Cannabis-related crimes drop by 80% in Germany after decriminalization
Official report shows that the decriminalization policy is already yielding significant results, with a historic reduction in offenses related to the plant
Published on 10/08/2025
The study shows that the reform reduced harm, kept consumption stable, and paved the way for a more humane and evidence-based drug policy | CanvaPro
One year after the decriminalization of cannabis in Germany, science is beginning to tell the story behind the numbers. The first provisional report from EKOCAN - an independent academic consortium evaluating the Cannabis Consumption Act (Konsumcannabisgesetz, KCanG) - reveals the initial results of this historic change.
Conducted by teams from the universities of Hamburg, Düsseldorf, and Tübingen, the study gathers data from 12 surveys and 20 official sources to understand the impacts on public health, protection of minors, and criminality.
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The conclusions are clear: cannabis-related crimes have dropped significantly, and adult consumption has remained stable, signaling that the German policy is following a path based on evidence, dialogue, and harm reduction.
Significant reduction in criminality
According to the report, police statistics recorded over 100,000 fewer cases of cannabis-related crimes in 2024 compared to 2023. The overall decline, estimated between 60% and 80%, is directly related to the elimination of infractions linked to simple consumption.
According to the project coordinator, the analysis brought together 12 surveys and 20 routine data sources, providing a comprehensive view of the reform's impacts on health, child protection, and the justice system.
Stable consumption and new regulatory challenges
The data indicates that there were no abrupt changes in adult consumption, maintaining the gradual trend observed since 2011. Among adolescents, use has been declining since 2019, accompanied by fewer referrals to youth counseling services. Wastewater monitoring in eleven cities confirmed the absence of a sudden increase in consumption.
Despite the progress, the report highlights challenges in regulation: cultivation clubs met less than 0.1% of the estimated demand in 2024, while medical cannabis accounted for between 12% and 14% of the total.
EKOCAN estimates that 5.3 million adults consumed cannabis in the country that year. The consortium argues that to weaken the illegal market, it will be necessary to expand access to clubs and improve supply mechanisms.
The panorama outlined by the study indicates that decriminalization has reduced harm and freed up resources from the criminal justice system, consolidating Germany as an example of evidence-based drug policy and public health.
With information from Cañamo.
