Court rules pharmacies liable for "Dr. Ansay" medical cannabis prescriptions

The Regional Court of Düsseldorf has ruled that pharmacies involved with the "Dr. Ansay" platform in dispensing medical cannabis are jointly liable for the platform's unlawful conduct. The ruling, dated April 24, 2026, stems from allegations that both the platform's advertising of medical cannabis and its offering of prescriptions via a questionnaire were illegal.

The court determined that pharmacies were aware of the platform's business model, which facilitates drug abuse. This constitutes a violation of regulations requiring pharmaceutical staff to counter drug misuse and refuse dispensing when abuse is suspected. The court noted that prescriptions through "Dr. Ansay" are often issued without personal contact with physicians and potentially without proper medical justification.

The Apothekerkammer Nordrhein (North Rhine Chamber of Pharmacists) welcomed the decision. President Armin Hoffmann stated that while local pharmacies face economic challenges, this does not justify participation in clearly illegal business models. He reiterated the pharmacy profession's obligation to public health and the preservation of public trust.

Bettina Mecking, legal counsel for the Chamber, expressed a desire for political measures to address the issue. "We would prefer it if political decision-makers effectively countered the identified abuses with measures we have repeatedly proposed," she said.

Morton Douglas, who represented the Chamber in the proceedings, urged supervisory authorities to enforce the ruling. He stressed that collaboration with such platforms renders pharmacies unreliable and deviates from their statutory duties.