Cannabis i Norge

Cannabis is the most widely used illegal drug in Norway and in the other developed countries. There are constant discussions about the legal status of the substance and many jurisdictions have introduced different forms of liberalization of an earlier strict ban. Increased THC content in organic cannabis, new synthetic cannabis products, increased online marketing, new products, new intake methods, increased cannabis production in Norway and Europe and new evidence of harms and consequences are among the factors that indicate that cannabis use should be carefully monitored. There is insufficient knowledge about cannabis use in Norway (users, cannabis products sold and used in Norway, cannabis use combined with other drugs) and the consequences of use (extent and type of control expenditures and unintended consequences, how many people seek treatment for cannabis problems, type of treatment offered, education and employment, health effects, third-party injuries etc.) and the cannabis market (the range of different types of cannabis, home growing, distribution, supply side participants).

Of the illicit drugs, cannabis is used most both in Norway and in the wider Western world. The drug's legal status is discussed all the time, and many countries have taken steps to liberalise in different ways of what used to be a rigorous prohibition regime. The disadvantages of outlawing cannabis exceed the negative effects of consumption, it is argued. At the same time, a steady flow of new evidence indicates that cannabis is not harmless. It can have serious social, health and economic consequences for users, their families and the community. Cannabis is moreover a type of drug that itself is changing. New cannabis products are being developed, and the composition of “old” ones reformulated. Cannabis has become significantly more accessible in recent years because it is easier to cultivate at home thanks to online sales, marketing and readily available “grow-it-yourself” tutorials. The market for synthetically manufactured cannabinoids is growing fast. In light of these factors, cannabis should clearly be monitored carefully. We know far too little about people’s consumption of cannabis in Norway, too little about the negative effects of its use and too little about the cannabis market. There is an urgent need in other words to explore issues pertaining to this area of concern. The project will assemble pertinent data from earlier surveys by re-analysing data, by collecting new information on the web, and by interviewing relevant parties. A variety of statistical methods will be applied.