U N I T E D N A T I O N S
N A T I O N S U N I E S

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
--
MESSAGE ON THE INTERNATIONAL DAY
AGAINST DRUG ABUSE AND ILLICIT TRAFFICKING

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.