Home cultivation is a key component of a modernized approach to cannabis public policy. All adult cannabis consumers and suffering patients should be afforded the foundational freedom to cultivate a personal amount of cannabis on their private property, should they choose to do so.

Cultivating cannabis at home provides several benefits and advantages. For many home cultivators, producing an end harvest is more affordable than buying cannabis products from the market. Additionally, people know exactly what goes into the plants that they are cultivating, and they have full control over the inputs and cultivation process.

Germany became the most populous country to legalize home cultivation at a national level when lawmakers implemented the first provisions of the historic CanG measure in April 2024. After the CanG’s adoption, adults in Germany can cultivate up to three plants for personal use in their private residences.

According to the results of a recent study conducted by researchers affiliated with Geisenheim University in Germany, home cultivation is a very popular option that cannabis consumers are participating in. The researchers estimate that “about 10% of Germans report to having cultivated cannabis at home.”

“This study provides the first empirical evidence on both public support for and engagement in home cultivation in this new regulatory context. Using survey data from a representative online-panel (n = 1500), we conducted hierarchical regression analyses to examine the factors associated with attitudinal outcomes (support for legalization) and behavioral outcomes (self-reported cultivation in the past or present).” the researchers wrote about their investigation, the results of which were published in the International Journal of Drug Policy.

The researchers examined what motivates people to support adult-use legalization. Unsurprisingly, they determined that people with experience consuming cannabis were more likely to support legalization, particularly people who have cultivated cannabis at home.

“While the study is situated in the German context, its insights are relevant beyond national borders: as the largest EU member state to legalize home cultivation, Germany’s experience may provide valuable lessons for other jurisdictions considering similar reforms.” the researcher concluded.

Uruguay became the first country to expressly adopt a recreational home cultivation legalization measure in 2013, followed by Canada in 2018. Malta followed suit in 2021, Luxembourg legalized home cultivation in 2023, and shortly after Germany legalized home cultivation, South Africa also did so in 2024.

The Czech Republic became the latest country to permit home cultivation by adults for recreational purposes at the start of this month. Out of all of those countries, Germany has the largest population. It is worth noting that certain states in the U.S. permit home cultivation for adult use. However, home cultivation remains prohibited at the federal level in the U.S.