Cannabis Remains Europe’s Most Consumed Illegal Substance
The European Drug Agency (EUDA) presented its European Drug Report 2026 on June 9, 2026, in Brussels. Cannabis maintains a clear lead as the most frequently consumed illegal substance in Europe. Approximately 25 million adults reported using the substance in the past year.
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The report draws on data from 29 countries, covering the entire EU plus Norway and Turkey. According to the findings, around 8.7 percent of adults aged 15 to 64 consumed cannabis in the last year. Among young adults aged 15 to 34, the figure is nearly double at 15.3 percent. In the 15 to 24 age group, 18 percent report cannabis use in the past year.
Notable is the proportion of intensive use. Approximately 1.6 percent of adults and 2.3 percent of young adults consume cannabis daily or near-daily. This group is the focus of risk assessment, as regular consumption is more strongly associated with dependence and psychological problems. The fact that overall figures remain comparatively stable across years aligns with observations from Germany. A Trier study on consumption after legalization demonstrated that the feared consumption wave did not materialize.
Rising Potency: Cannabis Resin Reaches 24.6 Percent THC
Potency, however, has changed significantly. Cannabis resin contained an average of 24.6 percent THC in 2024—double that of marijuana at approximately 12 percent. Since 2014, the THC content of resin has increased by 66 percent, while flower potency has risen 19 percent. Higher cannabinoid concentrations pose greater risks for adverse effects, particularly among inexperienced users. Our comparison of the strongest cannabis strains and their peak THC values contextualizes what such maximum concentrations actually represent.
Health Consequences and Treatment Demand
The report links daily consumption to respiratory issues, dependence, psychotic symptoms, and poorer educational outcomes. In emergency departments, cannabis was involved in 46 percent of drug-related cases in Spain and 28 percent in France during 2023. The European clinical network Euro-DEN Plus recorded a median of 20 percent in 2024, usually in combination with other substances.
Cannabis accounts for approximately 33 percent of all treatment requests related to drug use across the EU. On average, eleven years pass between first use and the beginning of treatment. Our analysis of cannabis and psychosis illustrates how complex risk assessment is in individual cases. However, a NIH study on opioid overdoses suggests that liberalization does not necessarily increase harm.
Semi-Synthetic Cannabinoids and Novel Products
The EUDA pays particular attention to new products. Semi-synthetic cannabinoids such as HHC, which are manufactured from CBD, along with high-potency extracts and edible products have recently been linked to acute poisonings and calls to poison control centers. Several countries have already responded, including Portugal with an HHC ban. For authorities, the rapid succession of new substances presents an ongoing challenge.
What the Report Means for Germany
Regarding Germany, the report notes that since February 2024, home cultivation, possession, and distribution through cultivation associations are permitted within limits. However, home cultivation is not systematically recorded, meaning reliable data on prevalence is still lacking. Germany submitted an interim evaluation report at the end of 2025.
Concerning supply, the EUDA reports 321 tons of hashish seized in 2024—a 42 percent decrease—plus 199 tons of marijuana. Smuggling routes increasingly run through the ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp, partly with goods from North America. Our report on a smuggling operation and Europe’s black market demonstrates how professionally this market operates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the European Drug Report 2026?
The European Drug Agency (EUDA) report is published annually and consolidates data on consumption, supply, and consequences of illegal drugs. The 2026 edition was presented on June 9 in Brussels and is based on data from 29 countries.
How many people in Europe use cannabis?
Approximately 25 million adults—8.7 percent of those aged 15 to 64—consumed cannabis in the past year. Among 15 to 34-year-olds, the proportion is significantly higher at 15.3 percent.
How potent is cannabis today?
Cannabis resin reached an average of 24.6 percent THC in 2024, while marijuana contains approximately 12 percent. Within the past decade, resin potency has increased by roughly two-thirds.
What role do HHC and edible products play?
Semi-synthetic cannabinoids like HHC, as well as high-potency extracts and edibles, concern the EUDA because they can cause acute poisonings. Several European countries have now banned or strictly regulated HHC.
What does the report mean for Germany?
Since 2024, Germany permits limited home cultivation and distribution through cultivation associations. The report emphasizes that home cultivation is not systematically recorded, meaning precise data on prevalence is still unavailable.
Sollte der THC-Gehalt in Cannabis gesetzlich begrenzt werden?
Source: European Drug Agency (EUDA), European Drug Report 2026, published June 9, 2026, in Brussels.
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