Nearly a Third of German Cannabis Users Experience Stigma About Their Use
30.6% of regular German cannabis users reported external stigmatization, and 22.1% experienced self-stigma, with medical users and those with cannabis use disorder particularly affected.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Among 684 regular cannabis users in Germany (surveyed before legalization), 30.6% perceived external stigmatization and 22.1% reported self-stigma. Higher education, psychological distress, medical use, and cannabis use disorder were all significantly associated with both types of stigma.
Key Numbers
684 regular cannabis users surveyed. External stigma: 30.6%. Self-stigma: 22.1%. Associated factors: higher education, psychological distress, medical use, cannabis use disorder, public disclosure, police encounters.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional online survey in 2023 using ISO-certified access panels. Quota-sampled 684 regular cannabis users (ages 18-64) to reflect German demographics.
Why This Research Matters
Germany legalized recreational cannabis in 2024, making this pre-legalization stigma data a valuable baseline. Understanding who experiences cannabis stigma can help shape public health messaging and support services.
The Bigger Picture
Stigma around cannabis use can prevent people from seeking help when they need it. The finding that medical users and those with cannabis use disorder are particularly stigmatized is concerning, as these are the groups most likely to need healthcare engagement.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional pre-legalization snapshot only. Online panel may not represent all users. Self-report measures. German context may not generalize.
Questions This Raises
- ?Has legalization reduced cannabis stigma in Germany?
- ?Does stigma prevent people with cannabis use disorder from seeking treatment?
- ?Why do more educated users report higher stigma?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 30.6% experienced external stigma, 22.1% self-stigma
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate: representative quota-sampled survey with validated measures, but cross-sectional and self-report.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2025, with survey data from 2023 (pre-legalization).
- Original Title:
- "Those pot heads" - perceived external stigma and self-stigma among cannabis users in Germany: prevalence and associations with socio-demographics, cannabis use patterns and psychological distress.
- Published In:
- Journal of cannabis research, 7(1), 66 (2025)
- Authors:
- Rosenkranz, Moritz(5), Schranz, Anna(3), Verthein, Uwe(3), Schomerus, Georg, Speerforck, Sven, Manthey, Jakob
- Database ID:
- RTHC-07526
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Do cannabis users face stigma?
In this German survey, about a third (30.6%) of regular cannabis users reported experiencing external stigmatization, and 22.1% reported stigmatizing themselves for their use.
Does cannabis legalization reduce stigma?
This study captured pre-legalization stigma levels in Germany. It provides a baseline for future research on whether Germany's 2024 legalization reduces the stigma experienced by nearly a third of regular users.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-07526APA
Rosenkranz, Moritz; Schranz, Anna; Verthein, Uwe; Schomerus, Georg; Speerforck, Sven; Manthey, Jakob. (2025). "Those pot heads" - perceived external stigma and self-stigma among cannabis users in Germany: prevalence and associations with socio-demographics, cannabis use patterns and psychological distress.. Journal of cannabis research, 7(1), 66. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-025-00328-1
MLA
Rosenkranz, Moritz, et al. ""Those pot heads" - perceived external stigma and self-stigma among cannabis users in Germany: prevalence and associations with socio-demographics, cannabis use patterns and psychological distress.." Journal of cannabis research, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-025-00328-1
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. ""Those pot heads" - perceived external stigma and self-stigm..." RTHC-07526. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/rosenkranz-2025-those-pot-heads-perceived
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.