5.1 Million Germans Used Cannabis in the Past Year, With 1% Meeting Dependence Criteria
Germany's 2024 national survey found 9.8% of adults aged 18-64 (5.1 million people) used cannabis in the past year, with 1% meeting criteria for cannabis dependence and 0.5% for cannabis abuse.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
12-month cannabis use prevalence was 9.8% (5.1 million Germans). Cannabis dependence was 1.0% and abuse was 0.5%. For comparison, alcohol had 30-day prevalence of 68.6% with 4.2% dependence; tobacco had 21.8% use with 8.3% dependence.
Key Numbers
n=7,534; 12-month cannabis prevalence 9.8% (5.1 million); cannabis dependence 1.0%; cannabis abuse 0.5%; alcohol 30-day prevalence 68.6%, dependence 4.2%; tobacco use 21.8%, dependence 8.3%.
How They Did This
Epidemiological Survey of Substance Abuse (ESA) 2024, a nationally representative survey of 7,534 German adults aged 18-64. Prevalence rates calculated for use, DSM-IV dependence, and abuse, extrapolated to the German population of 51.5 million.
Why This Research Matters
Germany partially legalized cannabis in 2024, making these baseline data crucial for monitoring trends. The relatively low dependence rate (1%) compared to tobacco (8.3%) and alcohol (4.2%) provides important context for policy discussions.
The Bigger Picture
Germany's 2024 legalization makes it the largest European country to liberalize cannabis. This baseline survey will be essential for tracking whether use and dependence rates change post-legalization, as has been studied in North American jurisdictions.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Self-reported survey data may underestimate actual use. DSM-IV criteria (rather than DSM-5) were used for dependence. Cross-sectional design captures one timepoint. Response rates may introduce selection bias.
Questions This Raises
- ?How will these rates change in subsequent years post-legalization?
- ?Will Germany follow North American patterns of increased use?
- ?How do German rates compare to other European countries?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 5.1 million Germans used cannabis in 2024, with 1% meeting dependence criteria
- Evidence Grade:
- Strong: Large nationally representative survey (n=7,534) with standardized diagnostic criteria, providing baseline data for Germany's legalization.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2025 with 2024 survey data.
- Original Title:
- Psychoactive Substance Use in Germany: Findings From the Epidemiological Survey of Substance Abuse (ESA) in 2024.
- Published In:
- Deutsches Arzteblatt international, 122(23), 625-631 (2025)
- Authors:
- Olderbak, Sally(3), Hollweck, Regina(2), Krowartz, Eva-Maria(4), Möckl, Justin, Hoch, Eva
- Database ID:
- RTHC-07276
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
How does cannabis dependence compare to other substances in Germany?
Cannabis dependence (1.0%) was substantially lower than tobacco (8.3%) and alcohol (4.2%) dependence. However, cannabis use prevalence (9.8% past year) was also much lower than alcohol (68.6% past month) and tobacco (21.8%).
Did Germany legalize cannabis?
Germany partially legalized cannabis in 2024, allowing personal possession and cultivation with some restrictions. This survey provides baseline data from the year of legalization for monitoring future trends.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-07276APA
Olderbak, Sally; Hollweck, Regina; Krowartz, Eva-Maria; Möckl, Justin; Hoch, Eva. (2025). Psychoactive Substance Use in Germany: Findings From the Epidemiological Survey of Substance Abuse (ESA) in 2024.. Deutsches Arzteblatt international, 122(23), 625-631. https://doi.org/10.3238/arztebl.m2025.0157
MLA
Olderbak, Sally, et al. "Psychoactive Substance Use in Germany: Findings From the Epidemiological Survey of Substance Abuse (ESA) in 2024.." Deutsches Arzteblatt international, 2025. https://doi.org/10.3238/arztebl.m2025.0157
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Psychoactive Substance Use in Germany: Findings From the Epi..." RTHC-07276. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/olderbak-2025-psychoactive-substance-use-in
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.