Cannabis remains the most widely used drug worldwide, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s World Drug Report 2026. The report estimates that 256 million people used cannabis in 2024, far ahead of opioids, amphetamines, cocaine and ecstasy. It also shows that global cannabis use is no longer just a legalization debate. Cannabis policy now intersects with public health, youth prevention, THC potency, hemp-derived cannabinoids and international trafficking.
Key Takeaways
- 256 million people worldwide used cannabis in 2024.
- Cannabis consumers increased 40% over the past decade.
- North America reported high past-year use rates, including 32.4% in Canada and 26.4% in the United States.
- UNODC says North America is appearing more often as a source region in cannabis seizures outside the region.
- The report flags questions around THC potency, youth vaping and semi-synthetic cannabinoids.
What the UN Report Says About Global Cannabis Use
The World Drug Report 2026 places cannabis well ahead of every other drug category tracked by UNODC. In 2024, an estimated 63 million people used opioids, 32 million used amphetamines, 25 million used cocaine and 21 million used ecstasy.
The report says global cannabis use rose from 3.8% of people ages 15 to 64 in 2014 to 4.8% in 2024. That may sound small, but on a global scale it reflects tens of millions of additional consumers.
UNODC connects that growth to changing perceptions, legal reforms and evolving supply routes. In countries where cannabis has become more normalized, the conversation has shifted from basic access to harder questions about regulation, product strength, youth prevention and consumer education.
North America Remains a Major Cannabis Market
North America is one of the clearest examples of how legalization and normalization have changed use patterns. In 2024, UNODC estimated past-year cannabis use at 32.4% in Canada and 26.4% in the United States.
Other high-prevalence countries included New Zealand at 14.1%, Spain at 12.6%, Uruguay at 12.3% and Australia at 11.5%.
North America also led the world in total consumers, with 69.3 million people using cannabis in 2024. Asia followed closely with 68.5 million, while Africa reached 65.1 million. Europe counted 31.3 million cannabis consumers, South America reached 15.7 million and Oceania counted 3.5 million.
Cannabis Trafficking Patterns Are Changing
UNODC says most cannabis trafficking has historically stayed within regions because the plant can be cultivated almost anywhere. However, interregional trade is becoming more important.
From 2015 to 2024, 57 countries or territories outside North America identified North America as a source region for cannabis seizures. In the prior decade, that number was only 11.
That does not mean regulated cannabis businesses are automatically tied to illicit exports. It does show that high-THC products and North American cannabis trends are influencing overseas markets. For policymakers, legal access at home does not erase illegal demand abroad.
Potency and Youth Trends Add Pressure
The report points to rising THC potency as one of the cannabis market’s biggest public-health questions. UNODC says THC levels in cannabis products from the unregulated U.S. market increased from 4% in 1995 to 16.1% in 2024.
Higher THC does not automatically make a product unsafe for every adult consumer. The concern is that stronger products need stronger guardrails, including accurate testing, clear labels, responsible serving sizes, youth prevention and better consumer education around dosing.
UNODC also noted a reversal among U.S. adolescents. Since 2021, more young people have perceived cannabis use as harmful, including cannabis vaping. That shift may reflect growing concern around vaping devices, high-potency products and youth mental health.
Hemp-Derived Cannabinoids Remain a Moving Target
The report also highlights semi-synthetic cannabinoids, including delta-8 THC and HHC. These products spread quickly after 2020, especially in the United States and parts of Europe, before many national rules caught up.
UNODC said bright-colored gummies and similar products attracted attention from young people and children. Legal controls reduced availability in some places, but chemically related substances continue to appear.
That pattern has become familiar in the hemp marketplace. As one cannabinoid faces restrictions, another related compound can move into stores, online shops or unregulated channels.
Final Thoughts
The UNODC report confirms what many in the cannabis world already suspected: demand is not slowing down. Cannabis remains the dominant drug category worldwide, and its growth is tied to changing laws, shifting attitudes and new product formats.
As global cannabis use becomes more common, the debate is moving beyond basic legalization questions. Governments are now facing harder issues involving potency, youth access, international trafficking, hemp-derived cannabinoids and consumer safety.
