Most Small-Scale Cannabis Growers Are Also General Gardeners
82% of small-scale cannabis growers also grew other plants, and most started gardening before growing cannabis.
Quick Facts
What This Study 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.
Key Numbers
1,302 growers. 82% grew other plants. 71% started with other plants first. Only-cannabis growers: higher stimulant use and dependence.
How They Did This
Online survey of 1,302 small-scale cannabis growers in Italy and the UK (2020-2021).
Why This Research Matters
Cannabis cultivation policy often assumes illicit market motivation. Most small-scale growers are gardening enthusiasts who expanded to cannabis.
The Bigger Picture
Concerns about cannabis growers expanding to other psychoactive plants appear overstated.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Online convenience sample. Self-reported. Different legal frameworks in Italy vs UK.
Questions This Raises
- ?Should cultivation laws distinguish hobbyists from commercial growers?
- ?Does trajectory differ in legal jurisdictions?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 71% of cannabis-growing gardeners started with other plants first
- Evidence Grade:
- Online convenience survey in two countries.
- Study Age:
- 2025 study
- Original Title:
- Cannabis growers as gardeners: results from a survey among Italian and British small-scale growers.
- Published In:
- The International journal on drug policy, 144(Pt 3), 104959 (2025)
- Authors:
- Fortin, Davide(4), Di Beo, Vincent, Kowalski, Michala, Sevigny, Eric L, Grigg, Jodie, Protopopescu, Camelia, Potter, Gary R
- Database ID:
- RTHC-06479
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked 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 More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-06479APA
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
MLA
Fortin, Davide, et al. "Cannabis growers as gardeners: results from a survey among Italian and British small-scale growers.." The International journal on drug policy, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.104959
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabis growers as gardeners: results from a survey among I..." RTHC-06479. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/fortin-2025-cannabis-growers-as-gardeners
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.