Two years after Germany implemented the first provisions of its national cannabis legalization measure, the historic policy change was not associated with changes in 12-month cannabis use prevalence or ‘heavy use,’ according to the results of a recent study.

Starting on April 1st, 2024, adults in Germany can cultivate, possess, and consume personal amounts of cannabis. Researchers affiliated with Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, University College London, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), the University of Leipzig, and Maastricht University analyzed survey data from two years before and two years after German legalization. The study’s findings were published in the International Journal of Drug Policy.

The team of European researchers reviewed results from 23 repeated cannabis-use surveys conducted between April/May 2022 and March/April 2026. In total, the surveys involved 35,957 respondents.

“The prevalence of cannabis use and proportion of daily or almost daily (heavy) users remained largely stable before and after the law reform. None of the slope coefficients before the introduction of the CanG were statistically significant (all p ≥ 0.07), except for the negative slope in daily or almost daily users in the subgroup of past 12-month users (−0.091, p = 0.04).” the researchers found.

“Also, none of the coefficients for the change in the slope were statistically significant (all p ≥ 0.15). Sensitivity analyses supported these findings.” the researchers added.

“Germany’s 2024 cannabis reform was not associated with changes in 12-month use prevalence or heavy use early (two years) after implementation. Continued monitoring over longer periods and across multiple data sources is recommended, as effects may emerge later.” the researchers concluded.

A separate study from earlier this year conducted by researchers affiliated with Germany’s Federal Institute of Public Health found that “one year after the partial legalisation of cannabis, no immediate, significant changes in the 12-month prevalence of cannabis use were observed among either female or male adolescents, or among young women, compared with 2023.”

In yet another study from earlier this year, a team of researchers affiliated with various health and academic institutions in Germany found that the rate of people in Germany seeking cannabis use disorder-related outpatient addiction care declined following the adoption of the CanG measure. The study was conducted with funding from the German Addiction Care Statistical Service.