Evidence mapPaperPMID 41331678Full record

ArticleJournal of cannabis research2025

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

Uta Hochheim, Frank Müller, Eva Maria Noack

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of cannabis research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Uta HochheimDepartment of General Practice, University Medical Center Göttingen, Humboldtallee 38, Göttingen, DE, 37073, Germany.
Frank MüllerDepartment of General Practice, University Medical Center Göttingen, Humboldtallee 38, Göttingen, DE, 37073, Germany.
Eva Maria NoackDepartment of General Practice, University Medical Center Göttingen, Humboldtallee 38, Göttingen, DE, 37073, Germany. evamaria.noack@med.uni-goettingen.de.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundOn 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.

methodsThis 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.

resultsOf 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.

conclusionOur 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 registrationNA.

Indexed as

Cannabis legalizationGermanyMedical cannabisPhysician attitudesPrimary carePublic health policy

Identifiers

PMID41331678
PMCPMC12690894

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.