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Smoking weed has halved in the UK and no-one can agree on why Smoking weed has halved in the UK
(35 minutes later)
Despite sweeping legalisation and decriminalisation of the drug in the US and a nascent sense of 'why aren't we recognising that it's fairly harmless' circulating amongst rational human beings following a string of enlightening studies, use of marijuana is falling in the UK.Despite sweeping legalisation and decriminalisation of the drug in the US and a nascent sense of 'why aren't we recognising that it's fairly harmless' circulating amongst rational human beings following a string of enlightening studies, use of marijuana is falling in the UK.
Europe's drug agency (EMCDDA) published its annual report on drug use in the continent today, revealing that while cannabis use among 15 to 34 year olds has risen or remained steady in most countries over the last 15 years, in the UK it has halved.Europe's drug agency (EMCDDA) published its annual report on drug use in the continent today, revealing that while cannabis use among 15 to 34 year olds has risen or remained steady in most countries over the last 15 years, in the UK it has halved.
France, Denmark, Finland, Bulgaria and Sweden are only smoking more:France, Denmark, Finland, Bulgaria and Sweden are only smoking more:
(Source: EMCDDA)(Source: EMCDDA)
Spain and Germany have dipped a little, but the UK (England and Wales) has fallen dramatically:Spain and Germany have dipped a little, but the UK (England and Wales) has fallen dramatically:
(Source: EMCDDA)(Source: EMCDDA)
Speaking to The Economist, Alex Stevens, a professor of criminal justice at the University of Kent, puts it down to the growth of high-strength, evening-ruining "skunk" and the decline of milder cannabis resin. There could be several reasons for this, from the falling number of tobacco smokers due to the smoking ban and advertising limitations, to, as The Economist notes, the rise of more expensive, domestically grown "skunk" which is more likely to produce a higher frequency of 'bad experiences' than cannabis resin and people seeking medical help after prolonged use
The UK is growing more and more weed domestically and this tends to be of the skunk variety, perhaps putting users off as it tends to produce a higher frequency of 'bad experiences' and people seeking medical help after prolonged use. Cocaine use is on the up in the UK, though it's unlikely weed smokers are switching to stimulants in droves, while legal highs are booming.
The smoking of tobacco is being banned in more and more public places, packaging of cigarettes has become more threatening and smoking is increasingly seen as a 'dirty habit' more than it used to be, with anti-smoking campaigns getting more traction here than in other European countries.
This is unlikely to affect American consumption – where weed is usually smoked on its own – but the UK's penchant for rolling it up with tobacco could be a factor.
If there are less tobacco smokers there will likely be less tobacco and weed smokers, and though the attitude to marijuana may be softening, the opposite case with tobacco might be mitigating this.
A quarter-ounce of skunk has risen from £30 in 2006 to £50 in 2015. This is around two-thirds more expensive than Spain, The Economist notes, so Brits might simply be being priced out.
Cocaine use is on the up in the UK, while legal highs have seen a rise of 25% since 2013.
Many of the latter are marketed as offering a cannabis-esque experience (whether that's really the case or not), which could present an option of getting high that feels safer to users.Many of the latter are marketed as offering a cannabis-esque experience (whether that's really the case or not), which could present an option of getting high that feels safer to users.
------------------ The decline in UK cannabis use is probably down to a combination of all of these factors, while the arbitrary and capricious drugs policy of the government can leave people confused over its illegality.
In all likelihood, the decline in UK cannabis is use is probably down to a combination of all of these factors, coupled with the utterly arbitrary and hypocritical drugs policy of the government which leaves citizens confused. While Obama suggests we 'follow the science, not the ideology' with regards to marijuana and Ireland considers decriminalising it, the issue is still a a long way from Parliament.
While Obama suggests we 'follow the science, not the ideology' with regards to marijuana and Ireland considers decriminalising it, the issue is still a million miles from Parliament.
At the current trajectory we will be among the last of the nations to legalise the drug, not only contributing to its decline in use in comparison to more progressive countries but sacrificing any potential financial benefits in the process.At the current trajectory we will be among the last of the nations to legalise the drug, not only contributing to its decline in use in comparison to more progressive countries but sacrificing any potential financial benefits in the process.