One year after Germany legalised cannabis, there is no evidence of increased use among adolescents, according to a major study published in the Journal of Health Monitoring.
The research, conducted by the German Federal Institute of Public Health (BIÖG), found that cannabis consumption among 12 to 17-year-olds remained stable between 2023 and 2025. In 2025, 4.6% of female adolescents and 7.2% of male adolescents reported using cannabis in the past 12 months – figures that showed no statistically significant change from pre-legalisation levels.
The study surveyed 7,001 adolescents and young adults aged 12 to 25 between April and July 2025, one year after the Consumer Cannabis Act (KCanG) came into force on 27 March 2024.
“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 said.
Among young adults aged 18 to 25, the results were more nuanced. Women in this age group showed no significant change, with 18.8% reporting cannabis use in 2025 compared to 19.4% in 2023.
However, young men aged 18 to 25 showed an increase from 26.9% in 2023 to 31.6% in 2025. The researchers emphasised this was not a new development linked to legalisation but rather an ongoing trend.
“This does not represent a new development but rather continues a trend that has been observed in this group since 2008,” the researchers noted.
In October 2025, research commissioned by the German government showed similar results, finding that post KCanG, cannabis use amongst teenagers aged 12-17 fell from 6.7% to 6.1%.
Germany’s Cannabis Act became law in April 2024, allowing adults to possess and cultivate limited amounts of cannabis and establishing a system of non-profit social clubs to distribute the drug to members. The legislation aimed to achieve three primary goals: youth protection, general health protection, and combating the unregulated market.
Opponents to cannabis reform often claim that more permissive laws will lead to an epidemic of teen consumption. However, data shows that providing a regulatory framework for cannabis helps protect young people by reducing their access to unregulated products, whilst enabling better education about potential harms.
In Germany, programmes focus on raising awareness among adolescents about the potential health risks associated with regular cannabis use, including respiratory diseases, addiction, psychosis and mood disorders.
While the harm reduction and education approach appears to be working, the researchers, led by Boris Orth from the Federal Institute of Public Health, cautioned that longer-term monitoring is essential.
“The results suggest that the legislative changes introduced by the KCanG have had no short-term effect,” the study said, adding that education programmes should continue to empower young adults to “use cannabis in a reflective and responsible manner.”
