A key component of adult-use cannabis legalization in Germany involves ongoing evaluations by researchers and government officials to gauge if the nation’s cannabis policies and regulations are effective. The data derived from the evaluation efforts, especially the EKOCAN project, will be heavily relied upon by German lawmakers when they make future decisions about German cannabis laws and industry regulations.

Several initial evaluation data points and findings have recently surfaced, and the results are favorable. The information from researchers heavily focuses on three main components:

1. Child and youth protection
2. Public health outcomes
3. Cannabis-related crime

Focus #1: Child and Youth Protection

Regarding the first area of focus, the results of a recent government study found that youth consumption rates have decreased since the first provisions of adult-use cannabis legalization were enacted on April 1, 2024. The German Federal Institute for Public Health recently published data regarding youth cannabis usage rates post-legalization. The “Drug Affinity Study 2025” surveyed 7,001 young people between the ages of 12 and 25 from April to July 2025, and the results were then compared to those from a similar study conducted between April and June 2023.

According to the Federal Institute for Public Health’s assessment of the data before and after legalization, the proportion of youth aged 12 to 17 who reported having consumed cannabis within the last year fell from 6.7% during the survey period in 2023 to 6.1% this year. The proportion of youth who reported having consumed cannabis more than ten times in the past 12 months decreased from 1.3% in 2023 to 1.1% this year. The data effectively debunks predictions by cannabis opponents that adult-use legalization would result in a spike in youth consumption rates.

Focus #2: Public Health Outcomes

Measuring public health outcomes as they relate to cannabis policy modernization efforts is somewhat challenging. However, a key measurement comes in the form of surveying consumers to see if they source their cannabis from legal channels. The theory behind using that measurement is that if consumers obtain their cannabis through home cultivation or regulated sources instead of unregulated sources, the products they consume will be safer and thus public health outcomes will be improved. That is the argument that German lawmakers successfully made to obtain European Union approval for legalization.

“The Cannabis Act (CanG) led to significant changes in the supply channels among adults: 88.4% generally purchased legally produced cannabis in the last six months (home cultivation, including cultivation by friends, cultivation associations, pharmacies); before the law, 23.5% used the now legal sources.” stated the Institute for Addiction Research at the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences and the Evangelical University of Freiburg about a recent collaborative survey they conducted (translated from German to English).

It is worth noting that the reported significant changes in consumer purchasing behavior come at a time when the adult-use cultivation association sector is still experiencing significant bureaucratic hurdles in Germany. According to the most recent data from the Federal Association of Cannabis Cultivation Associations (BCAv), the total number of approved German cultivation association applications is now at 323. BCAv lists that 743 total applications have been submitted to date. Germany’s cannabis community can support exponentially more cultivation associations across the country if afforded the opportunity. The average membership of current German associations is 275 members, according to a recent survey.

Focus #3: Cannabis-Related Crime

The third major focus of ongoing German legalization research and evaluation efforts revolves around how the historic law has impacted cannabis-related crime enforcement in the European nation. According to Jörg Kinzig, Director of the Institute of Criminology at the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, cannabis-related crime data demonstrates that such offenses have decreased by over 53 percent after legalization was enacted, from 215,000 offenses in 2023 to 100,000 during the last year.

Cannabis opponents in Germany continue to try to thwart forward progress on the nation’s cannabis policy modernization efforts. However, they have seemingly struggled to spin the currently available data in their favor. A full reversal of adult-use legalization, which some opponents have expressed a desire to pursue, is not justified. Some opponents appear to have pivoted their approach to some degree, and instead of pushing for a full reversal, are trying to pursue changes to the law, such as reducing the number of plants that adults can cultivate in their private residences. Adults in Germany are currently permitted to cultivate up to 3 plants.

Lack of Pilot Trials Hinder Cannabis Legalization System

One major hole that continues to exist in Germany’s legalization system is the lack of approved regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials. Pilot trials are a key component of Germany’s legalization model, and dozens of pilot trial proposals have been submitted and are pending approval from the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food. Pilot trials are already operating in the Netherlands and Switzerland with no major issues reported, and when they are finally launched in Germany, they will provide consumers with more options to source their cannabis products legally. It will further erode Germany’s unregulated market. Pilot trials will also be an important source of additional data for researchers, regulators, and lawmakers in Germany.

All of these topics and facets of Germany’s cannabis public policies, ongoing research efforts, and industry sectors will be discussed extensively at the upcoming International Cannabis Business Conference in Berlin in April 2026.

The post Data Demonstrates That German Cannabis Legalization Is Working appeared first on Cannabis Now.

Cannabis policy modernization efforts have gained steam in recent years in Slovenia, thanks to the hard work of local activists. A great example of increasing cannabis reform momentum in Slovenia can be found in the recent introduction of an adult-use cannabis legalization measure.

The recreational measure, which was introduced last month, would allow adults to cultivate and possess cannabis. The bill’s introduction came on the heels of lawmakers in the European nation approving a historic medical cannabis measure. Both measures were introduced by lawmakers after voters in Slovenia approved referendum measures in 2024.

On June 9, 2024, as part of the European Parliamentary election, voters in Slovenia decided on two cannabis-based referendum questions. The first measure asked voters, “Should the Republic of Slovenia allow the cultivation and processing of cannabis for medical purposes on its territory?”

Slovenian voters overwhelmingly approved the measure, with the referendum question receiving 66.71% approval. Every jurisdiction in Slovenia approved the measure, and the only other time a measure received approval in every jurisdiction in the European country was the vote for Slovenia’s independence in 1991.

As part of the June 9, 2024, vote in Slovenia, voters were also asked, “Should the Republic of Slovenia allow the cultivation and possession of cannabis for limited personal use on its territory?” The measure received majority support (51.57%) from voters.

The Most Progressive Cannabis Law in Europe

Lawmakers in Slovenia listened to the overwhelming majority of voters by adopting what is widely considered to be the most progressive medical cannabis law in Europe. The bill was approved in mid-July 2025 and legalizes the cultivation, production, distribution and use of cannabis for medical and scientific purposes.

Additionally, Slovenia’s medical cannabis law introduces a non-restrictive licensing system, tasks lawmakers with removing cannabis from the nation’s narcotics list within 90 days of the measure’s approval, and permits doctors to prescribe cannabis for any condition that the doctor deems appropriate.

New Adult-Use Cannabis Legalization Measure Introduced

Within days of lawmakers approving the medical cannabis measure, Slovenian lawmakers also introduced an adult-use cannabis legalization measure. The measure, if approved, would permit adults in Slovenia to cultivate up to four plants in their private residences, possess up to 7 grams of cannabis when away from their homes, and possess up to 150 grams of cannabis in their homes. The private residence possession limit, if approved, would be the largest legal cannabis possession limit in Europe.

According to the measure, selling cannabis, driving under the influence and public consumption would all remain prohibited. The legislation would also prohibit employers in the European nation from testing their employees for cannabis. Adults gifting each other cannabis would be legal in Slovenia in certain circumstances, according to the proposal.

According to cannabis usage data from the European Union Drugs Agency’s 2025 report, an estimated 2.8% of adults in Slovenia have consumed cannabis within the last month; 5.4% have consumed cannabis at least once within the last year; and 22% of adults in Slovenia report having consumed cannabis at least once in their lifetime.

European Union Countries Updating Cannabis Policies

Slovenia is one of the growing number of European Union countries modernizing their cannabis policies and regulations. Malta became the first EU nation to adopt a national adult-use cannabis legalization measure in 2021. Adults in Malta can cultivate up to four cannabis plants in their private residences and possess up to 50 grams of cannabis.

Luxembourg became the second country in the European Union to legalize recreational cannabis for adults nationwide in 2023. Luxembourg’s model is the least progressive of the current legal countries in Europe, with adults being able to possess up to 3 grams of cannabis despite being permitted to cultivate up to 4 plants in their private residences.

In April 2024, Germany adopted what is, by many measures, the most significant national legalization measure not only in Europe, but also throughout the world. Germany’s model allows adults to cultivate up to three plants in their private residences and possess up to 50 grams of cannabis.

Lastly, Czechia’s national government approved recreational cannabis legalization earlier this year. Starting on January 1, 2026, Czech adults will be allowed to cultivate up to three plants in their homes and possess up to 100 grams of cannabis.

Europe is currently the most exciting place on the planet for cannabis policy and industry, and if/when Slovenia adopts its version of adult-use legalization, it will further add to the continent’s momentum. You can learn more about European cannabis policy and industry at the International Cannabis Business Conference in Berlin from April 14-15, 2026. 

The post Slovenia’s Proposed Cannabis Legalization Measure Would Help Consumers appeared first on Cannabis Now.