Most Small-Scale Cannabis Growers Are Also General Gardeners | Research

The takeaway

82% of small-scale cannabis growers also grew other plants, and most started gardening before growing cannabis.

Cannabis policy researchers; criminal justice scholars.

71% of cannabis-growing gardeners started with other plants first

What the researchers found

Among 1,302 growers, 82% also grew other plants. General gardeners were older, more educated, grew outdoors, and had medical/ecological motives. Only-cannabis growers had higher stimulant use and dependence rates. 71% started with other plants first.

Why it matters

Cannabis cultivation policy often assumes illicit market motivation. Most small-scale growers are gardening enthusiasts who expanded to cannabis.

The numbers in context

1,302 growers. 82% grew other plants. 71% started with other plants first. Only-cannabis growers: higher stimulant use and dependence.

How the study worked

Online survey of 1,302 small-scale cannabis growers in Italy and the UK (2020-2021).

What this study cannot tell us

Online convenience sample. Self-reported. Different legal frameworks in Italy vs UK.

How to read the evidence

Online convenience survey in two countries.

When this study was published

2025 study

The bigger picture

Concerns about cannabis growers expanding to other psychoactive plants appear overstated.

Questions still open

Should cultivation laws distinguish hobbyists from commercial growers? Does trajectory differ in legal jurisdictions?

Common questions

Are cannabis growers likely to grow other drugs?

This study suggests concerns are overstated. Most are general gardeners who added cannabis to existing interests.

What distinguishes cannabis-only growers?

They were younger, less educated, more likely to use stimulants, and more likely to meet cannabis dependence criteria.

Read the original research

Cannabis growers as gardeners: results from a survey among Italian and British small-scale growers.

The International journal on drug policy, 144(Pt 3), 104959

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Fortin, Davide; Di Beo, Vincent; Kowalski, Michala; Sevigny, Eric L; Grigg, Jodie; Protopopescu, Camelia; Potter, Gary R. (2025). Cannabis growers as gardeners: results from a survey among Italian and British small-scale growers.. The International journal on drug policy, 144(Pt 3), 104959. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.104959