Of the 2,827 respondents, 1,751 (62 percent) are employed. Additionally, there are self-employed individuals (10 percent), civil servants (3 percent), and employers (2 percent). The first part of the study also clarified the medical conditions for which cannabis was prescribed. Specifically, 41 percent reported using cannabis for pain relief, 23 percent were prescribed cannabis for mental health issues, and 11 percent cited neurological conditions. Another 20 percent could not pinpoint a single condition, as pain might accompany depressive moods, for example.

“Our study, along with our research and podcast discussions, shows that cannabis patients are often only able to participate in the workforce thanks to their therapy. Contrary to common prejudices, the goal is not to get high but to effectively treat symptoms such as pain, sleep disorders, depressive moods, or even ADHD when conventional medicine offers no cure," explains Dr. Nadine Herwig, Head of the Grünhorn Academy.

The multi-part study was conducted by the Grünhorn Academy, the educational and training platform of Grünhorn, the largest German online pharmacy for prescription cannabis. In its second part, participants were asked about their demographic group, age, changes in their quality of life since starting cannabis-based medicine, the side effects or unwanted effects experienced during therapy, when these occurred, and how significantly they affected the respondents.