – this also applies to medical cannabis! For example, some states only allow the import of medical preparations that do not exceed a certain THC level, for example, 0.2%.

To avoid legal problems and import penalties, you should therefore inquire in advance about the regulations and limits in your destination country. You can do this by contacting the relevant authorities or diplomatic mission, for example.

This also applies to transit countries you pass through during your journey to your destination. The respective limits must also be observed here.

These cannabis rules apply within Europe

A look at European countries shows that the respective regulations regarding the import and transport of medical cannabis can vary. Some countries have clearly defined requirements, while in others it is very difficult or completely prohibited. This makes it all the more important to inquire about the specific regulations in your destination country well in advance of your trip. We’ve summarized the most important regulations for you:

Destination country	Regulations on the import of medical cannabis
Czech Republic	Allowed, prescription and Schengen form required
Hungary	Difficult because it is strictly regulated – usually not possible
Italy	Allowed, prescription and Schengen form required
Spain	Allowed, Schengen form required, but partly restricted
Croatia	Allowed, prescription and Schengen form required
France	Difficult because it is strictly regulated – individual medical examination required
Denmark	Allowed, prescription and possibly certified certificate required
Norway	Allowed, prescription and Schengen form required
Sweden	Allowed, prescription and Schengen form required
Greece	Permitted in exceptional cases, separate clarification with the authorities and medical prescription required
Portugal	Allowed, prescription and Schengen form required
Belgium	Allowed, prescription and Schengen form required
Netherlands	Allowed, doctor’s prescription required
Poland	Allowed, prescription and Schengen form required
Estonia	Allowed, prescription and medical certificate required
Latvia	Allowed, prescription and Schengen form required
Lithuania	Usually not possible or very difficult
Finland	Allowed, prescription and medical certificate required
Bulgaria	Allowed, prescription and Schengen form required
Ireland	Import strictly limited, prior clarification with authorities required
Iceland	Allowed, prescription and Schengen form required
Luxembourg	Allowed, prescription and Schengen form required
Malta	Allowed, prescription and Schengen form required
Austria	Allowed, prescription and medical certificate required
Romania	Difficult because it is strictly regulated – usually not possible
Slovakia	Difficult because it is strictly regulated – usually not possible
Slovenia	Allowed, Schengen form required
Cyprus	Permitted, prescription and medical certificate required – additional clarification with the Ministry of Health is recommended
Switzerland	Allowed in some exceptional cases, clarification with the authorities is required

A notice: The information provided above is not a guarantee that approval will be granted despite a proper application. Furthermore, requirements may vary from time to time. As of January 28, 2025

Prepare for your trip: These steps are necessary!

For your trip with medical cannabis, good preparation is essential. Therefore, you should follow these steps to ensure your trip is stress-free:

• Prepare documents: Find out what relevant documents are required for your destination country. These include medical prescriptions, prescriptions, and possibly the Schengen form for travel within Europe. When traveling outside the Schengen area, a multilingual certificate is a good idea. Keep these documents handy at all times during your trip.
• Doctor’s consultation: Discuss your trip with your doctor to clarify all important details. A medical prescription/certificate will also be issued.
• Storage and packaging: Always store medical cannabis in its original packaging. Protect it from moisture and heat, and ideally carry it in your hand luggage.

 

Travelling by different means of transport and carrying medical cannabis

Depending on the mode of transport you’re traveling with, different requirements apply. Here are some tips to keep in mind when taking medical cannabis with you on your trip:

• Air travel: Always carry medical cannabis in your hand luggage so it’s always within reach. You should also declare your cannabis with your airline and at the airport in advance. Keep all certificates and forms with you to present during security checks.
• Car or train travel: Keep your cannabis well concealed and safe with you. If you’re traveling abroad, you should also have all relevant documents handy. This will avoid complications during border control.
• Cruises: Depending on the cruise line, there may be specific regulations regarding the carriage of medical cannabis and narcotics. Inquire carefully. If you are traveling across multiple international waters, observe the relevant regulations and ensure complete documentation.

Sources:

• Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM)
• Further information and pre-printed forms
• Federal Opium Office