Study Finds No Immediate Increase in Youth Marijuana Use Following Germany’s Partial Legalization
- One year after Germany partially legalized marijuana, research found no immediate increase in cannabis use among adolescents and most young adults.
- The study analyzed data from 12 surveys between 2008 and 2025, focusing on marijuana use in adolescents (12-17) and young adults (18-25).
- A significant increase in cannabis use was observed only among young men, but this was part of a longstanding trend predating legalization.
- Researchers emphasized the need for ongoing studies to monitor marijuana use patterns as Germany's legalization framework evolves.
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One year after Germany partially legalized marijuana, researchers found no evidence that the policy caused an immediate increase in cannabis use among adolescents and most young adults.
The study, published in the Journal of Health Monitoring, analyzed data from 12 representative surveys conducted between 2008 and 2025. Researchers from Germany’s Federal Institute of Public Health examined past-year marijuana use among adolescents ages 12 to 17 and young adults ages 18 to 25.
Among male and female adolescents, as well as young women, the prevalence of past-year cannabis use did not change significantly between 2023 and 2025.
Researchers did identify a statistically significant increase among young men. However, they said the increase did not appear to be a new development associated with legalization. Instead, it continued an upward trend that has been observed among young men since 2008.
“One year after partial legalisation, there was no evidence of an immediate effect on the prevalence of cannabis use among young people in Germany,” the researchers concluded.
Germany’s partial legalization law took effect in April 2024, allowing adults to possess limited amounts of marijuana and cultivate plants for personal use. Noncommercial cannabis cultivation associations were authorized beginning in July 2024.
The researchers said additional studies will be needed to monitor whether marijuana use patterns change as the country’s legalization framework continues to develop.