Cannabis production and markets

1. Cannabis production and markets
Data on the UK

2. • The following
presentation is taken
from the EMCDDA
paper “Cannabis
production and
markets in Europe”
• http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/insights/cannabis-market

3. Number of reported seizures of
cannabis plants in Europe in 2009
25,100
Half were from the UK

4. 750,000
Number of cannabis plants
seized in the UK in 2009

5. Numbers of cannabis
plantations seized
The United
Kingdom has
experienced
steep growth in
the levels of
domestic
production of
cannabis.

6. A recent report from the United Kingdom
indicates an increase in the number of
cannabis offences related to personal use and
cultivation, as well as an increase in the
numbers of cannabis seeds and items of
growing equipment being purchased. This may
suggest an increase in non-commercial
growers in that country (ACPO, 2012).

7. In the study of growers in the United
Kingdom by Hough et al. (2003), two-thirds
of the sample stated that their motivation to
cultivate arose from dissatisfaction with
previously purchased resin as well as
concerns relating to ‘adulterated’ produce.

8. Growing for ‘need’ or growing for
‘greed’?
• A study of UK growers found:
– Most grow cannabis primarily for personal use
– Most of those who were classified in the ‘commercial’
category are selling surplus cannabis solely to friends
– Some growing cannabis specifically to pay for
university education or as a means to support
themselves while not employed.
But...

9. There appears to be a trend among some
commercial cannabis growers towards
operating multiple small-scale plantations
simultaneously (e.g. plantations of
approximately 250 plants or fewer) as
opposed to one large-scale plantation
housing a large number of plants.

10. Both Sweden and the United Kingdom have
noted that the ‘gardeners’ in the plantations can
be undocumented immigrants, with the United
Kingdom also observing that there have been
reports of minors being trafficked from other
countries and subsequently being put to work in
large-scale cannabis plantations

11. Buying from and with friends
A study conducted by Duffy et al. (2008) examined
cannabis supply among 182 young people aged between
11 and 19:
•Obtaining cannabis more strongly influenced by social
networks and friendships than by the illicit drug market
•Those who supply don’t see themselves as being
involved in cannabis ‘dealing’
•70% bought with a friend and described the event as a
social interaction.

12. A majority UK of buyers
would seem to purchase on
average, up to 4 grams
But
2009 survey of 520 cannabis users found
28 % had bought 250 grams or more at
some point in the past

13. Price of Cannabis
Source: Measuring different aspects
of problem drug use: methodological
developments, Home Office (2006)

14. Price and Prevalence

15. Trends in last year
prevalence of cannabis
use among young
adults (aged 15 to 34)
“It is worth noting the
particular case of the
United Kingdom, where
in 2010 last year
prevalence of cannabis
use fell below the EU
average for the first time
since European
monitoring began.”

16. Estimated spend on cannabis in the UK
in 2003/04?
£1,031,000,000
Of which...
£900,800,000 was £130,200,000 was
spent in England and & spent in Scotland and
Wales Northern Ireland

17. Potency - % THC content