What topics does this cannabis study cover?

This study covers research on: Mental Health.

Where was this research published?

Published in Scientific reports on September 5, 2026.

Mental Health

What changed in cannabis use after Germany’s legal reform?

Q: What did this research study find?

Following Germany’s reform, **consumed amounts increased selectively among younger participants**.

Ecological momentary insights into cannabis use and its contexts: a pre-post legalization study in Germany.

Scientific reports • September 5, 2026 • Highly Relevant

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AI Summary

This Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) study tracked cannabis use in 49 people before and after Germany’s recreational cannabis decriminalization in April 2024. In the immediate period following the reform, the amount consumed increased selectively among younger participants. The study does not show that legalization caused these changes, but it provides early, real-time evidence about how use patterns may shift after a policy change.

Context mattered. After the reform, participants consumed more cannabis outdoors but less in public settings, and use was more likely on holidays. These findings suggest that prevention, treatment, and regulation may need to consider users’ age, location, and daily routines—not just how often people consume. The study offers important early observations, although its relatively small sample and pre-post design limit how broadly the results can be generalized.

💡 Key Findings

Following Germany’s reform, consumed amounts increased selectively among younger participants.

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60%

Cannabis consumption increased in outdoor settings but decreased in public settings after the reform.

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60%

Consumption was more likely on holidays after legalization.

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60%

The study provides early real-time insights that may help guide cannabis prevention, treatment, and regulation.

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65%

📄 Original Abstract

Globally, cannabis ranks third in psychoactive substance prevalence after nicotine and alcohol, with heavy use linked to psychosis, anxiety, and depression. However, real-time data on how legal reforms influence consumption remain scarce. This Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) study analyzed daily cannabis use patterns before and after Germany's recreational cannabis decriminalization in April 2024 in 49 individuals (34.7% women, age 33.8 ± 11 years). Following the legal reform, a selective increase in consumed amounts among younger individuals (β = 0.01, 95%CI = 0.00-0.02, z = 3.05) was observed. Further, consumed amounts increased in outdoor (β = 0.19, 95%CI = 0.04-0.34, z = 2.51) but decreased in public settings (β = -0.46, 95%CI = -0.66 - -0.25, z = -4.36), and consumption was more likely to occur on holidays (β = 3.91, 95%CI = 1.68-9.08, z = 3.17). All ps < 0.05. By capturing the immediate post-legalization period, this study contributes to important early insights to inform prevention, treatment, and regulation.

Paper Type

📄 Research

Publication

Journal: Scientific reports
Published: September 5, 2026
PMID: 42701112
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-70148-7

Authors (13)

Louisa Diallo Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Charité Campus Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, Berlin, 10117, Germany.
Gianna Spitta Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Charité Campus Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, Berlin, 10117, Germany. gianna.spitta@charite.de.
Samanda Krasniqi Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Charité Campus Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, Berlin, 10117, Germany.
Nadja Samia Bahr Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Charité Campus Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, Berlin, 10117, Germany.
Sabrina Doerr Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Charité Campus Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, Berlin, 10117, Germany.
+8 more authors