Germany's cannabis legalization linked to 37% spike in psychiatric disorders

Two years after Germany partially legalised cannabis, psychiatric hospitals in the Rhine-Ruhr region have seen a sharp rise in related disorders. Cases linked to the drug jumped by 37% in just one year, climbing from 763 to 1,047. Experts are now examining whether wider availability has contributed to the increase. The study, led by psychiatry professors Udo Bonnet and Georg Juckel, highlights a worrying trend. Cannabis-induced psychoses alone surged by 40% during the same period. Dr. Bodo Lieb, chief physician at LVR Clinic Langenfeld, points to the drug's greater accessibility as a likely cause.

Young adults under 25 appear most vulnerable. Dr. Lieb warns that their developing brains face higher risks of neurobiological damage. He also cautions that the rise in severe mental disorders could place a heavier burden on Germany's healthcare system in the long run. Not everyone agrees on the implications. Sebastian Brebeck of the *Wubatz* Cannabis Cultivation Association in Wuppertal argues that it is too soon to draw firm conclusions. He adds that partial legalisation has brought benefits, such as shifting cannabis use away from the criminal underworld. The findings will soon be published in the *German Medical Journal*, adding to the ongoing debate about the effects of cannabis policy changes.

The study underscores a clear rise in cannabis-related psychiatric cases since legalisation. Hospitals in the Rhine-Ruhr region are now treating more patients for disorders tied to the drug. Researchers and policymakers will likely scrutinise these results as they assess the impact of current laws.