Cannabis remains Europe’s most widely used controlled substance, and its market has become at once more potent, more diverse and harder to monitor. That is one of the main conclusions of the 2026 European Drug Report, published on 9 June by the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA).
25 million users and an ever-stronger product
According to the report, 8.7% of European adults aged 15 to 64 – around 25 million people – used cannabis over the last year; among young people aged 15 to 34 the figure rises to 15.3%. About 4.5 million use it daily or almost daily.
The figure that speaks most directly to the industry is potency: resin reached an average of 24.6% THC in 2024, double that of herbal cannabis and 66% more than a decade ago.
New products, new regulatory challenges
The EUDA highlights the rapid emergence of concentrated extracts, edibles – linked to acute poisonings – and, above all, semi-synthetic cannabinoids such as HHC, derived from hemp CBD. A parallel market that moves faster than the rules themselves and puts pressure on regulators and legal operators alike.
Spain at the centre of the map
Spain once again stands out as the main gateway for resin into Europe, with 206 tonnes seized despite a 45% drop. Cannabis also accounts for 33% of treatment demand in the EU and is present in 46% of drug-related emergencies recorded in the country.
What it means for the B2B sector
For brands, distributors and investors, the report confirms an underlying trend: a huge market – estimated at 12 billion euros – that is professionalising and demanding traceable, standardised, compliant product. Reading these figures well means anticipating where the business is heading.
All of this will be discussed at Spannabis B2B Bilbao 2027, the international forum where the industry does business: regulation, markets and real opportunities for the professional channel. See the tickets or book your B2B table.
Source: European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA), 2026 European Drug Report.