Does a cannabis store near a school drive up cannabis use among young people? A Canadian study using data from 419,887 students finds hardly any evidence of this. The associations between the accessibility of legal stores and use were small, inconsistent and mostly not significant. For the German debate about minimum-distance rules and future pilot projects, this is an important data point.
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Almost two years ago, we already reported on a US study on cannabis stores near schools that focused on disciplinary measures at schools. The new work from Canada is considerably larger and directly measures self-reported use.
The study: COMPASS data from four Canadian provinces
The team led by Jamie Seabrook of Western University in Ontario published its findings in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence. The paper appeared online on 20 September 2026 and is assigned to the November issue. It is based on data from the COMPASS study, an annual survey at secondary schools. The years 2018 to 2023 in Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec were analysed.
The researchers linked the responses to geodata on licensed cannabis stores. They measured the distance to the nearest store, the number of stores and a distance-weighted density within a radius of 2,000 metres around each school. The study examined whether young people had ever used cannabis, or had used it in the past year, in the past month or daily. The models took characteristics of the students and the schools into account.
Result: Hardly any association between store proximity and youth use
The link between the accessibility of stores and use was weak throughout. To rule out chance findings, the authors ran 264 different model variants. These sensitivity analyses, too, supported a null effect. At the same time, overall use fell significantly: the share of young people who had used cannabis in the previous twelve months dropped from 22.2 percent in 2018 to 10.0 percent in 2023.
There is one caveat. Among young people who were already using cannabis, better accessibility in 2018 went hand in hand with more frequent use. That was the early phase after legalisation, when there were still few stores. As the network expanded, this association disappeared. By contrast, use was strongly linked to how easy young people themselves believed it was to get cannabis. However, this perceived availability was only moderately related to actual proximity to stores.
The authors conclude that rules on store proximity are likely to have only limited effect in a mature market. Methodologically, caution is still warranted. These are repeated cross-sectional surveys based on self-reports, not a longitudinal study. In addition, the decline in use partly falls within the pandemic years and cannot be attributed to the market alone. An earlier report fits a similar picture, according to which young people in Canada had fewer encounters with the police after legalisation.
What the results mean for minimum-distance rules in Germany
Germany has no cannabis shops, but it does have distance rules. Cultivation associations must keep a minimum distance of 200 metres from schools, child and youth facilities and playgrounds. The case from Saxony shows how much potential for conflict this holds, where a municipality wants to use a playground to stop an approved cannabis club. The Canadian data cannot be transferred directly, because clubs are not open retail businesses. However, they suggest that youth protection should focus more on perceived availability and on prevention than on metres on a city map.
The question becomes relevant at the latest with regional pilot projects with points of sale, as are under discussion for a second pillar of the law. Our guide to cannabis legalisation in Germany provides an overview of the current legal situation. For Germany itself, a large survey has so far shown no surge in consumption after the Cannabis Act. In Switzerland, the SCRIPT study on sales in pharmacies provides further data on regulated dispensing points. A look back at the 2018 plans to sell cannabis in drugstores shows how long Canada has been arguing about distribution channels.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many young people were surveyed in the Canadian study?
Data from 419,887 students from four provinces were analysed. The data come from the years 2018 to 2023. They are repeated surveys at secondary schools as part of the COMPASS study.
Do cannabis shops near schools increase cannabis use among young people?
According to the study, hardly. The associations between proximity to shops and use were small and mostly not significant. Only in the early phase in 2018 did young people who already used cannabis use it somewhat more often when shops were easily accessible.
Has cannabis use among young people in Canada increased?
No, in the provinces studied it has fallen. The share reporting use in the past year dropped from 22.2 percent in 2018 to 10.0 percent in 2023. However, the study cannot clarify what causes lie behind the decline.
Which distance rules apply in Germany?
Cultivation associations must keep a distance of 200 metres from schools, child and youth facilities and playgrounds. In addition, consumption within sight of such facilities is prohibited. Cannabis shops like those in Canada do not exist in Germany.
Where was the study published?
The work by Seabrook and colleagues was published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence, volume 288. It is freely accessible and is titled „Cannabis retail accessibility and adolescent use across a maturing market: Evidence from Canada“.
Sollten Cannabisläden Mindestabstände zu Schulen einhalten müssen?
Source: Seabrook JA, Zhong S, Cole AG et al.: Cannabis retail accessibility and adolescent use across a maturing market: Evidence from Canada. Drug and Alcohol Dependence 288 (2026), 113368. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2026.113368.
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