Cannabis seizures stabilized at high levels in 2024.
Global seizures of cannabis herb and resin stabilized at high levels in 2024, following increases over the 2019-2023 period. However, whether the higher seizures, and their possible impact on supply, may be linked to the reported decline in the perceived availability of cannabis in the United States and Europe between 2019 and 2024 remains unclear.
The interpretation of cannabis herb seizures is complicated by two factors: changing enforcement priorities – notably in North America, following legalization in several jurisdictions – and reporting inconsistencies in some regions (e.g., confusion between plants and herb). As a result, trends should be interpreted with caution.
Despite these caveats, data are sufficiently robust to state that global cannabis seizures continue to be dominated by cannabis herb (around 7,765 tons annually between 2020–2024 versus 1,546 tons annually for cannabis resin), with trafficking widespread around the globe. In contrast, cannabis resin production is more regionally concentrated (North Africa, South-West Asia and Near and Middle East) with much of the consumption concentrated in the respective subregions as well as in Western and Central Europe.
Trafficking in cannabis herb is largely localized, but trafficking between subregions is acquiring importance. Some countries in which cannabis has entered commercial supply appear to be increasingly used to source cannabis herb for illicit markets elsewhere.
