Since Germany’s Cannabis Act (CanG) came into force on 1 April 2024, much has changed regarding what was once the country’s most widely used illegal drug. Cannabis has been removed from the list of prohibited substances, and adults are now permitted to grow up to three potent hemp plants in their homes and harvest the buds.
The legal status of cannabis in medicine has also shifted: a prescription for controlled substances is no longer required when cannabis is used to treat medical conditions. This has led to the rapid growth of telemedicine platforms, allowing patients to obtain medical cannabis through online consultations and postal delivery.
A new survey by the Institute for Addiction Research (ISFF) at Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences and the Protestant University of Applied Sciences Freiburg shows that, nearly 18 months after the CanG was introduced, both home cultivation and medical supply channels have become more popular than illegal sources.
CanG Already Considered a Success
While Germany’s conservative parties continue to criticise the Cannabis Act as a step in the wrong direction—citing increased import volumes and potential abuse via telemedicine—the results of the survey suggest otherwise.
According to the project Changes for Cannabis Users as a Result of the Cannabis Act (KonCanG), which surveyed almost 11,500 participants online between March and June 2025, the majority of respondents prefer legal sources of supply over the black market.
The non-representative study found that most respondents favoured home cultivation and purchasing medical cannabis from pharmacies. Of all participants, 99 per cent were adults, 81 per cent reported weekly cannabis use, and 39 per cent said they consumed daily.
Prof. Dr Bernd Werse, head of the ISFF, said the results demonstrate the success of the new policy.
“The survey shows that the Cannabis Act is already a success in terms of weakening the illegal market: it is precisely those who consume the majority of cannabis in Germany who overwhelmingly use legal sources,’”he said.
Large Majority Against Illegal Purchases
The study reveals a marked shift since the CanG took effect. Before 1 April 2024, only 23.5 per cent of respondents sourced cannabis legally, through home cultivation or pharmacies. Now, 88.4 per cent say they have relied primarily on these legal channels in the past six months.
For 80 per cent of participants, private cultivation or purchases from pharmacies—both physical and online—are now the main supply routes. Before the reform, 57.4 per cent of adults said they bought cannabis from trusted or known dealers, and 13.8 per cent from street dealers. Both categories have fallen significantly since legalisation.
For under-18s, who remain prohibited from accessing cannabis, the survey found a continued reliance on peers: before CanG, 59.4 per cent obtained cannabis from friends or acquaintances, and 50 per cent from trusted dealers. Six months into legalisation, 67.7 per cent of minors still reported obtaining cannabis through social contacts, but purchases from public dealers have dropped sharply to 7.3 per cent.
Joints Remain the Most Popular Form of Consumption
The survey also examined consumption habits. Joints—usually mixed with tobacco—remain the most common method, preferred by 40 per cent of users. Only 10 per cent smoke pure cannabis. The second most popular method was the vaporiser, considered a less harmful option as it avoids tobacco and combustion.
Following pure joints, the water pipe (bong) was cited by 6 per cent of respondents. Most adults said they consume primarily at home (97.8 per cent), followed by at friends’ homes (57.3 per cent). Fewer use cannabis in public spaces (41.1 per cent) or in clubs and bars (6.1 per cent).
Men accounted for 86 per cent of respondents, highlighting a gender disparity in consumption. Prof. Dr Anke Stallwitz, professor of social psychology at the Protestant University of Applied Sciences Freiburg, said: “According to our study, most respondents consume in private settings; almost all cite their own property as one of their places of consumption. The few younger respondents, by contrast, report consuming in public spaces significantly more often.”
Preliminary Findings for Official Evaluation
These findings come ahead of a broader scientific evaluation commissioned by the federal government to assess the social impacts of the CanG. The Frankfurt and Freiburg research teams have published this as an external contribution to that process, with an official interim report expected in autumn 2025.
Initial results indicate a clear change in public perception. More than three-quarters of respondents said they no longer fear prosecution, and over two-thirds reported fewer inhibitions about seeking help for consumption-related problems.
Prof. Dr Werse added that the study provides valuable evidence for policymakers.
“So far, there is no reliable data on how cannabis procurement has shifted. With its large sample size, our study provides important insights on this question as an external source for the official evaluation.”
