Cannabis in Africa

CANNABIS IN AFRICA An Overview November 2007 Cannabis in Africa The overview of the cannabis situation in Africa presented in this document was prepared by Denis Destrebecq in the context of "Data For Africa", the segment of UNODC's Trends Monitoring and Analysis Programme dedicated to Africa and funded by France and Sweden. UNODC reiterates its appreciation to the African Member States who responded to the UN Annual Report Questionnaire on drugs. This questionnaire, together with the data base on individual drug seizures, constitutes the core source of information on drugs for UNODC. The boundaries, names and designations used in all maps in this book do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. This publication has not been formally edited 1 Cannabis in Africa EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Cannabis in Africa This paper summarizes the latest information available on cannabis in Africa. Information comes from the 2006 and the 2007 editions of the United Nation’s Office on Drugs and Crime’s (UNODC) World Drug Report. The World Drug Report 2006 contains an extended section on the global cannabis situation. The 2006 Report is still available at www.unodc.org or by request at [email protected] . The 2007 World Drug Report, which contains the most recent trends on cannabis in Africa, is available at the same address. The highest levels of cannabis production in the world take place on the African continent. Ten thousand five hundred metric tons or roughly 25 per cent of global production of cannabis herb is estimated to have taken place in Africa in 2005. Seizures of cannabis herb by authorities in Africa are second only to those made by North American authorities. South African law enforcement alone accounted for 42 per cent of all African seizures. After Mexico and the United States this represents the third highest levels of seizures of cannabis herb in the world. Much of African cannabis production is consumed on the continent. An estimated 38,200,000 African adults (or 7.7 per cent of the adult population) consume the drug each year – far higher than the 3.8 per cent of cannabis users among the world population aged 15 to 64. Cannabis resin is also produced in large amounts on the continent. Over the period 1995 – 2005, a total of 19 out of 53 African countries reported the cultivation of cannabis on their territory. UNODC estimates global cannabis herb production was 42,000 metric tons in 2005. Africa alone accounted for 10,500 metric tons or 25 per cent of the total. Together, the American continent accounted for 46 per cent of global cannabis production - North America represented 23 per cent and South America another 23 per cent. Although the 2005 level of cannabis production in Africa represented a slight decrease over 2004, the long-term trend shows strong increases of production in Africa. Geographically, the production of cannabis resin is far more concentrated than production of cannabis herb. The world’s largest cannabis resin producer continues to be Morocco, which supplies the illicit markets of North Africa and Western Europe. Western Europe is the world’s largest market for cannabis resin, accounting for some 70 per cent of global resin seizures in 2005; North Africa accounts for another 8 per cent. Worldwide, cannabis herb seizures amounted to 4,600 mt in 2005. Cannabis herb remains the most widely trafficked substance in terms of volume and geographic spread. Close to two thirds of global cannabis herb seizures were made in North America in 2005, notably in Mexico (1,781 mt) and the United States (1,112 mt). The next largest cannabis herb seizures were made in Africa (18 per cent of global seizures). The largest seizures were reported in South Africa (292 mt), Tanzania (150 mt) and Nigeria (126 mt). Global cannabis resin seizures declined by 11 per cent in 2005. Total cannabis resin seizures in Africa add up to 10 per cent of the world total. Cannabis is the most commonly used drug in the world. Almost 160 mn people used cannabis in 2005, equivalent to 3.8 per cent of the global population. In Africa, UNODC estimates that there were about 38.2 mn cannabis users in 2005, equivalent to 7.7 per cent of the African population aged 15 to 64. The highest rates within Africa are found in West and Central Africa (13 per cent) and in Southern Africa (8.5 per cent). Although, at the global level, the number of cannabis users remained stable between 2004 and 2005, seventeen African countries reported rising levels of cannabis use in 2005 and only 4 countries saw a decline. 2 Cannabis in Africa CANNABIS IN AFRICA: An Overview This paper summarizes the latest information available on cannabis in Africa. Information comes from the 2006 and the 2007 editions of the United Nation’s Office on Drugs and Crime’s (UNODC) World Drug Report. The World Drug Report 2006 contains an extended section on the global cannabis situation. The 2006 Report is still available at www.unodc.org or by request at [email protected] . The 2007 World Drug Report, which contains the most recent trends on cannabis in Africa, is available at the same address. Before embarking on this review, it is important to distinguish between the two main cannabis products: • herbal cannabis refers to the leaves and flowering tops of the plant. It is known by many names including ‘marijuana,’ ‘ganja,’ ‘weed,’ and many others. • cannabis resin refers to the pressed secretions of the plant. This is known as ‘hashish’ in the Western hemisphere and ‘charas’ in India. Both herb and resin are known by a myriad of local names. Herbal cannabis is the main cannabis product used in North America and most of the rest of the world, while cannabis resin is the main product used in much of Europe and a few traditional resin- producing regions. A third product ‘cannabis oil’ (hashish oil) is an oily mixture resulting from extraction or distillation of THC rich parts of the cannabis plant. It is less widely used, and accounts for only 0.01 per cent of all cannabis seizures in 2005. Cannabis oil is not included in this overview. Introduction The highest levels of cannabis production in the world take place on the African continent. Ten thousand five hundred metric tons or roughly 25 per cent of global production of cannabis herb is estimated to have taken place in Africa in 2005. Seizures of cannabis herb by authorities in Africa are second only to those made by North American authorities. South African law enforcement alone accounted for 42 per cent of all African seizures. After Mexico and the United States this represents the third highest levels of seizures of cannabis herb in the world. Much of African cannabis production is consumed on the continent. An estimated 38,200,000 African adults (or 7.7 per cent of the adult population) consume the drug each year – far higher than the 3.8 per cent of cannabis users among the world population aged 15 to 64. Cannabis resin is also produced in large amounts on the continent. This production is mainly concentrated in Morocco. Breakdown of global cannabis herb production in 2005 (N= 42,000 metric tons) Europe Oceania South Asia 5% 1% North 5% South-East America Asia 23% 5% Central Asia Caribbean & 5% Central Middle East / America South-West 2% Asia 7% South America Africa 22% 25% Sources: UNODC, Annual Reports Questionnaire Data and Govt. Reports. 3 Cannabis in Africa Cannabis herb production Cannabis production is pervasive in Africa. It takes place in all sub-regions, with major seizures being made in North Africa (Morocco and Egypt), West Africa (Nigeria and Ghana), East Africa (Tanzania and Kenya), and Southern Africa (South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho, Malawi, and Zambia). Over the period 1995 – 2005, a total of 19 out of 53 African countries reported the cultivation of cannabis on their territory. In addition, Member States identified 28 African countries as source countries for the production of cannabis and 35 African countries reported seizing cannabis plants - an indirect indicator for the existence of cannabis production in a country. Further analysis combining these data suggests that cannabis production is taking place in at least 43 African countries. UNODC estimates global cannabis herb production was 42,000 metric tons in 2005. Africa alone accounted for 10,500 metric tons or 25 per cent of the total. Together, the American continent accounted for 46 per cent of global cannabis production - North America represented 23 per cent and South America another 23 per cent. Although the 2005 level of cannabis production in Africa represented a slight decrease over 2004, the long-term trend shows strong increases of production in Africa. The year-on-year decline of cannabis cultivation in Africa has been mainly due to reductions reported from Morocco (though most of this cannabis is used for cannabis resin production). Overall cannabis production in Africa is expected to resume its expansionary trend. The area under cannabis cultivation in Morocco, as identified in joint UNODC and Government of Morocco surveys, declined 37 per cent over 2005. This followed a decline of 10 per cent in 2004. Regional breakdown of global cannabis herb production in 2004 and 2005 4 Cannabis in Africa Cannabis cultivation in Africa: inventory of data collected between 1995 – 2005 Morocco, the world’s largest producer of cannabis resin, possesses the largest documented cannabis cultivation area. (Please see section below on cannabis resin production.) With the exception of Morocco, robust estimates of land area under cannabis cultivation are difficult to find in Africa.

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