Cannabis use amongst adults in California has remained largely stable since 2017, when the US state legalised retail sales, according to a study published in the Journal of Cannabis Research.

Researchers from the University of California, San Diego, analysed data from 178,836 adults surveyed between 2017 – one year before retail sales began – and 2024. They found that past-month cannabis use rose briefly from 14.5% to 17.7% in 2018, but returned to 15.4% by 2024, showing no significant difference from pre-legalisation levels.

“Prevalence of past-year and past-month cannabis use among adults in California remained largely stable across the eight-year study period spanning the onset of retail availability of non-medical cannabis products,” the researchers wrote.

However, the study identified notable shifts in how Californians consume cannabis. Combustable methods such as smoking joints, pipes and bongs declined significantly from 71.2% to 58.1%, while edible consumption increased from 40.3% to 53.6%.

The data also showed that there had been a change in the demographics of cannabis consumers during the period since legalisation. Past-month use among adults aged 40 to 59 increased from 10.7% to 14.5%, and more than doubled among those aged 75 and older, rising from 2.4% to 5.5%.

In contrast, use among young adults aged 18 to 25 showed no significant change – a finding researchers described as offering “some reassurance that legalisation and retail availability have not been accompanied by increased use in this vulnerable subgroup”.

The study authors noted that there may be a unique explanation for the lack of dramatic change. “Cannabis was already widely accessible in California through long-established medical and illicit markets, so past-month use among adults was already common, leaving comparatively little room for further increases.”

The findings showed that frequency of use also remained consistent, with consumption concentrated at the extremes – roughly 40% of users reported consuming cannabis one to five days per month, whilst 37% used it 20 to 30 days or more.

Dispensaries remained the primary source of cannabis for users, accounting for approximately 77% of procurement, another figure which remained stable throughout the period studied.

The study is the latest to show that allowing adults legal access to cannabis does not increase adolescent consumption. Research recently conducted by the German Federal Institute of Public Health found that cannabis consumption among 12 to 17-year-olds remained stable after the country partially legalised cannabis. Survey data from the American state of Minnesota published earlier this year revealed that fewer young people were using cannabis following the state’s legalisation of recreational marijuana for adults in 2023.

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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.”

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