Cannabis Health Symposium Frankfurt Agenda in Full — Session-by-Session Guide

Take a look at the full agenda below:

EKOCAN public health findings

One of the day’s key evidence-focused sessions will examine findings from EKOCAN, which has generated some of the first large-scale public-health data on the impact of cannabis reform in Germany. The presentation, followed by an audience Q&A, will consider what emerging data can tell us about the effects of reform and what the findings could mean for patient care, prescribing behaviour and future public-health policy. Professor Bernd Werse, a sociologist and professor of social work at Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences whose research includes cannabis policy and drug trends, is among the confirmed speakers for the symposium.

Telemedicine: revolution or risk?

Few developments have changed access to medical cannabis in Germany as quickly as the expansion of telemedicine following CanG. This panel debate will tackle one of the sector’s most contentious questions: has digital access made legitimate medical treatment easier and more accessible, or is the distinction between medical prescribing and adult-use access becoming increasingly difficult to maintain? Expect discussion around clinical standards, patient safeguards and what responsible telemedicine should look like as the market matures.

The route to reimbursement

Germany may have Europe’s largest medical cannabis market, but most prescriptions are still privately funded. This presentation will explore why reimbursement through statutory health insurance remains difficult and what needs to change if cannabinoid medicines are to become more routinely integrated into the healthcare system. The session will examine the role of clinicians and other stakeholders in improving approval rates, alongside the evidence, health-economic arguments and policy developments that could influence future reimbursement decisions. Antonia Menzel, Chair of the Executive Board of BPC, is among the confirmed speakers at the symposium and has highlighted closing the gap between Germany’s market scale and patient reimbursement as a shared challenge for clinicians, industry, policymakers and statutory insurers.

The expanding role and responsibilities of the pharmacist

As prescribing grows, pharmacists are becoming an increasingly important part of Germany’s medical cannabis infrastructure. This practical session will look at their responsibilities across dispensing, compounding, quality assurance and product selection, as well as patient counselling and regulatory compliance. It will also address the growing need for professional education so pharmacists have the knowledge and confidence to support both prescribers and patients as cannabinoid medicines become more widely used.

Driving, employment and patient rights

Legal reform has not removed all of the uncertainty medical cannabis patients encounter in their daily lives. Questions around driving, workplace drug policies and employment protections remain particularly important for patients and the clinicians treating them. This session will provide a practical overview of recent driving regulations, employment rights and other legal developments, helping attendees understand where patients stand and what prescribers need to know when advising them. Sita Schubert, General Secretary of EUMCA and a lawyer with extensive experience across healthcare and medical cannabis, is among the confirmed symposium speakers.

Cannabinoids vs opioids: a new class of treatment for chronic pain?

Chronic pain affects more than one billion people worldwide, yet innovation in treatment has lagged behind many other major disease areas. This session asks whether cannabinoid medicines could represent a new frontier. The discussion comes at a significant moment for the field, following market authorisation in Germany and Austria earlier this year of the first cannabinoid-based medicine for chronic lower back pain after more than a decade in development. Speakers will explore what this development could mean for patients, clinicians and the future place of cannabinoids alongside established approaches including opioids.

Safe prescribing in mental health

Cannabis and mental health remain one of the most closely scrutinised areas of cannabinoid medicine. This session will move beyond the headlines to examine the current evidence for cannabis-based medicines in psychiatric conditions while directly addressing safety concerns, including dependency and psychosis risk. The presentation will consider patient selection, risk-mitigation strategies and practical prescribing considerations, as well as where cannabis-based medicines may sit within broader mental-health treatment pathways.

Addressing unmet needs in women’s health

From endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain to menopause and PMDD, women are increasingly exploring cannabis-based medicines for conditions where conventional options may not adequately address their needs. This multidisciplinary panel will examine the evidence alongside clinical experience and identify priorities for future research. It will also ask how healthcare professionals can better support women seeking alternative treatment approaches. Confirmed symposium speaker Dr Shabnam Sarshar is a phytopharmacist and women’s health strategist specialising in cannabinoid science and female-specific physiology.

The ECS: educating the next generation

The day will also turn its attention to one of the fundamental challenges facing cannabinoid medicine: education. Despite the expanding clinical use of cannabinoid medicines, formal teaching about the endocannabinoid system (ECS) remains limited. This presentation and audience Q&A will examine how ECS education is beginning to develop within universities and continuing professional education, and what more is needed to ensure the next generation of medical professionals is equipped to understand cannabinoid science and translate it into evidence-led patient care.

Secure your place 

The Cannabis Health Symposium Frankfurt comes at a pivotal point for Germany’s medical cannabis sector. The country is grappling with questions about the quality of prescribing and patient access to reimbursement, professional education, and the long-term place of cannabinoid medicines in mainstream healthcare.

By bringing clinicians, researchers, pharmacists, industry representatives and patient advocates into the same room, the symposium aims to examine those questions through the evidence and practical experience of those working within the system.

The Cannabis Health Symposium takes place on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, from 09:30–17:00 at Mainhaus, Frankfurt, Germany.

Tickets are available now. Healthcare professionals can also apply for a concession ticket.