Cannabis price per gram in Germany: pharmacy prices, shipping and tax in 2026

Which costs come with a cannabis prescription in Germany?

With a private prescription (Privatrezept), you pay all items yourself; your health insurer is not billed. The items are invoiced separately: the medical service by the practice, the medicine and shipping by the pharmacy.

How much does medical cannabis cost per gram in German pharmacies?

The pharmacy sets the price for the medicine and you pay it directly there. For flowers, a price per gram is charged. A market analysis reported by the German pharmacy trade portal APOTHEKE ADHOC on 23 July 2026 gives an average of around 4 euros per gram for the second quarter of 2026. A second analysis, reported by the portal in June 2026, came to around 5 euros. Both figures come from transaction data of platform providers and are not official.

A scientific study in the International Journal of Drug Policy confirms the trend. It tracked the range of a German online pharmacy from December 2024 to November 2025. During this time, the number of flower strains on offer rose from 266 to 401, the price per amount of THC fell week by week, and about every second product changed its price at least once.

For you, this means: prices change often, and there are clear differences between strains and pharmacies. Compare before your request. At 420doc you can see the prices of the connected pharmacies in the live stock before you make a request.

How much do 10 grams of medical cannabis cost?

For flowers, the easiest way to calculate is with the price per gram. The table shows what 10 grams cost at different prices per gram, without shipping. It is a calculation aid, not a quantity for treatment.

Why do cannabis prices per gram differ so much?

The price per gram depends on several factors that have little to do with whether a strain suits your treatment:

• Strain and producer: production costs and the route to the pharmacy differ.
• Supply and demand: according to the Hamburg study, demand falls when the price rises, and price cuts went along with more demand.
• THC content: strains with a high THC content are in particular demand. In the study, more than two thirds of demand was for flowers with 20 to just under 30 per cent THC.
• The pharmacy's calculation: each pharmacy calculates processing, testing, advice and storage itself.
• Availability: scarce strains are often more expensive or temporarily unavailable.

A high THC content is not a sign of quality and not a reason to choose a strain. The study's authors point out that the rising demand for cheap strains with a lot of THC contradicts the evidence for safe use. Your doctor decides which strain is suitable. What pharmaceutical quality actually means is explained in Pharmaceutical-grade cannabis flowers.

Why was cannabis on health insurance prescriptions so much more expensive?

For prescriptions paid by statutory health insurance (Kassenrezept), fixed billing rules known as the Hilfstaxe applied. According to APOTHEKE ADHOC, pharmacies received between 13 and 19 euros per gram depending on the prescribed quantity, much more than prices on the private market.

Since 30 July 2026, statutory health insurance has no longer paid for flowers. For extracts and other cannabis medicines on a health insurance prescription, you pay the statutory co-payment (Zuzahlung) of 10 per cent of the pharmacy price, at least 5 and at most 10 euros per medicine. How cost coverage works is explained in Health insurance and medical cannabis.

How much does shipping medical cannabis cost?

The pharmacy sets the shipping costs. They depend on the delivery method, such as standard delivery, express delivery or same-day delivery in some cities. If you collect the medicine, there are no shipping costs.

Mail-order pharmacies need an official licence and, under § 11a of the German Pharmacy Act (ApoG), must provide certain services: dispatch within two working days of receiving the order if the medicine is available, shipment tracking and a free second delivery attempt. You decide which pharmacy you use, see Free choice of pharmacy.

How to work out your monthly costs

Use these steps to estimate what treatment costs per month:

1. Take the amount prescribed on your prescription for a period and convert it to one month.
2. Multiply the monthly amount by the price per gram of your strain at the chosen pharmacy.
3. Add the shipping costs for the number of deliveries per month, or zero if you collect.
4. Add the doctor's fee for follow-up prescriptions, converted to one month.
5. Plan a buffer, because prices and availability can change.

Your doctor decides the amount itself. A higher amount does not automatically bring more benefit, but it does increase the risk of side effects. If the costs become too high for you, say so openly rather than saving on your own.

What does the doctor's fee under GOÄ cost?

In Germany, medical services for private patients and self-payers are billed under the German scale of medical fees (Gebührenordnung für Ärzte, GOÄ). Each service has a number of points, and one point is worth 5.82873 cents. Depending on difficulty and time, the doctor may charge 1 to 3.5 times this rate. Without special justification, 2.3 times is usually the upper limit.

A cannabis prescription typically involves consultation services. The following table shows some examples from the schedule of fees. It shows how amounts are calculated and is not a price list of any particular provider.

Providers can set their prices differently within this framework. At 420doc, the first request is free as part of the current offer (€0) and a follow-up prescription costs €7.50 (offer valid until 31 December 2026). Current prices are always listed under Prices & reimbursement.

If no prescription is issued after the medical assessment, 420doc refunds the prescription fee. There is no additional platform fee. With any provider, check whether other flat fees are charged on top of the prescription fee.

Online or at a practice: which is cheaper?

Whether a cannabis prescription online or at a local practice is cheaper depends on the provider and the effort involved. Both bill private patients under GOÄ, so the framework is the same. Differences arise from travel costs, time and extra services.

First and follow-up prescription: what costs what?

For a first prescription, the medical effort is usually higher because the whole medical history is reviewed. A follow-up prescription is about progress, tolerability and amount. Many providers therefore charge different fees.

Over a year, the costs of follow-up prescriptions weigh more heavily than the first prescription because they recur regularly. Plan them in from the start. How often you need a new prescription depends on the prescribed amount.

How much does a Schengen certificate cost?

For travel to other Schengen countries, you need a medical certificate that is certified by an authority. There are two costs: the medical service for filling it in and the authority's fee. In Hamburg, for example, certification at the public health office (Gesundheitsamt) costs 23 euros; other federal states have their own fees.

Plan for the costs and some lead time before your trip. A separate certificate is needed for each medicine, for flowers that means one per strain. More in the guide Travelling with medical cannabis.

How to spot dubious price information

With health offers online, it pays to look closely at the prices. Be careful if:

• only a teaser price is given and the total costs only become visible after payment,
• you have to take out a subscription just to make a request,
• the fee is not refunded if the doctor declines, or the rules on this are missing,
• discounts are tied to buying particular strains,
• cannabis is offered without a prescription or without a medical assessment. That is not legal.

Is there a free cannabis prescription?

A free cannabis prescription only exists in exceptional cases. Under strict conditions, statutory health insurance covers extracts and medicines containing dronabinol or nabilone; you then only pay the co-payment. People who are exempt from co-payments do not pay that either.

If a provider advertises a free prescription, this usually only applies to the doctor's fee. You still pay for the medicine, shipping and any extra services. Always work out the total costs before you decide.

Private prescription: which cannabis costs do you pay yourself?

With a private prescription, you pay the doctor's invoice and the pharmacy invoice yourself. People with private health insurance (PKV) can submit both invoices to their insurer. Whether and how much is reimbursed depends on the tariff. It is best to ask in writing before starting treatment.

For civil servants with state allowance (Beihilfe), the rules of the responsible allowance office apply. People with statutory health insurance (GKV) who use a private prescription usually get nothing back from their insurer.

Is medical cannabis tax deductible in Germany?

Medicines prescribed by a doctor and medical services can count as medical expenses under extraordinary burdens (außergewöhnliche Belastungen, § 33 of the German Income Tax Act, EStG). The doctor's prescription serves as proof for medicines (§ 64 of the Income Tax Implementing Ordinance, EStDV).

This only has a tax effect to the extent that your costs exceed the reasonable burden (zumutbare Belastung). It depends on income, marital status and number of children. Keep prescriptions and invoices; in individual cases, a tax adviser can clarify the details.

How to save without compromising on safety

There are legal ways to keep costs in check:

• Compare prices: strains and pharmacies differ considerably, so compare before your request.
• Collect instead of delivery: if a pharmacy near you has the strain in stock, you save the shipping costs.
• Plan ahead: if you request your follow-up prescription early enough, you will not need expensive express delivery.
• Do not stock up: flowers lose quality if stored incorrectly; light, heat and moisture change the active ingredients.
• Talk openly to your doctor: sometimes the treatment can be adjusted.

The black market is not an option. There you know neither what you are getting nor how much active ingredient it contains, and buying there is not legal.

Invoices and receipts

For the medical service you receive an invoice under GOÄ. It lists the services billed and is the receipt for private insurance, the allowance office or the tax office.

The pharmacy issues its own invoice for the medicine and shipping. At 420doc you find the doctor's invoice in your account, and your bank statement shows a neutral description.

Frequently asked questions

How a request works step by step is described under How 420doc works. What you should plan for when travelling is explained in the guide Travelling with medical cannabis.