The use of cannabis in Europe has increased by a quarter between 2010 and 2019, according to a study by the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf. The study, published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe, used data from the Global Burden of Disease survey, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction. The study found that there are more cannabis users in the age group of 35 to 64, and more adults are using the drug daily or almost daily. In more than half of the European Union member states, over 20% of cannabis users consume the drug daily, with Portugal having the highest percentage at 70%.
While cannabis has positive effects, such as its use as a medication for Parkinson’s disease, it also has risks, including a doubling of the risk of heart attack and a higher risk of lung function disorders and cancer. As a result, the number of medical treatments for problematic cannabis use has increased significantly in recent years, rising by around 30% between 2010 and 2015. The study’s lead author, Jakob Manthey, notes that a better data foundation is necessary to assess the extent of health problems caused by cannabis use in Europe.
One possible cause of the increase in medical treatments is the significantly higher content of the main active ingredient in cannabis. The samples analyzed showed a much higher level of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive component of cannabis, than a few years ago. The average THC content has tripled in cannabis resin (hashish) and doubled in cannabis flowers. Manthey suggests that the increase in the average THC content may be associated with an increase in health hazards for consumers, but further research is needed to confirm this.
In conclusion, the study highlights the need for better data on the health effects of cannabis use in Europe. While cannabis has positive effects, its risks cannot be ignored, and the increase in medical treatments for problematic cannabis use is a cause for concern. Further research is needed to understand the relationship between the increase in THC content and the health hazards associated with cannabis use.
