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Berlin – In addition to the overall target indicators such as the prevalence of cannabis use among young people, the evaluation of the Cannabis Consumer Act (KCanG) should also include indicators for the implementation of the legal regulations, such as the expansion of prevention offers or successful age control when passing on cannabis, the overall evaluation is included. This emerges from the financing guidelines published yesterday by the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) for the scientific evaluation of KCanG.
The Consumer Cannabis Act, which came into force in early April, legalized the private cultivation of cannabis by adults, as well as community and non-commercial cultivation for personal consumption in cultivation associations. However, the purchase, possession and cultivation of cannabis by minors remains prohibited. In addition, passing cannabis on to children and young people is punishable.
According to the legislator, the regulations are intended to contribute to better protection of children and young people, as well as to better health protection. In addition, cannabis-related education and prevention should be strengthened and the illegal cannabis market should be restricted.
In order to assess the impact of the law on society, a rigorous follow-up evaluation is planned – especially with regard to the protection of children and young people, health protection and the development of cannabis-related crime that accompanies the implementation of the law.
An initial assessment would therefore take place on 1 October 2025, and an interim report on the effects of the law should follow by 1 April 2026. A comprehensive and final assessment of the law is expected by 1 April 2028 at the latest.
BMG defines several framework conditions for the project, which according to the funding guidelines should take place “in the form of a joint interdisciplinary project with a minimum of two and a maximum of three project partners”. The aim is to take into account, whenever possible, diverse data and bring it together through a multidisciplinary approach.
This includes, for example, data from growing associations, which must report this to the competent state authorities. In addition, anonymous surveys may be carried out among members and employees. The project partners involved are encouraged to collect and evaluate additional data independently “where possible and where it makes sense”.
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A multidisciplinary technical and scientific advisory board – including representatives from BMG and the Federal Government Commissioner for Addiction and Drugs – will also advise, for example, on the selection of results that will be included in the evaluation.
The ministry wants to ensure that possible findings about the undesirable effects of the law are communicated to the departments involved at an early stage. If necessary, regulatory adjustments can be made within a short period of time.
The project is expected to start as soon as possible – BMG has contracted the German Aerospace Center (DLR) as project sponsor. © aha/aerzteblatt.de