German Study Shows Dramatic Growth in Cannabis Consumption

UKE-Hamburg has conducted a study which shows that cannabis use in Europe is up by over 25% since the second decade.

According to a recent study conducted by the Centre for Interdisciplinary Addiction Research of University of Hamburg and Technical University of Dresden that evaluated publicly-available data from EU member states, UK, Norway and Turkey as well the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC), cannabis consumption has increased dramatically in Europe.

In line with these statistics, it’s not surprising to see that the number of adult cannabis consumers has risen an average of 27 percent. The biggest relative increase was among those aged 35-64, but the overall rate of consumption also increased.

The data is fascinating because CBD stores have reported a significant increase in customers as they try to alleviate Pandemic related stress and anxiety.

However, this information is also coming at a time when many in Germany are calling for a comprehensive reform of the drug laws here – particularly as they relate to cannabis.

This data is also derived from reports on crime and police interdiction (see UN in particular), but what it shows is that Europe has always been more cannabis friendly (or at the very least, less draconian than the United States. (See no widespread drug testing of employees as an example.) It is now starting to have more open conversations about cannabis reform.

This data highlights a very important and significant reality. More and more countries are admitting, even reluctantly, that cannabis can be used for medical purposes. Several others have begun to move towards decriminalization or home growing.

Cannabis has been a topic of debate in Europe for the first time. It is a medical substance, a substance that can be used by adults, but it’s not as dangerous as alcohol, and much less harmful than tobacco.

The changes here might not be as rapid or as pronounced as they were elsewhere, but it’s beginning to look a lot like the struggle for legalization that took place in the United States.

And just like the US, there are starting to be clear movements, as well as official data, which points in the direction, finally of the next phase of cannabis reform – and both at a country and regional level.

Keep up to date with the European cannabis market by following the International Cannabis Business Conference Blog.