Europe and Drug Consumption

Despite sharp criticism from the center-right opposition, medical associations and the church, Malta's Parliament endorsed, in mid-December, a law allowing adults to carry up to 7 grams of cannabis and grow no more than four plants at home. Malta has become the first EU country to legalize the cultivation and personal use of cannabis. The decision comes in the context of a wider trend in the EU, as in October, Luxembourg forwarded similar measures, though they haven't been endorsed by the Legislature yet. Germany, where the use of cannabis on medical grounds has been legal since 2017, has announced its intention to have a regulated cannabis market, following similar announcements from the governments of Switzerland, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. In Italy, cannabis fans have gathered enough signatures to be able to stage a referendum on the issue. 

Europe has changed its stand on drugs after a 2020 UN decision, which removed cannabis from its list of dangerous substances. A survey made public by the Institute for Competition Economics in November shows that legalizing cannabis would bring Germany 4.7 billion Euros in annual revenues, including savings of 1.3 billion Euros in funds allotted for law enforcement. Besides, it would create no less than 27 thousand new jobs. But what are the chances for these measures, taken or considered by various countries, to keep drug consumption at bay - as this is a growing phenomenon in Europe whose market relies on both domestic production and drugs trafficked from outside.

South America, Western Asia and North Africa are major suppliers of illegal drugs that find their way to Europe whereas China has become a source for the new psychoactive substances. The European report on drugs, presented in June 2021, cautions over the public health risks posed by the availability and use of a wider range of substances, oftentimes very strong and of great purity. According to the report, 15% of Europe's adults, accounting for 18 million, have used cannabis in the past year and over 25% people aged between 15 and 64, that is 7.6% of this group of Europeans, consumed cannabis in the past year.

The report also describes the way in which organized crime groups have stepped up their production of illegal drugs in Europe and points to the emergence of new, harmful and strong psychoactive substances. In 2019, 1.5 million drug offenses were reported in the EU, 82% of which were related to personal use or possession. At the same time, 370 illegal laboratories were dismantled. According to the European Observatory, more than half of the 45 cities that have data on cocaine residues in wastewater, for the years 2018 and 2019, reported increases. Centralized data also show that large amounts of cocaine and heroin are still seized in the EU, which raises concerns about the possible impact on consumption levels.

Specialists in Romania also point out that the consumption of cannabis and substances with psychoactive properties has increased recently, and the age of consumers is decreasing. In the first 11 months of 2021, the police officers with the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime seized in Romania almost a ton and a half of heroin, almost 900 kg of cocaine and over 400 kg of cannabis - ​​higher amounts as compared to the past years. Most of these substances do not remain in the country, Victor Nistor, Police Chief Commissioner explained to Radio Romania:

Victor Nistor: "All the large amounts seized in Romania, in recent years, have actually transited Romania, they were not destined for the Romanian market. Like other European countries, Romania is targeted by trafficking routes, since it has access to the Black Sea port and is located on the classic Balkan route of heroine, which departs from Afghanistan, Iran, and continues through Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania, to western Europe. If we compare ourselves with the surrounding countries, strictly in terms of fighting drug trafficking, I believe that we are doing very well. The amounts destined for the Romanian market are constantly increasing, as all the drug trafficking monitoring reports show that all types of drugs are much more present in the market and the number of consumers is constantly growing. "said Victor Nistor

Victor Nistor believes that Romania is not ready for the legalization of soft drugs, even if some associations are asking for it. He says that these measures could be taken gradually, to get the health and education systems prepared for it, and people should become aware of the danger of exposure to drug consumption. Only then could Romania adopt legislation, not necessarily to legalize drugs but mainly to decriminalize consumption for some categories of soft drugs.

(bill & Lacra)