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UN Expresses Worries Over Legalization of Cannabis in Parts of the World

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UN Expresses Worries Over Legalization of Cannabis in Parts of the World

By: Michael Mike

The United Nations has condemned recent legalization of cannabis in parts of the world, lamenting that such action has led to global increase in use and abuse of drugs worldwide.

A press release by the UN Information Service on Monday said cannabis legalization in parts of the world appears to have accelerated daily use and related health impacts, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)’s World Drug Report 2022. 

The report which was released on Monday also showed rises in the manufacturing of cocaine, the expansion of synthetic drugs to new markets, and continued gaps in the availability of drug treatments, especially for women.  

According to the report, around 284 million people aged 15-64 used drugs worldwide in 2020, a 26 per cent increase over the previous decade. Young people are using more drugs, with use levels today in many countries higher than with the previous generation. In Africa and Latin America, people under 35 represent the majority of people being treated for drug use disorders.

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Globally, the report estimates that 11.2 million people worldwide were injecting drugs. Around half of this number were living with hepatitis C, 1.4 million were living with HIV, and 1.2 million were living with both.

The statement said while reacting to these findings, UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly stated that: “Numbers for the manufacturing and seizures of many illicit drugs are hitting record highs, even as global emergencies are deepening vulnerabilities. At the same time, misperceptions regarding the magnitude of the problem and the associated harms are depriving people of care and treatment and driving young people towards harmful behaviours. 

“We need to devote the necessary resources and attention to addressing every aspect of the world drug problem, including the provision of evidence-based care to all who need it, and we need to improve the knowledge base on how illicit drugs relate to other urgent challenges, such as conflicts and environmental degradation.”

The report further emphasizes the importance of galvanizing the international community, governments, civil society and all stakeholders to take urgent action to protect people, including by strengthening drug use prevention and treatment and by tackling illicit drug supply.

The report stated that early indications and effects of cannabis legalization in North America appears to have increased daily cannabis use, especially potent cannabis products and particularly among young adults. Associated increases in people with psychiatric disorders, suicides and hospitalizations have also been reported. Legalization has also increased tax revenues and generally reduced arrest rates for cannabis possession.

According to the report, added to this is the continued growth in drug production and trafficking, revealing that cocaine  manufacture was at a record high in 2020, growing 11 per cent from 2019 to 1,982 tons. Cocaine seizures also increased, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, to a record 1,424 tons in 2020. Nearly 90 per cent of cocaine seized globally in 2021 was trafficked in containers and/or by sea. Seizure data suggest that cocaine trafficking is expanding to other regions outside the main markets of North America and Europe, with increased levels of trafficking to Africa and Asia.

The report also showed that trafficking of methamphetamine continues to expand geographically, with 117 countries reporting seizures of methamphetamine in 2016‒2020 versus 84 in 2006‒2010, with the quantities of methamphetamine seized growing five-fold between 2010 and 2020.

It also showed that opium production worldwide grew seven per cent between 2020 and 2021 to 7,930  tons ‐ predominantly due  to an increase in production in Afghanistan. However, the global area under opium poppy cultivation fell by 16 per cent to 246,800 hectares in the same period.

Key drug trends broken down by region

In many countries in Africa and South and Central America, the largest proportion of people in treatment for drug use disorders are there primarily for cannabis use disorders. In Eastern and South-Eastern Europe and in Central Asia, people are most often in treatment for opioid use disorders.

In the United States and Canada, overdose deaths, predominantly driven by an epidemic of the non-medical use of fentanyl, continue to break records. Preliminary estimates in the United States point to more than 107,000 drug overdose deaths in 2021, up from nearly 92,000 in 2020.

In the two largest markets for methamphetamine, seizures have been increasing ‐ they rose by seven per cent in North America from the previous year, while in South-East Asia they increased by 30 per cent from the previous year, record highs in both regions. A record high was also reported for methamphetamine seizures reported from South-West Asia, increasing by 50 per cent in 2020 from 2019.  

The report also showed a possible growing capacity to manufacture amphetamine in Ukraine if the conflict persists in the country, stating that there 

was a significant increase in the number of reported clandestine laboratories in Ukraine, skyrocketing from 17 dismantled laboratories in 2019 to 79 in 2020, noting that 67 out of these laboratories were producing amphetamines, up from five in 2019 ‐ the highest number of dismantled laboratories reported in any given country in 2020.

UN Expresses Worries Over Legalization of Cannabis in Parts of the World

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Armed Bandits Kill One in Attack on Commercial Vehicle in Sokoto

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Armed Bandits Kill One in Attack on Commercial Vehicle in Sokoto

By: Zagazola Makama

On April 3, 2025, at approximately 1130 hours, a group of armed bandits riding motorcycles, opened fire on a commercial vehicle traveling from Kebbi to Sokoto.

The attack resulted in the death of one Dan Gande Usman, who was shot in the head. The victim succumbed to his injuries while being transported to the hospital.

In response to the attack, troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA were deployed to the area to ensure sanity.

Armed Bandits Kill One in Attack on Commercial Vehicle in Sokoto

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Bandits Attack Rijiya Village in Zamfara, Kill Eight, Set School Ablaze

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Bandits Attack Rijiya Village in Zamfara, Kill Eight, Set School Ablaze

By: Zagazola Makama

A deadly bandit attack on Rijiya Village in Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State has left eight people dead and a primary school set on fire.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that at approximately 1600 hours, on April 3, a group of armed bandits, heavily armed with AK-47 rifles and other dangerous weapons, invaded the village.

The assailants opened fire indiscriminately, resulting in the deaths of two members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CPG) and six civilians.

In addition to the loss of lives, the bandits set fire to a primary school that was being occupied by the CPG members.

Bandits Attack Rijiya Village in Zamfara, Kill Eight, Set School Ablaze

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Police Inspector Killed in Terrorist Attack at Gwoza, Borno

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Police Inspector Killed in Terrorist Attack at Gwoza, Borno

By: Zagazola Makama

A police inspector was killed during an ambush by suspected Boko Haram insurgents at the Police Mobile Force Training College (PMFTC) Camp Limankara, Gwoza.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred at approximately 0600 hours on April 3, 2025, while a team of officers, including those from Mopol Training School Gwoza and various Mobile Police Force units, were on foot patrol.

Inspector Andrawus Musa, attached to 6PMF Maiduguri, was fatally injured during the attack. His service rifle, an AK-47, was taken by the assailants.

The victim was immediately evacuated to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) but was pronounced dead upon arrival. The body has been deposited at the hospital for autopsy.

Police Inspector Killed in Terrorist Attack at Gwoza, Borno

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