Notes:
Data between brackets refer to the number of cannabis offences for use/possession for use in 2004, except for the United Kingdom (2003).
Data were not available for Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Sweden (and Norway).
Percentages were calculated in different ways according to data available and ways data were originally recorded; for example, percentages may refer to cannabis among all drug mentions (whether alone or with other drugs) in offences for use/possession or to cannabis offences considered as main offences in offences for use/possession.
Luxembourg: Arrests for presumed offences against the 1973 drug law.
Portugal: Since the decriminalisation of drug use/possession for use in July 2001, such offences are reported through a different monitoring system; although data from the latter are taken into consideration here (from mid-2001 and onwards), caution is required when comparing data before and after 2001 (2001 data should be taken with even more caution as the new information system on offences for drug use/possession was being tested for the first time).
Portugal: The reported proportion represents offences for cannabis only - it does not include offences for 'cannabis + other drug[s]'; for Portugal, before 2001 it includes offences where only one cannabis product [resin or herb] is involved, whereas since 2001 it includes offences where both cannabis resin and herb are involved.
Sweden: Persons given a summary fine by the prosecutor or sentenced by a court.
United Kingdom: 2001-2003 data refer only to England, Scotland and Wales.
See also 'General notes for interpreting data' on the Explanatory notes and help page.
Sources:
Reitox national focal points.