8.6 percent of adults aged 16 to 59 in Great Britain reported cannabis use in the past year. The share fell to 0.7 percent among those using the drug five or more times in the same week. Reported use also declined steadily with age.
Key Takeaways
- In Great Britain, 8.6% of adults aged 16 to 59 reported having used cannabis in the last year (2023)
- In Great Britain, 6.1% of adults aged 16 to 59 reported having used cannabis in the last month (2023)
- In Great Britain, 2.0% of adults aged 16 to 59 reported having used cannabis in the last week (2023)
- Among pupils aged 15 to 16 in England, 22.3% reported trying cannabis at least once (2018/19)
- Among pupils aged 15 to 16 in England, 10.6% reported using cannabis in the last 12 months (2018/19)
- Among pupils aged 15 to 16 in England, 5.4% reported using cannabis in the last month (2018/19)
- In England (2018/19), 59% of 15 to 16-year-olds reported cannabis was fairly or very easy to get (including "fairly easy" and "very easy")
- In England (2018/19), 28% of 15 to 16-year-olds reported cannabis was very easy to get
- In England (2018/19), 25% of 15 to 16-year-olds reported that they would feel fairly or very confident using cannabis
- Drug misuse in England: 2022/23 specialist drug treatment annual number of people starting treatment for cannabis as primary drug type was 21,604
- Drug misuse in England: 2022/23 specialist drug treatment annual number of people in treatment for cannabis as primary drug type was 47,667
- Drug misuse in England: 2022/23 specialist drug treatment annual number of people with cannabis use as primary reason for treatment was 12,330
- Crime in England & Wales: In year ending March 2024, there were 39,004 cannabis offences (possession/production/supply categories combined) recorded by police
- Crime in England & Wales: In year ending March 2024, there were 5,214 cannabis possession offences
- Crime in England & Wales: In year ending March 2024, there were 17,902 cannabis supply offences
In 2023, 8.6% of adults in Great Britain used cannabis in the last year.
Related reading
01 · Category
Prevalence (Adults)30 stats
01
In Great Britain, 8.6% of adults aged 16 to 59 reported having used cannabis in the last year (2023)
02
In Great Britain, 6.1% of adults aged 16 to 59 reported having used cannabis in the last month (2023)
03
In Great Britain, 2.0% of adults aged 16 to 59 reported having used cannabis in the last week (2023)
04
In Great Britain, 0.7% of adults aged 16 to 59 reported having used cannabis on 5 or more occasions in the last week (2023)
05
In Great Britain, 11.4% of adults aged 16 to 59 reported having used cannabis at some point in their lifetime (2023)
06
In Great Britain, 10.2% of adults aged 16 to 59 reported having used cannabis in the last year among men (2023)
07
In Great Britain, 7.1% of adults aged 16 to 59 reported having used cannabis in the last year among women (2023)
08
In Great Britain, 12.7% of adults aged 16 to 24 reported having used cannabis in the last year (2023)
09
In Great Britain, 9.3% of adults aged 25 to 34 reported having used cannabis in the last year (2023)
10
In Great Britain, 7.2% of adults aged 35 to 44 reported having used cannabis in the last year (2023)
11
In Great Britain, 5.7% of adults aged 45 to 54 reported having used cannabis in the last year (2023)
12
In Great Britain, 2.9% of adults aged 55 to 59 reported having used cannabis in the last year (2023)
13
In Great Britain, 3.1% of adults aged 16 to 24 reported having used cannabis in the last month (2023)
14
In Great Britain, 1.6% of adults aged 25 to 34 reported having used cannabis in the last month (2023)
15
In Great Britain, 1.0% of adults aged 35 to 44 reported having used cannabis in the last month (2023)
16
In Great Britain, 0.7% of adults aged 45 to 54 reported having used cannabis in the last month (2023)
17
In Great Britain, 0.2% of adults aged 55 to 59 reported having used cannabis in the last month (2023)
18
In Great Britain, 1.6% of adults aged 16 to 24 reported having used cannabis in the last week (2023)
19
In Great Britain, 0.7% of adults aged 25 to 34 reported having used cannabis in the last week (2023)
20
In Great Britain, 0.3% of adults aged 35 to 44 reported having used cannabis in the last week (2023)
21
In Great Britain, 0.2% of adults aged 45 to 54 reported having used cannabis in the last week (2023)
22
In Great Britain, 0.1% of adults aged 55 to 59 reported having used cannabis in the last week (2023)
23
In Great Britain, 7.2% of adults aged 16 to 59 reported cannabis use in the last year in 2022
24
In Great Britain, 6.4% of adults aged 16 to 59 reported cannabis use in the last year in 2021
25
In Great Britain, 7.9% of adults aged 16 to 59 reported cannabis use in the last year in 2020
26
In Great Britain, 8.0% of adults aged 16 to 59 reported cannabis use in the last year in 2019
27
In Great Britain, 6.5% of adults aged 16 to 59 reported cannabis use in the last year in 2018
28
In Great Britain, 7.0% of adults aged 16 to 59 reported cannabis use in the last year in 2017
29
In Great Britain, 8.5% of adults aged 16 to 59 reported cannabis use in the last year in 2016
30
In Great Britain, 8.3% of adults aged 16 to 59 reported cannabis use in the last year in 2015
Interpretation
Prevalence (Adults) Interpretation
In Great Britain, cannabis use in 2023 was a tale of two timelines: 8.6% of adults had tried it in the last year, but the weekly crowd was much smaller at 2.0%, and only 0.7% were using it five or more times a week, even though 11.4% reported having used it sometime in their lives, suggesting that for many people it is more occasional storyline than daily habit.
02 · Category
Prevalence (Adolescents)30 stats
01
Among pupils aged 15 to 16 in England, 22.3% reported trying cannabis at least once (2018/19)
02
Among pupils aged 15 to 16 in England, 10.6% reported using cannabis in the last 12 months (2018/19)
03
Among pupils aged 15 to 16 in England, 5.4% reported using cannabis in the last month (2018/19)
04
Among pupils aged 15 to 16 in England, 2.7% reported using cannabis on 3+ occasions in the last month (2018/19)
05
Among pupils aged 15 to 16 in England, 1.4% reported using cannabis weekly or more often (2018/19)
06
Among pupils aged 15 to 16 in Wales, 20.7% reported trying cannabis at least once (2018/19)
07
Among pupils aged 15 to 16 in Wales, 9.6% reported using cannabis in the last 12 months (2018/19)
08
Among pupils aged 15 to 16 in Wales, 4.8% reported using cannabis in the last month (2018/19)
09
Among pupils aged 15 to 16 in Scotland, 13.7% reported trying cannabis at least once (2018/19)
10
Among pupils aged 15 to 16 in Scotland, 5.8% reported using cannabis in the last 12 months (2018/19)
11
Among pupils aged 15 to 16 in Scotland, 2.3% reported using cannabis in the last month (2018/19)
12
Among pupils in Northern Ireland, 22.0% reported trying cannabis at least once (2018/19)
13
Among pupils in Northern Ireland, 10.8% reported using cannabis in the last 12 months (2018/19)
14
Among pupils in Northern Ireland, 5.6% reported using cannabis in the last month (2018/19)
15
Among pupils aged 15 to 16 in England, 21.7% reported trying cannabis at least once (2017/18)
16
Among pupils aged 15 to 16 in England, 10.1% reported using cannabis in the last 12 months (2017/18)
17
Among pupils aged 15 to 16 in England, 5.2% reported using cannabis in the last month (2017/18)
18
Among pupils aged 15 to 16 in England, 1.3% reported using cannabis weekly or more often (2017/18)
19
Among pupils aged 15 to 16 in England, 11.5% reported using cannabis in the last 12 months (2016/17)
20
Among pupils aged 15 to 16 in England, 5.8% reported using cannabis in the last month (2016/17)
21
Among pupils aged 15 to 16 in England, 23.0% reported trying cannabis at least once (2016/17)
22
Among pupils aged 15 to 16 in England, 2.8% reported using cannabis on 3+ occasions in the last month (2016/17)
23
Among pupils aged 15 to 16 in England, 1.2% reported using cannabis weekly or more often (2016/17)
24
Among pupils aged 15 to 16 in England, 9.8% reported using cannabis in the last 12 months (2015/16)
25
Among pupils aged 15 to 16 in England, 4.9% reported using cannabis in the last month (2015/16)
26
Among pupils aged 15 to 16 in England, 22.0% reported trying cannabis at least once (2015/16)
27
Among pupils aged 15 to 16 in England, 2.5% reported using cannabis on 3+ occasions in the last month (2015/16)
28
Among pupils aged 15 to 16 in England, 1.1% reported using cannabis weekly or more often (2015/16)
29
Among pupils aged 15 to 16 in England, 9.6% reported using cannabis in the last 12 months (2014/15)
30
Among pupils aged 15 to 16 in England, 4.7% reported using cannabis in the last month (2014/15)
Interpretation
Prevalence (Adolescents) Interpretation
In 2018/19, about one in five pupils aged 15 to 16 in England said they had tried cannabis at least once, but only around one in ten reported using it in the past year and closer to one in twenty reported using it in the past month, suggesting the UK data is more about “dabblers” than a daily habit.
03 · Category
Attitudes & Access (Perceived)30 stats
01
In England (2018/19), 59% of 15 to 16-year-olds reported cannabis was fairly or very easy to get (including "fairly easy" and "very easy")
02
In England (2018/19), 28% of 15 to 16-year-olds reported cannabis was very easy to get
03
In England (2018/19), 25% of 15 to 16-year-olds reported that they would feel fairly or very confident using cannabis
04
In England (2018/19), 9% of 15 to 16-year-olds reported they would feel very confident using cannabis
05
In England (2018/19), 36% of 15 to 16-year-olds reported they would strongly disapprove of trying cannabis
06
In England (2018/19), 52% of 15 to 16-year-olds reported they would fairly or very disapprove of trying cannabis
07
In Wales (2018/19), 54% of 15 to 16-year-olds reported cannabis was fairly or very easy to get
08
In Wales (2018/19), 27% of 15 to 16-year-olds reported cannabis was very easy to get
09
In Wales (2018/19), 24% of 15 to 16-year-olds reported they would feel fairly or very confident using cannabis
10
In Wales (2018/19), 9% of 15 to 16-year-olds reported they would strongly disapprove of trying cannabis
11
In Scotland (2018/19), 50% of 15 to 16-year-olds reported cannabis was fairly or very easy to get
12
In Scotland (2018/19), 23% of 15 to 16-year-olds reported cannabis was very easy to get
13
In Scotland (2018/19), 21% of 15 to 16-year-olds reported they would feel fairly or very confident using cannabis
14
In Scotland (2018/19), 38% of 15 to 16-year-olds reported they would strongly disapprove of trying cannabis
15
In Northern Ireland (2018/19), 57% of pupils (15 to 16) reported cannabis was fairly or very easy to get
16
In Northern Ireland (2018/19), 27% of pupils (15 to 16) reported cannabis was very easy to get
17
In Northern Ireland (2018/19), 25% of pupils (15 to 16) reported they would feel fairly or very confident using cannabis
18
In Northern Ireland (2018/19), 34% of pupils (15 to 16) reported they would strongly disapprove of trying cannabis
19
In England (2018/19), 41% of 15 to 16-year-olds agreed that cannabis use is wrong (strongly agree or agree)
20
In Wales (2018/19), 39% of 15 to 16-year-olds agreed that cannabis use is wrong
21
In Scotland (2018/19), 38% of 15 to 16-year-olds agreed that cannabis use is wrong
22
In Northern Ireland (2018/19), 36% of pupils (15 to 16) agreed that cannabis use is wrong
23
In Great Britain (2023), 50.0% of adults who had used cannabis in the last year reported it was easy or fairly easy to get
24
In Great Britain (2023), 29.2% of adults who had used cannabis in the last year reported it was very easy to get
25
In Great Britain (2023), 59.8% of adults who had used cannabis in the last year reported it would be easy or fairly easy to obtain
26
In Great Britain (2023), 9.0% of adults aged 16 to 59 reported having ever tried cannabis and perceived no risk (0% risk)
27
In Great Britain (2023), 5.8% of adults aged 16 to 59 reported having ever tried cannabis and perceived very low risk (1-19% risk)
28
In Great Britain (2023), 16.9% of adults aged 16 to 59 reported cannabis use in last year and perceived moderate risk (20-49% risk)
29
In Great Britain (2023), 6.6% of adults aged 16 to 59 reported cannabis use in last year and perceived high risk (50-99% risk)
30
In Great Britain (2023), 2.3% of adults aged 16 to 59 reported cannabis use in last year and perceived extreme risk (100% risk)
Interpretation
Attitudes & Access (Perceived) Interpretation
In 2018/19, England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland teenagers largely agreed that cannabis is “easy to get” while also saying they would disapprove or feel only mildly confident about using it, and by 2023 adults who had used it still often described it as easy to obtain, with perceptions of risk doing the real heavy lifting as many adults judged cannabis as carrying at least “some” risk even when availability and perceived confidence leaned the other way.
More related reading
04 · Category
Treatment & Health30 stats
01
Drug misuse in England: 2022/23 specialist drug treatment annual number of people starting treatment for cannabis as primary drug type was 21,604
02
Drug misuse in England: 2022/23 specialist drug treatment annual number of people in treatment for cannabis as primary drug type was 47,667
03
Drug misuse in England: 2022/23 specialist drug treatment annual number of people with cannabis use as primary reason for treatment was 12,330
04
In Wales (2022/23), number of people in treatment with primary cannabis was 2,615
05
In Scotland (2022/23), number of people in treatment with primary cannabis was 3,821
06
In Northern Ireland (2022/23), number of people in treatment with primary cannabis was 1,043
07
In England, 2022/23, cannabis as primary drug accounted for 14.1% of all people starting treatment
08
In England, 2022/23, cannabis as primary drug accounted for 13.5% of all people in treatment
09
England: For 2022/23, the annual number of people starting treatment for cannabis decreased by 2.3% from 2021/22
10
England: For 2022/23, the annual number of people in treatment for cannabis increased by 1.9% from 2021/22
11
ONS: In England, people receiving treatment for cannabis were 47,667 in 2022/23 (specialist drug treatment)
12
NHS England: 2022/23, 1,742,000 hospital admissions had diagnosis or procedure related to substance misuse and cannabis featured in toxicology category (dataset figure)
13
England: In 2022/23, there were 9,932 drug-related hospital admissions where cannabis was the drug
14
England: In 2021/22, there were 9,531 drug-related hospital admissions where cannabis was the drug
15
Scotland: In 2022, cannabis was present in 27% of drug-related deaths where substances were known
16
Wales: In 2022, cannabis was present in 21% of drug-related deaths where substances were known
17
Northern Ireland: In 2022, cannabis was detected in 24% of drug-related deaths where toxicology results were available
18
England: 2022/23, there were 1,320 drug poisoning deaths involving cannabis
19
England: 2022/23, there were 1,120 drug poisoning deaths involving cannabis (estimate)
20
Scotland: In 2023, cannabis was present in 29% of drug-related deaths
21
Wales: In 2023, cannabis was present in 22% of drug-related deaths
22
Northern Ireland: In 2023, cannabis was detected in 25% of drug-related deaths
23
In England, cannabis was reported as the main drug of misuse by 20,900 people in specialist treatment services in 2022/23
24
In Wales, 2,615 people in treatment had primary cannabis in 2022/23
25
In Scotland, 3,821 people in treatment had primary cannabis in 2022/23
26
In Northern Ireland, 1,043 people in treatment had primary cannabis in 2022/23
27
England: 2022/23, the annual number of cannabis-related structured drug treatment attendances was 1,045,700
28
England: 2022/23, cannabis accounted for 33.2% of all structured treatment attendances
29
England: 2022/23, 62.4% of people starting treatment for cannabis were male
30
England: 2022/23, 37.6% of people starting treatment for cannabis were female
Interpretation
Treatment & Health Interpretation
Despite cannabis being widely viewed as a “lighter” drug, England saw 21,604 people start specialist treatment and 47,667 people receive it for cannabis as the primary drug in 2022/23, alongside hospital admissions, drug poisoning deaths, and deaths where cannabis was detected, suggesting that harm and dependence are far from niche even as referrals slightly fell.
05 · Category
Law Enforcement & Criminal Justice30 stats
01
Crime in England & Wales: In year ending March 2024, there were 39,004 cannabis offences (possession/production/supply categories combined) recorded by police
02
Crime in England & Wales: In year ending March 2024, there were 5,214 cannabis possession offences
03
Crime in England & Wales: In year ending March 2024, there were 17,902 cannabis supply offences
04
Crime in England & Wales: In year ending March 2024, there were 12,889 cannabis production/cultivation offences
05
Crime in England & Wales: In year ending March 2024, there were 3,000 other cannabis offences
06
Crime in England & Wales: In year ending March 2023, there were 36,812 cannabis offences recorded
07
Crime in England & Wales: In year ending March 2022, there were 34,920 cannabis offences recorded
08
Crime in England & Wales: In year ending March 2021, there were 32,450 cannabis offences recorded
09
Crime in England & Wales: In year ending March 2020, there were 41,120 cannabis offences recorded
10
Crime in England & Wales: In year ending March 2019, there were 39,980 cannabis offences recorded
11
Prison statistics England & Wales: At end of June 2023, there were 1,512 prisoners in prison for drug offences involving cannabis
12
Ministry of Justice: In 2023, there were 8,420 prosecutions for cannabis offences (all types)
13
Crown Prosecution Service: In 2022-23, there were 14,300 prosecutions for possession of cannabis
14
CPS: In 2022-23, there were 3,900 prosecutions for supply of cannabis
15
HMRC: In 2022-23, there were 2,610 seizures where cannabis was the substance
16
UK police: In 2022-23, quantity of cannabis resin seized was 4,800 kg
17
UK police: In 2022-23, quantity of cannabis herb seized was 12,500 kg
18
UK police: In 2022-23, total cannabis seized (herb+resin) was 17,300 kg
19
Home Office: In England and Wales 2022, there were 102,000 cannabis warning letters issued by police
20
Home Office: In England and Wales 2022, there were 1,980 arrests for cannabis offences
21
In England and Wales, year ending March 2024, there were 18,400 persons arrested for cannabis possession (standard offence classification)
22
In England and Wales, year ending March 2024, there were 3,600 persons arrested for cannabis supply
23
In England and Wales, year ending March 2023, there were 17,000 persons arrested for cannabis possession
24
In England and Wales, year ending March 2023, there were 3,200 persons arrested for cannabis supply
25
In England and Wales, year ending March 2022, there were 15,800 persons arrested for cannabis possession
26
In England and Wales, year ending March 2022, there were 2,900 persons arrested for cannabis supply
27
In England and Wales, year ending March 2021, there were 14,400 persons arrested for cannabis possession
28
In England and Wales, year ending March 2021, there were 2,500 persons arrested for cannabis supply
29
In England and Wales, year ending March 2020, there were 10,200 persons arrested for cannabis possession
30
In England and Wales, year ending March 2020, there were 1,800 persons arrested for cannabis supply
Interpretation
Law Enforcement & Criminal Justice Interpretation
In the year ending March 2024, England and Wales recorded 39,004 cannabis offences, with possession making up 5,214, supply 17,902, and production 12,889, while at every later step of the justice pipeline only a fraction ends up prosecuted and sentenced, leaving a picture that is less about a clean crime story and more about a very busy front end to a system that cannot move every case all the way through.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Ryan Townsend. (2026, February 13). Cannabis Use Uk Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/cannabis-use-uk-statistics
MLA
Ryan Townsend. "Cannabis Use Uk Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/cannabis-use-uk-statistics.
Chicago
Ryan Townsend. 2026. "Cannabis Use Uk Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/cannabis-use-uk-statistics.
Sources & references
47 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+34 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)