Research from the United Nations suggests that, over the past two decades, the strength of cannabis products has increased in Europe and the US.1 As shown on the slide, the Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) content of cannabis has increased in this period by 2–4 times.1 However, within the same time period, the perception of cannabis as a harmful substance has decreased.1 Such a mismatch has policy implications, particularly within a context in which different sorts of cannabis products are aggressively marketed in some parts of the world.1 There are several approaches to addressing the disconnect:1
• combatting misinformation
• raising awareness
• bans on advertising
• more research into the harmful effects of cannabis
• global monitoring of laws and policies relating to cannabis.
Reference:
[1] United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. UN World Drug Report 2021. Available at: https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/wdr2021.html. Accessed August 2022.