Cannabis Consumption Up 14% in France in 2014

The French like marijuana more and more. After a decade of flat figures, the country's cannabis consumption numbers are beginning to rise. 

In 2010 just 8% of adults ages 18 to 64 recognised having smoked cannabis in the twelve months prior, but in 2014 this number rose to 11%, according to the 2014 Health Survey, carried out every five years by the French Drug and Drug Addiction Observatory (OFDT) and National Institute for Prevention and Health Education (INPE), with a representative pool of 15,000 people ages 15-75. 

Between 2010 and 2014 the regular consumption of marijuana in France (at least 10 times per month) increased from 2.2% to 3.1% of the population, ages 18 to 64 year. The study also demonstrates that the increase spanned every age group, of particular note among women ages 18 to 40 years and men ages 18 to 55. 

The population group that consumes the most cannabis in France continues to be young people ages 18 to 25: young men account for 34% of consumers during the year, and young women, 23%. 

According to the study, this uptick in marijuana consumption in France is related to the trend towards home-grown grass; it is more and more common to cultivate a few plants at home for personal use. 

Cannabis remains the country's most consumed illegal substance: 42% of the population acknowledges having tried it at some point. Almost half the population has been curious enough to smoke or inhale weed, which demonstrates that the French are also marijuana lovers.