When it comes to cannabis, data compiled by ReportLinker show clearly that levels and forms of its consumption change throughout the world depending on country and culture.

For instance, based on the seizing by authorities of illegal stashes of cannabis in various nations, we can clearly see that it is mainly seized in resinous form in Afghanistan, Spain, Pakistan or Morroco.

It is mainly seized in “herbal” (dried leaf and flowering parts) form in the US, Mexico, Paraguay or India. There are, of course, some nations where consumption of the different forms of cannabis overlap. There are also different strains of cannabis, some stronger and able to give a higher or longer lasting high but more likely to induce negative side effects such as anxiety and paranoid thoughts, while others are going to give a mild buzz but be mostly free of any negative side-effects while being the best kind to use for medicinal purposes.

As far as production goes, the top five cannabis making nations in the world (in decreasing order) are: The US; Morocco; Afghanistan; Mexico; and Columbia. Canada is eighth in the world now, but some believe that it will soon make recreational cannabis consumption legal and subsequently rise in world production rankings. This eventuality would make North America the leading cannabis producing continent without question. As far as total consumption of all available cannabis products in various nations goes, the leading consumer nations in the world are : Israel (27% of the population consumes cannabis); The US (17%); Chile (15.1%); and Canada (14.73%).

Many people around the world smoke or otherwise consume, and produce, cannabis illegally. For instance, Spain is second in the world in seizures of resin stashes, and this is explained by its being geographically close to Morocco, which is the world’s second biggest producer of cannabis resin. Yet, the desire for cannabis, both for medicinal and personal reasons, is very large, and the ongoing political push to make it more acceptable and legalised continually grows stronger and is becoming more influential in many nations, including the US (legalisation and acceptance vary from state to state) and Canada.

A regulated, legal market for cannabis would potentially be safer, create more jobs and businesses, and bring in a lot of tax revenues. Far fewer people would be incarcerated, too, freeing up law enforcement to focus its manpower and resources on other crimes.

Even though many people (and authorities) do not approve of cannabis for recreational use, people who feel the need to consume this drug for stress relief, creative stimulation, being more sociable, or whatever reason are going to try to get it—even if they have to do it illicitly on the black market. There will always be criminals willing to make money by selling drugs on a black market, too. Would legalising it be the solution?