What the 2026 European Drug Report reveals about rising cannabis use — and why American policymakers should pay attention
According to the 2026 European Drug Report, marijuana is the drug most commonly cited by people entering substance use treatment in Europe, accounting for 41% of all first-time treatment entrants—more than any other substance. Among those admitted for marijuana, 58% used it daily, and demand keeps climbing: first-time entrants rose from 9,868 to 15,111 in France (2018–2024) and from 3,382 to 4,072 in the Netherlands over the same period. As cannabis legalization spreads across U.S. states, Europe’s data is a cautionary tale, showing how the normalization of marijuana can drive rising potency, heavier daily use, and growing public-health costs.