Germany's cannabis legalisation linked to 40% surge in psychoses among young users

Two years after Germany partially legalised cannabis, psychiatric hospitals along the Rhine and Ruhr rivers are seeing a sharp rise in related disorders. A new study reveals a 37 percent increase in cases, with cannabis-induced psychoses jumping by 40 percent in just one year. The study, led by psychiatry professors Udo Bonnet and Georg Juckel, tracked cases in the region from 763 to 1,047 in a single year. Dr. Bodo Lieb, chief physician for addiction disorders at LVR Clinic Langenfeld, links the surge to easier access since legalisation. He warns that neurobiological damage from cannabis can be severe, especially for those under 25, whose brains are still developing.

Dr. Lieb also fears a long-term increase in mental health issues across Germany. Meanwhile, Sebastian Brebeck, a founding member of the *Wubatz* Cannabis Cultivation Association in Wuppertal, acknowledges the need for monitoring but argues it is too soon to judge the policy's impact. He believes legalisation has benefits, such as reducing criminal involvement in cannabis distribution. The findings are set to be published in the *German Medical Journal*, adding to the debate over the effects of partial legalisation.

The study highlights a clear rise in cannabis-related psychiatric cases since legalisation. With psychoses up by 40 percent and young users at particular risk, researchers stress the need for ongoing observation. The results will likely influence future discussions on cannabis regulation in Germany.