Kiwis big users of marijuana

Published: 7:23AM Thursday June 25, 2009 Source: Newstalk ZB/Reuters

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New Zealand and Australia have one of the highest rates of marijuana use in the world.

The UN 2009 World Drug Report found that marijuana was used at least once in 2007 by between 3.3% and 4.4% of the global population, making it the most popular illegal drug.
   
Usage was highest in Central America (10.5% of the population) and Australia/New Zealand (11%).

The report also says the global underground markets for cocaine and heroin appear to have shrunk in 2008, but amphetamine production and use may be increasing in developing countries.

Opium production declined 9.4% from 2007, mostly because of a 19% decrease in poppy cultivation in the world's leading producer, Afghanistan.

Production was concentrated in the southern provinces where the Taliban is most active.

Summary of the main points from the UN 2009 World Drug Report.

For the full UN 2009 World Drug Report click HERE

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