On Monday 17 March 2025, Luxembourg's Ministry of Health and Social Security reported on a scientific evaluation carried out as part of the experimental scheme for legal access to cannabis for non-medical purposes.
Luxembourg has conducted a scientific evaluation to analyse the impact of this scheme, announced on 28 April 2023, on consumption habits and public health.
This evaluation is based on an analysis founded on scientific indicators validated by the Luxembourg Focal Point of the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA). The first phase of this study, conducted before the implementation of the scheme, constitutes a baseline analysis to establish an initial assessment. Ideally, in the next phase, the indicators could demonstrate a potential impact of the implemented scheme, according to the ministry.
The data collection was carried out in 2023 and analysed by the Health Directorate's Luxembourg Focal Point of the EUDA. As part of this effort, the EUDA published two factsheets. The objective of the survey is twofold: to improve the quality of available data on cannabis consumption, acquisition and cultivation habits in Luxembourg; to provide a solid scientific basis to guide future policy decisions regarding the regulation of cannabis for non-medical purposes.
According to the ministry, the survey provides a more targeted and comprehensive initial overview of cannabis-related behaviors and perceptions in Luxembourg. The initial results, summarised in the two factsheets, include:
- acquisition methods, to understand how and where users obtain cannabis, particularly since the changes applied to the legal framework;
- home cultivation for non-medical purposes, to analyse the impact of home cultivation regulations on users' consumption practices and habits;
- mental health status and psychological distress, by examining potential links between cannabis use and psychological well-being;
- prevalence rates of cannabis use, to assess how many people use this substance and how frequently;
- beliefs, perceived benefits and harms of use, to better understand the perception of cannabis by users and the general public;
- motivations for and impact of use on quality of life, assessing the influence of cannabis on users' daily lives;
- risks of addiction, to identify and assess risky behaviours and their implications for public health.
The ministry noted that the evaluation will continue with a post-implementation analysis planned for 2026 to measure changes in the indicators.
Luxembourg's Minister of Health and Social Security, Martine Deprez, emphasised the importance of this scientific approach: "Legal access to cannabis for non-medical purposes is an experimental project that we are closely monitoring. Thanks to this rigorous and ongoing evaluation, we have a scientific basis that will allow us to adapt our approach, if necessary, based on concrete results. Our priority is to ensure a balanced policy, based on objective data, to guarantee both the protection of public health and effective regulation."
This approach is said to ensure informed decision-making and policymaking, guided by objective data, and to place cannabis regulation in Luxembourg within a framework of continuous evaluation.
