Italy leads the European Union in cannabis use among young adults, according to the latest European Drug Report by the European Union Drugs Agency.

The report reveals that 21.5% of Italians aged 15 to 34 reported using cannabis in the past year, meaning more than one in five young adults in the country consumed the substance.

Following Italy, Croatia ranks second with 20.3%, and Spain third at 19.4%. At the lower end, Portugal (4.9%), Greece (4.5%), and Hungary (3.4%) reported the lowest levels of cannabis use among youth.

Across the EU, 15.4% of young Europeans aged 15-34 used cannabis in the past year, confirming it remains the most commonly used illegal drug on the continent. Among all adults aged 15-64, about 8.4% reported cannabis use, with roughly 1.5% consuming it daily or almost daily.

The European cannabis market is estimated at €12.1 billion, with plant-based cannabis and cannabis resin dominating consumption despite the rise of new cannabis products.

The report highlights a significant gender gap: young men are twice as likely as young women to use cannabis. Among 15-16-year-old students, 30% reported cannabis as the most easily accessible illegal drug, and 13% had tried it at least once in their lifetime.

Trends show a gradual decline in cannabis use among students from 2003 to 2024, suggesting that ongoing prevention efforts across Europe may be having a long-term positive impact.