Cannabis production up 25%
29/06/2005 13:28  - (SA)  

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Vienna - Production of cannabis, the most commonly used street drug in the world, has jumped by around 25% in one year, the United Nations said in a report on Wednesday.

An estimated 161 million people used cannabis in 2003, equivalent to 4% of the global population between the ages of 15 and 64, the UN said its 2005 World Drug Report.

The production of cannabis - marijuana and hashish - may have exceeded 40 000 tons in 2003, up from 32 000 the previous year, said the report by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

The production of herbal cannabis is "extremely dispersed", while production of cannabis resin, or hashish, seems to be concentrated in Morocco, which supplies 80% of the resin consumed in Europe, the world's largest resin market.

Seizures of cannabis herb, the most widely trafficked drug, rose again in 2003, reaching 5 845 tons, 58% of which occurred in North America, with Africa providing another 26%.

Cannabis resin seizures also increased to a new all-time high in 2003 - 1 361 tons - 70% of it in Western Europe.

Far more of UNODC's 101 member states felt cannabis use was increasing than decreasing in 2003.

"Use among students appears to be on the increase in Europe, though not in the United States or Australia," the report said.

- AFP

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