How much cannabis is consumed in France?

The amount of cannabis consumed in France is difficult to estimate, as its use (possession and consumption) is prohibited. Yet France is the leading cannabis-consuming country in Europe. Let's see how much cannabis is consumed in France.

INHESJ study

In 2016, the Institut National des Hautes Etudes de la Sécurité et de la Justice (INHESJ) published. a report for the Mission Interministérielle de Lutte contre les Drogues et les Conduites Addictives (MILDECA), which focused on illicit drug sales in France.

The quantity of cannabis consumed per year in France was estimated at 285 tonnes, with sales of 1.1 billion euros.

As the study's methodology is lacking, we have attempted to make our own estimates.

Newsweed study

The latest statistics OFDT count 4.6 million year-round cannabis users (at least 1 time in the last 12 months), including 1.4 regular users (at least 10 times a month) and 700,000 daily users (at least 1 time a day).

Based on these figures alone, we got out our calculator.

In the low range (1 joint of 0.3g per day / week / year), this gives us 88 tonnes of cannabis consumed per year. In the medium range (3 joints), 264 tonnes. High range (5 joints), 442 tonnes.

As the low range is very low, the real figures are probably more between 265 and 442 tonnes, for an average of 354 tonnes or almost 30 tonnes of cannabis a month.

Estimation limits

Whatever the figures used, the opacity of the black market makes it difficult to make a true estimate. The different forms of cannabis (dried herbs, resin, concentrates...) also complicate matters.

One idea might be to use cannabis seizures, which amounted to 70 tonnes in 2016 according to the figures given by OCTRIS. However, these data should be treated with caution. in light of recent scandals. Also, some of these seizures are destined for foreign countries (Netherlands, Italy, United Kingdom...) and would not have been consumed in France in any case.