Idiomas:
Two main cannabis products are found on the European drugs market: herbal cannabis (marijuana) and cannabis resin (hashish). Herbal cannabis consumed in Europe is both cultivated domestically and trafficked from external countries. Most cannabis resin is imported by sea or by air from Morocco. The recent emergence of over 130 different synthetic cannabinoid products in recent years has added a new dimension to the cannabis market. Most of these substances appear to be manufactured in China. After being shipped in powder form to Europe, the chemicals are typically added to plant material and packaged for sale as ‘legal high’ products. From studies in accident and emergency settings, evidence is emerging of increasing cases of acute health problems associated with these high-potency cannabis products. Against a background of their greater availability, improvements are clearly now required in the monitoring of acute health problems associated with the use of these drugs.
Considerable diversity exists between countries in sentencing practices for cannabis-related supply offences, with national experts indicating that penalties for a first-time offence of supplying one kilogram of cannabis may range from less than 1 year to 10 years in prison.
Cannabis is the most commonly seized drug accounting for 80 % of reported seizures. Cannabis use or possession for personal use accounts for over 60 % of all reported drug law offences in Europe and is reflecting its relatively high prevalence of use . In 2013, about two-thirds of all seizures in the European Union were reported by just two countries, Spain and the United Kingdom. In addition, the production and trafficking of this drug is recognised as an area of growing importance for law enforcement efforts due to the increased involvement of organised crime.
While initiatives being undertaken in the Americas on the regulated sale of cannabis and cannabis products are generating international interest and debate, in Europe, discussion on cannabis remains largely focused on the potential health costs associated with this drug.
The availability of treatment for cannabis users appears also to be changing, probably in response to a greater awareness of the need for services and in some countries, of a treatment capacity becoming available due to a decline in demand for services for other types of drug use. New data show the growing importance of cannabis within drug treatment systems in Europe, with an increase in the number of treatment demands for cannabis-related problems.
This increase needs to be understood in the context of service provision and referral practice. For example, in some countries, directive referrals from the criminal justice system account for a high proportion of treatment entrants. The data are also influenced by differing national definitions and practices in respect to what constitutes treatment for cannabis-related disorders, which can range from a brief intervention session delivered online to admission to residential care. Irrespective of treatment type, for cannabis-related problems the evidence supports also psychosocial interventions. More...
