Cannabis laws in Europe: questions and answers for policymaking

Find the answers to some of the more frequently asked questions raised in discussions about cannabis legislation.

Cannabis laws in Europe  

pictures of cannabis showing different aspects — cannabis growing in a legal laboratory, cannabis foodstuffs, a scientist holding a jar of cannabis, and a judge's hammer and some cannabis

Spotlight

Wastewater and drugs: a European multi.city study. Animated map of Europe with coloured bubbles over maps.
Wastewater analysis and drugs — explore the latest data
EU and Ukrainian flags side by side
EU solidarity with Ukraine
Lisbon Addictions 2022: presentations now available!
Monitoring drug use in the digital age: studies in web surveys
EU Drug Markets: Cocaine
European Responses Guide
gavel and scales
Penalties for drug law offences in Europe at a glance
EU Drug Markets: Methamphetamiine
Computer simulation of a virus
Elimination barometer on viral hepatitis among people who inject drugs in Europe
A happy small boy and a girl lying on a skateboard with arms outstreched as though flying. They are on the road, there are no cars and the sun is shining.
Prevention toolkit: your one-stop shop for EMCDDA prevention materials

Latest news

A gavel and herbal cannabis
Cannabis laws in Europe: questions and answers for policymaking
05.06.2023
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National Drug Observatories from Latin American and Caribbean countries meet in Lisbon for ‘COPOLAD week’
22.05.2023
labyrinth with a white light bulb at the centre
Skills and learning in focus as 2023 Reitox week begins
22.05.2023
hand hovering over a screen with question 'Howmany new drugs were detected in Europe over the last year?'
Coming soon: European Drug Report 2023 to be released on 16 June
16.05.2023
Dr. João Goulão and Alexis Goosdeel signing agreement
EMCDDA and SICAD formalise ‘Lisbon Addictions’ cooperation with new agreement
10.05.2023
photo of participants of the EMCDDA-COPOLAD meeting in April 2023
COPOLAD III: EMCDDA delivers training courses in Chile with Latin American and Caribbean Drug Observatories
24.04.2023
All news

Publications

Cover of the publication Cannabis laws in Europe
Cannabis laws in Europe
Cover of the technical report on Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) and related substances
HHC and related substances
cover of report The future of drug monitoring in Europe until 2030: a report summarising the findings and lessons learnt from the EMCDDA's future's study
The future of drug monitoring in Europe until 2030
Wastewater analysis and drugs — a European study
cover of miniguide women and drugs: health and social responses
Women: responses miniguide
Single programming document 2023–2025
cover of Party Panel: developing theory- and evidence-based health promotion in nightlife settings
Party Panel: developing theory- and evidence-based health promotion in nightlife settings
Interactive timeline: EU4Monitoring Drugs (EU4MD) project highlights (2019-2022)
cover of the report
Quantitative and qualitative assessments of data quality within the European Web Survey on Drugs
Interactive timeline. 25 years of the EU Early Warning System (EWS
All publications
European Drug Report 2022: Trends and Developments
EU Drug Markets: In-depth analysis
European Responses Guide
Prison and drugs in Europe
Wastewater analysis and drugs — a European study
zoomed eye with european web survey on drugs logo
European Web Survey on Drugs 2021: EU countries
European Prevention Curriculum handbook
An analysis of drugs in used syringes from sentinel European cities
Medical use of cannabis and cannabinoids
All publications

Events

Launch event: European Drug Report 2023
Brussels, Belgium Product launch
to
European Drugs Summer School
Lisbon, Portugal Training
to
17th International Congress of Behavioral Medicine
Vancouver, Canada Conference
to
X International Conference on Novel Psychoactive Substances 2023
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Conference
All events

Videos

Screenshot of the webinar recording on teens and substance use
EMCDDA Webinar: Teens and substance use — what can parents do?
aerial footage of city
Drug-related health and security threats in the Western Balkans
map showing southern ENP countriies
EU4MD: Cooperation with the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) South countries
screenshot from video — shows eastern european neighbourhood countries
EU4MD: Cooperation with the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) East countries
First slide of the recording on the EMCDDA webinar on responding to stimulant use
EMCDDA webinar: Responding to stimulant use — developments in treatment
Screenshot from the webinar on the past and present of methamphetamine
EMCDDA webinar: Methamphetamine in Europe — past and present

Data visualisations

Map showing penalties in law for in the European Union, Norway and Turkey. In most countries there is either no penalty or the penalty does not include incarceration.
Penalties in law for consumption of cannabis in the European Union, Norway and Türkiye
Location of drug consumption facilities in Europe, March 2023
Infographic. Location and number of drug consumption facilities throughout Europe
Location of Euro-DEN hospital centres in Europe
Location of Euro-DEN Plus centres — November 2022
Some key cannabis prevalance use data for young adults in Europe. Less than 20% have used cannabis in the last year. There are wide variations between countries, from 2% to over 20%. More men report using than women. Frequency of use varies widely.
Cannabis use in the last year in Europe – young adults (15-34)
While last year cocaine use among young people is low, in many countries in Europe it is close to 3%.
Infographic: cocaine use in the last year in Europe – young adults (15-34)
Graphic shows a series of pie charts for cannabis, cocaine, MDMA and amphetamines, showing drug prevalance rates in the EU. Cannabis is the most used drug with 7.7% of adults having used it in the last year. Last year use for cocaine is 1.2%, MDMA is 0.9%
At a glance — estimates of drug use in the European Union (updated June 2022)
Main behavioural techniques used in prevention interventions in high-risk neighbourhoods: evidence of effectiveness, 2019
Availability of awareness-raising responses in the workplace in Europe ranges from Finland (58.3%) to Estonia (20.9%) with an EU27 average at 36.2%.
Availability of awareness-raising responses in the workplace to prevent substance use (e.g. smoking, alcohol or drugs)
Interventions in high-risk neighbourhoods: provision in European countries, 2019

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