Is legal cannabis use harmless?

Is legal cannabis use harmless? No. Whether cannabis may be held under certain conditions is a question of law. Its effect on the body is a separate question. The health risks remain, and people who legally possess cannabis can still become dependent or put a strain on their mental health.

This article explains where the line between law and health lies and sets out the effects that specialist agencies document. It is meant to help you keep risks separate from the legal position.

What the law regulates and what it does not

The Cannabis Act (KCanG) sets out how much cannabis adults may possess and grow, under which conditions, and where consumption is prohibited. It describes what is permitted and what is punished. It makes no statement on whether cannabis is harmless to health.

The health question must therefore be considered separately. Permission does not change the effect on the body. The Bundesgesundheitsministerium (Federal Ministry of Health) writes that the way a person reacts to the active ingredients varies greatly and is hard to predict. Among the factors it names are individual sensitivity, mood, form of use, state of health, combining with other substances, previous experience and the amount taken.

The proven health effects

The BIÖG lists several points that apply regardless of legal status. The young brain is in an important stage of development, and use can affect that development. The BIÖG also reports that people who use cannabis get psychosis more often than people who do not. This is a statistical association, and causation is not thereby proven.

On dependence, the BIÖG gives a figure: roughly one in eight people who use cannabis become dependent. Drugcom adds that psychological dependence can develop with long-term use. The origin of the cannabis plays no part in this.

Why legality feels safer than it is

Many people associate “legal” with something being safe and controlled. That feeling glosses over the fact that the effect depends on the amount, the form of use and personal circumstances (as the Bundesgesundheitsministerium also says).

The Deutsche Hauptstelle für Suchtfragen (DHS) also points out that some cannabis products in circulation have spices, sand or sugar mixed in, which makes the dose unpredictable. The law does not replace your own judgement.

What you can check for yourself

A simple self-check helps you see your own situation realistically. Ask yourself how often you use cannabis and whether you could stop at any time. Pay attention to whether the use helps you or whether it covers up problems. A consumption diary kept over a few weeks can help answer these questions.

• How much do you use in a week, and has the amount changed?
• How do you feel without cannabis over several days?
• Does the use affect school, work or relationships?

If you are unsure about these questions, it is worth reading the article How do you recognise a cannabis dependence?.

Age limits as protection

The BIÖG says that young people are far more at risk from using cannabis than adults, because the young brain is in an important stage of development. The law ties possession to a minimum age of 18 (§ 3 KCanG). An overview is given in the article What does the KCanG say about youth protection?.

What youth protection and criminal law mean

Young people are subject to protective rules. Possession is permitted for persons aged 18 and over under § 3 KCanG, and supplying or passing on cannabis is punishable under § 34 para. 1 no. 7 KCanG. A typical example of a particularly serious case is given in § 34 para. 3 KCanG: a person over 21 who passes cannabis to a child or young person, hands it over for immediate consumption or administers it. The penalty then ranges from three months to five years’ imprisonment.

Under § 5 para. 1 KCanG, consuming cannabis in the immediate presence of persons who have not yet turned 18 is prohibited.

Where consumption bans limit everyday life

Under § 5 para. 2 KCanG, public consumption is prohibited in schools, on children’s playgrounds, in child and youth facilities and in publicly accessible sports facilities, and also within sight of each of these (this no longer applies more than 100 metres from the entrance area). In pedestrian zones the ban applies between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.

The DHS advises people who are intoxicated not to take responsibility for children.

Protecting your health in everyday life

People who use cannabis can take several steps to limit the risks. The BIÖG writes: the longer and more often you use, and the younger you are, the more dangerous it becomes. Breaks of a few days or weeks can show how firmly consumption is anchored in everyday life.

In addition, avoid mixing cannabis with alcohol and other substances, and do not drive after use. From 3.5 ng/ml THC in blood serum, driving is an administrative offence under section 24a para. 1a of the Road Traffic Act (StVG).

Where to get help

If you are worried about your use, speak to an addiction counselling service or to a doctor. The Deutsche Hauptstelle für Suchtfragen maintains an addiction support directory. There you can find counselling services near you. The Bundesgesundheitsministerium answers the question of how harmful cannabis is in its FAQ on the Cannabis Act.