In order to assess the efficacy of Germany’s cannabis laws and regulations, researchers and officials must continually evaluate them. German lawmakers will heavily depend on data obtained from evaluations, and in particular the EKOCAN program, when they decide about future cannabis laws.
Recent data and results from an initial assessment have been released, with positive outcomes. Information from researchers focuses heavily on three major components:
- Protection of children and young people
- Results of public health
- Crimes involving marijuana
Child and Youth Protection: Focus 1
In the first focus area, a government-sponsored study has found that the youth cannabis consumption rate has decreased ever since April 1, 2024 when the first legalization provisions for adult use of marijuana were passed. German Federal Institute for Public Health published recent data on youth cannabis consumption rates after legalization. The German Federal Institute for Public Health recently published data regarding youth cannabis usage rates post-legalization.
The Federal Institute for Public Health compared the results before and after the legalization of cannabis. According to their assessment, the percentage of 12-17-year-olds who said they had consumed marijuana in the past year dropped from 6,7% to just 6.1%. According to the Federal Institute for Public Health’s assessment of data before and after legalization, the percentage of youth aged 12-17 who have consumed cannabis in the last year has decreased from 6.7% during survey period in 2023 down to 6.1% this. These data debunk predictions made by opponents of adult-use cannabis that youth consumption would increase after legalization.
Public Health Outcomes
Measuring the public health outcome of modernization initiatives in cannabis policy is a challenge. One way to measure public health outcomes is by surveying cannabis consumers and asking them if they obtain their cannabis through legal channels. It is argued that by obtaining cannabis via home cultivation, or from regulated sources rather than illegal sources, consumers will receive safer products. This is what German legislators successfully argued to get European Union approval of legalization.
“The Cannabis Act has changed the way adults obtain cannabis. 88.4% have bought legally grown marijuana in the last 6 months. According to a joint survey conducted by the Institute for Addiction Research of Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, the Evangelical University of Freiburg and Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences in the last six months (translated into English), 88.4% of adults purchased cannabis produced legally.
The reported changes in the consumer’s purchasing behaviour come as the German adult-use association sector still faces significant bureaucratic obstacles. The latest data released by the Federal Association of Cannabis Cultivation Associations(BCAv) shows that the number of German applications for cultivation associations has reached 323. BCAv states that 743 application forms have been received to date. If given the chance, Germany’s cannabis culture could support many more associations. According to a survey, the average number of members in German cannabis associations is around 275.
Cannabis Related Crime: Focus 3
German research on legalization is focusing its third main focus around the impacts of this historic law in enforcing cannabis related crime. According to Jörg Kinzig, Director of the Institute of Criminology at the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, cannabis-related crime data demonstrates that such offenses have decreased by over 53 percent after legalization was enacted, from 215,000 offenses in 2023 to 100,000 during the last year.
The opponents of cannabis in Germany are still trying to stop the progress made on modernizing Germany’s policy. Despite this, it appears that they are struggling to turn the available statistics in their favour. It is unjustified to reverse the legalization of adult use, as some opponents want. Some opponents seem to have shifted their position to some extent and, instead of pushing to reverse the legalization of adult-use, are now attempting to make changes in the law. Adults are permitted to have up to three potted plants in Germany.
The lack of pilot trials hinders the legalization system
A major flaw in Germany’s legalization scheme is that there are no approved pilot adult-use cannabis commerce trials at the regional level. Germany’s legalization system relies heavily on pilot trials. Dozens of trial proposals are currently awaiting approval by the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food. The Netherlands and Switzerland have already conducted pilot trials with no reported major issues. Once they’re launched in Germany they will offer consumers more legal options for obtaining cannabis. The unregulated cannabis market in Germany will be further destabilized. The pilot tests will provide additional information to researchers, German legislators and regulatory agencies.
The International Cannabis Business Conference, which will take place in Berlin, Germany in April 2026, will cover all of these issues and aspects of Germany’s cannabis policies and research, as well as the various industry sectors.