Youth Cannabis Consumption In Frankfurt Is At An All-Time Low
According to a preliminary evaluation of the 2024 Monitoring System Drug Trends (MoSyD) study, cannabis consumption among young people in Frankfurt has reached an all-time low. The study’s findings provide insight into consumption rates in a post-legalized Germany.
“According to an initial analysis of the Drug Trend Study 2024, only 22 percent of 15- to 18-year-olds have recently tried cannabis at least once in their lives. This means that the number of users has halved over the past ten years and fallen to its lowest level since the study began in 2002.” the City of Frankfurt wrote in a press release on its website (translated from German to English).
“Frankfurt is on the right track,” says Elke Voitl, Head of the Department of Social Affairs and Health. “We have strengthened the city’s prevention and counseling services, especially to inform young people and support them with problems related to cannabis use.”
Germany implemented the first provisions of the nation’s CanG law on April 1st, 2024, as part of a multi-phased adult-use legalization model. The first phase of the model involved permitting adults in Germany to cultivate, possess, and consume personal amounts of cannabis. Starting on July 1st, 2024, adults in Germany can apply to launch a noncommercial cultivation association.
The remaining component of Germany’s legalization model, often referred to as ‘Pillar 2,’ involves launching regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot research projects. The launch of pilot projects has experienced various delays, although 49 applications have been submitted so far.
“The fears that partial legalization would be accompanied by an increase in consumption among adolescents and young adults have not been confirmed. According to our representative survey, all consumption figures have decreased. This applies to both lifetime prevalence and data on current and frequent consumption.” states the Frankfurt study’s leader Professor Bernd Werse.
“Ever since the traffic light coalition announced its intention to partially legalize cannabis at the end of 2021, the prevalence of the drug among young people has fallen to new lows, a trend that has continued after the introduction of the cannabis law. Fears that legal status would send the ‘wrong signal’ to young people have therefore not been confirmed—quite the opposite,” Professor Werse also stated.
“We welcome the fact that partial legalization for adults has not led to an increase in consumption. Our focus remains on education, dialogue, and destigmatizing users,” emphasized Oliver Müller-Maar, Acting Head of the Drugs Department.
“Decriminalization and controlled distribution offer the opportunity to better reach users and reduce the risks of consumption. The goal remains a responsible approach to cannabis that takes into account both health protection and social reality.” stated Health Minister Voitl, according to the City of Frankfurt’s press release.
