Public attitudes and lifetime home cannabis cultivation – a survey after legalization in Germany

In 2024, Germany became the most populous European country to legalize home cannabis cultivation. This study provides the first empirical evidence on both public support for and engagement in home cultivation in this new regulatory context. Using survey data from a representative online-panel (n = 1500), we conducted hierarchical regression analyses to examine the factors associated with attitudinal outcomes (support for legalization) and behavioral outcomes (self-reported cultivation in the past or present). Results show that sociodemographic associations with support and cultivation are largely explained by cannabis experience. Among these factors, age and consumption emerged as the most consistent correlates across models. Expectations regarding the consequences of legalization were strongly associated with support but showed little relation to actual cultivation behavior. People who have cultivated expressed substantially higher support and more favorable expectations than those who have not, although participants overall tended to evaluate legalization positively. The only consistently negative expectation shared across groups was that legalization may increase cannabis use in society. Overall, support for legalization appears to be influenced by a broad set of expectations about societal consequences, whereas cultivation behavior is more closely tied to individual experience and personal motivations. While the study is situated in the German context, its insights are relevant beyond national borders: as the largest EU member state to legalize home cultivation, Germany's experience may provide valuable lessons for other jurisdictions considering similar reforms.