Study: Most Cannabis Growers in Italy and UK Also Garden Other Plants, and Many Started There First

Researchers surveyed 1,302 people who had grown cannabis in the prior year, collecting detailed information on their cultivation practices, motivations, substance use, and experiences with the criminal justice system. They divided participants into “Generalist Gardeners” (GG), who grew cannabis alongside other plants, and “Cannabis-Only Growers” (COG). An overwhelming 82% were GGs, while 18% grew only cannabis. GGs tended to be older, more educated, and more likely to be in a relationship than COGs. They were also more likely to grow outdoors, to cultivate for medical or environmental reasons, and to describe growing as a pleasurable activity. By contrast, COGs were more likely to grow for profit, to use stimulant drugs, and to meet the criteria for cannabis use dependence.

Among GGs, 71% reported starting with other plants before moving to cannabis cultivation, suggesting gardening is more often a gateway to cannabis than the reverse. Those who began with cannabis were more likely to be male, have lower formal education, abstain from alcohol, and grow for the purpose of providing medical cannabis to others. They were also less likely to grow fruits and vegetables compared to those who began as food gardeners.

The findings challenge common assumptions that cannabis cultivation frequently leads to growing other illicit plants. Fewer than 6% of GGs in the study grew other psychoactive species or mushrooms. Researchers say this suggests that personal cannabis cultivation is largely confined to cannabis itself, with little evidence of spillover into broader illicit plant production.

The authors argue that these distinctions could inform more nuanced drug policy. Given that GGs show lower rates of cannabis use disorder, use fewer other illicit substances, and are less commercially oriented, regulators could consider the cultivation of other plants as one indicator of lower harm and non-commercial intent. In jurisdictions where home cultivation is regulated or prohibited, such factors could be taken into account during investigations or sentencing.

The study also notes that encouraging diverse gardening—such as requiring licensed home growers to devote equal space to non-cannabis plants—might support healthier behaviors. And with the vast majority of participants motivated by personal or ecological reasons rather than profit, the researchers say that cannabis policy should take into account the horticultural realities of small-scale cultivation, rather than viewing it exclusively through a criminal lens.

Researchers conclude the study by stating:

Gardening other plants is common among cannabis growers and precedes cultivating cannabis far more than the reverse pathway. As general gardeners appear focused on cannabis alone, concerns about spillover to growing other psychoactive plants or fungi may be overstated. Given the lower expected harms associated with general gardening, it could serve as a proxy for reduced supply involvement in legal assessments.