Cannabis in Hanover: a guide for international residents
Cannabis is legal for adults in Germany, but you cannot buy it in a shop. If you live in Germany, you can join a licensed cannabis club such as ours and pick up your cannabis in person in Hanover-Linden. This page explains the rules and how membership works. Status: November 2026.
Is cannabis legal in Germany?
Since 1 April 2024, adults aged 18 and over may possess, grow and consume cannabis under the Konsumcannabisgesetz (KCanG), the German Cannabis Act. There are three legal ways to get it:
- Home growing: up to three plants per adult at your place of residence.
- Cultivation association (often called a cannabis social club): a licensed non-profit association that grows for its members.
- Medical cannabis on prescription from a pharmacy.
Selling, buying from dealers and online orders remain illegal, also for the buyer. Offers on Telegram or Instagram are illegal and often scams.
Can tourists buy weed in Hanover?
No. There are no coffeeshops or dispensaries in Germany. Clubs may only accept members who live in Germany, and they may only hand out cannabis to their own members in person. If you are visiting, there is no legal way to get cannabis.
Who can join our club?
- You are at least 21 years old (the law allows 18, our club sets 21).
- You have your residence or habitual abode in Germany, proven with an official ID.
- You are not a member of another cultivation association. Membership in two clubs is illegal.
- You stay a member for at least three months, as required by law.
International students and employees living in Hanover can join on the same terms as everyone else. If you move abroad, your membership ends by law.
How membership works
- Apply online at cannabis-club-hannover.de/antrag. The form is in German and takes about five minutes.
- The board reviews every application personally and replies by email. There is no automatic right to be accepted.
- Confirm the rules: you read and confirm the statutes and fee rules of both associations online.
- Pay your contribution by bank transfer, with your membership number as reference.
- Book your pickup online and collect in person with your membership card and passport or ID card.
Language: The application, statutes and fee rules are only available in German, and the German version is binding. Feel free to use a translation tool, and ask us by email if anything is unclear.
What it costs
| Monthly contribution | Amount |
|---|---|
| Umbrella association (Dachverein) | €10 |
| Cultivation association, up to 25 g per month | €200 |
| Cultivation association, up to 50 g per month | €400 |
VAT is included. Contributions are paid monthly in advance, also in months without a pickup. Every batch is tested by an external laboratory, and the THC and CBD values are printed on the label.
Picking up your cannabis
- Where: Limmerstraße 104, 30451 Hannover (Linden). The tram stops right in front of the door, parking is available in front of the shop and opposite at the Freizeitheim.
- When: usually Tuesdays and Fridays, by appointment only.
- Bring: your membership card and your passport or ID card. The law requires both at every pickup.
- How much: up to 25 g per pickup and 50 g per month.
- Not allowed: consuming on site or nearby, picking up for others, passing cannabis on to anyone.
Where you may not consume
Public consumption is banned within sight of schools, playgrounds, youth facilities, public sports grounds and cannabis clubs (up to 100 metres from the entrance), in pedestrian zones between 7 am and 8 pm, and always in the presence of anyone under 18. In Hanover, smoking cannabis is also banned on all raised tram platforms. Fines in Lower Saxony range from €20 to €1,000.
Driving
The legal limit is 3.5 ng THC per ml of blood serum. Novice drivers on probation and drivers under 21 must not have any THC in their blood. Mixing cannabis and alcohol while driving is prohibited. Regular users can stay above the limit the next day.
Help and advice
Drobs Hannover offers free and, on request, anonymous counselling on cannabis use: Calenberger Esplanade 6, phone 0511 701460. In an emergency, call 112. Our prevention officers are available at the pickup point and via hilfe@cannabis-club-hannover.de.
Frequently asked questions
Is cannabis legal in Hanover?
Yes, for adults aged 18 and over. Since 1 April 2024 the German Cannabis Act (KCanG) allows possession, home growing and membership in a licensed cultivation association. Selling cannabis remains illegal everywhere in Germany.
Are there coffeeshops in Hanover?
No. There are no shops, coffeeshops or dispensaries for recreational cannabis anywhere in Germany. A pilot project with shops in Hanover was rejected by the federal authority in 2025.
Can tourists join a cannabis club?
No. Members must have their residence or habitual abode in Germany. Visitors cannot join and cannot buy cannabis legally.
How much cannabis can I carry?
Up to 25 grams in public and up to 50 grams at home, plus up to three living plants.
Do I need to speak German to join?
You do not need to be fluent, but the application, the statutes and the fee rules are in German and you confirm them as binding. Use a translation tool if needed and ask us if anything is unclear.
How membership works at our club: membership application (in German). Questions: vorstand@cannabis-club-hannover.de
Status: November 2026. Sources: German Cannabis Act (KCanG), City of Hanover, Lower Saxony fine catalogue. This page is for information only and is not legal advice. Deutsche Fassung: Startseite, Regeln & Hilfe.