In Europe, Cannabis Is Still the Most Widely Consumed Drug

Cannabis is the most popular drug in Europe according to new research by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction. According to the findings, about 8% of European adults consumed cannabis in the past year. Amidst these trends, some EU member states are embracing new approaches to regulate recreational cannabis, aiming to shift towards a public health-oriented drug policy.

Last weekend, the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) released its annual report on drugs in Europe, providing an overview of the main drug consumption trends in the EU.

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1.3% of Adults in Europe Use Cannabis Daily

According to the findings of this report, cannabis remains the most commonly consumed illicit drug in Europe, with approximately 8% (22.6 million) of European adults (aged 15-64) estimated to have used it in the past year. It is estimated that around 1.3% of EU adults (3.7 million people) use cannabis daily or almost daily.

Cannabis seizures have also reached their highest level in a decade, accounting for a significant portion of all drug seizures in the EU.

In 2021, 816 tonnes of cannabis resin were seized, along with 256 tonnes of herbal cannabis, indicating that cannabis is widely available across the continent.

At the same time, approximately 566,000 offenses related to cannabis consumption or possession were reported in the EU in 2021 (an increase of 10,000 compared to 2020 figures), along with 100,000 offenses related to supply.

Spain accounts for 66% of cannabis seizures in the EU and just under three-quarters (74%) of all cannabis plant seizures in the EU by weight.

The Extent of Cannabis Consumption in Europe

The report also presents the prevalence of cannabis consumption and consumption patterns in Europe.

The countries with the highest prevalence of cannabis consumption are as follows: the Czech Republic (11.1%), Spain (10.6%), France (10.6%), Netherlands (10.4%), Croatia (10.2%), and Italy (10.2%), followed by Germany (8.8%) and Finland (8.2%).

Focusing specifically on cannabis consumption among young adults, an estimated 15.3 million individuals aged 15 to 34 have consumed cannabis in the past year, with males generally being twice as likely to report cannabis use compared to females.

Among those aged 15-24, 8.6 million individuals (18.2%) are estimated to have consumed cannabis in the past year and 4.5 million (9.6%) in the past month.

When examining the prevalence of use among the younger age group (15-34 years) in Europe, the Czech Republic is also the country with the highest prevalence of use (22.9%), followed by Italy (20.9%), Croatia (20.3%), France (19.2%), Netherlands (19.2%), and Spain (19.1%).

Cannabis and Its Impact on Public Health

Cannabis is believed to be responsible for nearly one-third of drug addiction treatment admissions in Europe. It is estimated that around 97,000 people will receive some form of drug addiction treatment for cannabis-related issues in 2021. Among these individuals, 83% are male, and only 17% are female, with over half of them reporting daily cannabis consumption.

The report indicates the need to understand better the types of problems faced by cannabis consumers, as well as the available referral pathways and treatment options for those experiencing cannabis-related issues.

It also highlights the challenges posed by “new cannabis products” in Europe, which can contain synthetic cannabinoids and high levels of THC, as well as Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC), the first semi-synthetic cannabinoid reported in the EU and identified in two-thirds of member states.

New Policies and Progress Towards Reform

These findings come as five EU member states (Czech Republic, Germany, Luxembourg, Malta, and the Netherlands) and Switzerland are introducing or planning to introduce new approaches to regulate the supply of cannabis for recreational use.

These changes “highlight the need to invest in monitoring and evaluation to fully understand their impact on public health and safety,” the EMCDDA stated in a press release upon the report’s release.

Malta made history in Europe in 2021 by becoming the first EU country to legalize cannabis for recreational use by adults. Under the law, adults are allowed to possess up to 7g of cannabis and cultivate four plants for personal use.

Speaking to local media last week, Karen Mamo, Head of Policy, Research, and Harm Reduction and a member of the Authority for Responsible Use of Cannabis (ARUC), stated that the changes in the law to allow for “responsible use of cannabis” within certain limits have not normalized cannabis use or encourage people to start using the drug.

Cannabis Decriminalization Gaining Popularity in Europe

Following in Malta’s footsteps, more and more European countries are looking to move away from criminalization and adopt a public health approach to drug policy. It is increasingly evident that punitive policies are ineffective in preventing drug consumption and even exacerbate the risk of harm.

There are also the economic benefits that a regulated cannabis market could bring to Europe. With 22.6 million consumers, a report published last year by Prohibition Partners analysts estimated that the European cannabis market could be worth up to €11.6 billion.

Stephen Murphy, Co-founder and CEO of Prohibition Partners warned that the illicit market is “capitalizing” on the high demand for cannabis in Europe and could expose consumers to increased risks.

Despite Data, Europe Takes Little Action

“The EMCDDA has always provided robust research on drug consumption in Europe, especially cannabis, but the lack of integration with other EU government agencies has meant that most of this data have resulted in little to no action,” he told Cannabis Health.

“The increasing prosecutions also come with a significant shift in policing services across Europe, who have adopted a more liberal approach to cannabis, preferring to allocate resources to serious crimes and policing issues.”

“The report clearly shows that the growing demand for cannabis in Europe is being exploited by the illicit market, which increases risks for consumers.”

He added, “What is positive in a sense is the increasing number of consumers seeking treatment for drug abuse, although further research is clearly needed in this area. However, current drug policies have allowed for the establishment of toxic supply chains that exacerbate the need for treatment.”

To learn more about the European Drug Report, click here.

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(Featured illustration by Tiia Monto (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Wikimedia Commons)

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