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Background <p>On April 1st, 2024, Germany legalized recreational cannabis use under specific conditions. While policymakers extensively debated this change, the perspectives of healthcare providers who will address its consequences remain understudied. This study aims to characterize primary care physicians’ experiences with cannabis-consuming patients and their expectations regarding the effects of legalization.</p> Methods <p>This is an exploratory cross-sectional survey among general practitioners (GPs) and practice-based anesthesiologists in three German federal states (Lower Saxony, Bavaria, and Saarland) from September 2023 to March 2024, preceding cannabis legalization. The 17-item questionnaire assessed physicians’ experiences with cannabis-consuming patients, medical cannabis prescribing practices, personal cannabis use experience, and expectations regarding legalization consequences.</p> Results <p>Of 946 successfully delivered surveys, 239 physicians responded (25.3% response rate). Most physicians anticipated increased cannabis consumption and disorders post-legalization, with those providers with personal cannabis experience (37.9%) more optimistic about achieving policy goals such as cannabis quality control, compared to those without such experience. Despite 40.3% prescribing medical cannabis in their practice, respondents rarely screened specifically for cannabis use and only few showed interest in additional training.</p> Conclusion <p>Our survey reveals that German primary care physicians anticipate increased cannabis consumption and patient inquiries following legalization, yet current screening practices remain limited with modest interest in additional training. Enhanced integration of healthcare providers into cannabis policy implementation could improve patient care and support public health objectives.</p> Trial registration <p>NA</p>

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Attitudes and expectations of primary care physicians regarding recreational cannabis legalization in Germany: a pre-implementation survey

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年12月2日

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  • Uta Hochheim,
  • Frank Müller,
  • Eva Maria Noack

摘要

Background

On April 1st, 2024, Germany legalized recreational cannabis use under specific conditions. While policymakers extensively debated this change, the perspectives of healthcare providers who will address its consequences remain understudied. This study aims to characterize primary care physicians’ experiences with cannabis-consuming patients and their expectations regarding the effects of legalization.

Methods

This is an exploratory cross-sectional survey among general practitioners (GPs) and practice-based anesthesiologists in three German federal states (Lower Saxony, Bavaria, and Saarland) from September 2023 to March 2024, preceding cannabis legalization. The 17-item questionnaire assessed physicians’ experiences with cannabis-consuming patients, medical cannabis prescribing practices, personal cannabis use experience, and expectations regarding legalization consequences.

Results

Of 946 successfully delivered surveys, 239 physicians responded (25.3% response rate). Most physicians anticipated increased cannabis consumption and disorders post-legalization, with those providers with personal cannabis experience (37.9%) more optimistic about achieving policy goals such as cannabis quality control, compared to those without such experience. Despite 40.3% prescribing medical cannabis in their practice, respondents rarely screened specifically for cannabis use and only few showed interest in additional training.

Conclusion

Our survey reveals that German primary care physicians anticipate increased cannabis consumption and patient inquiries following legalization, yet current screening practices remain limited with modest interest in additional training. Enhanced integration of healthcare providers into cannabis policy implementation could improve patient care and support public health objectives.

Trial registration

NA