Marijuana has been partially legal for a year and a half – the relevant laws are still controversial. The new survey shows that consumption did not change significantly in the following months.
On April 1, 2024, the much-talked about marijuana law goes into effect. One of the conditions is that the impact of partial legalization on people’s health and consumption patterns be scientifically monitored.
The EKOCAN research project founded for this purpose published its first interim results at the end of September 2025. Data from a detailed evaluation of cannabis from the Epidemiological Survey of Addiction (ESA), which maps the consumption of various drugs in Germany every three years, has now been published.
Marijuana use since then Partial legalization only slightly changed
The ESA survey took place from August to December 2024, several months after the partial legalization of marijuana. The results show that the trend of increasing marijuana use has continued since 2012.
Apart from legalization, cannabis consumption has changed little, addiction researcher Benedikt Fischer explained to the Science Media Center and pointed out:
“What impact legalization will have on the evolving prevalence of marijuana use cannot be inferred from 2024 data collected just a few months after legalization.”
The most common reason for consuming it is for fun
People surveyed who consumed marijuana in the past twelve months most often cited joints as their method of consumption. Adding tobacco is also the worst way to consume marijuana, says addiction researcher Fischer.
Consumers will not only burden their hearts and lungs, but also have a higher potential for dependency. Not only that, but also because of the country’s inadequate tobacco control policies, alternative forms of consumption have so far barely become widespread, Fischer continued.
The most frequently cited reason for use was to feel happy or have fun, followed by stress relief or relaxation.
It is unclear from the results how many users were prescribed marijuana for medical purposes, such as the treatment of chronic pain.
In this group, daily consumption is usually required and therefore the amounts are disproportionately represented, explains Fischer. He estimates that at least three in ten users use marijuana wholly or partially for medical purposes.
Home construction increased significantly
About one-fifth of consumer respondents obtained cannabis through their own cultivation, which represents a significant increase compared to 2021.
A quarter of marijuana users said in a survey that they were members of a marijuana social club. Non-commercial cultivation associations have become legal with the Marijuana Act and are permitted to grow, process and distribute marijuana exclusively to their members within the framework of the law.
