Cases of cannabis use initiation detected among children aged 9 and 10

The State Attorney General's Office has expressed "particular concern" about the significant increase in cannabis use among young people in Spain, even stating that cases of new cannabis use have been detected among children as young as 9 and 10 years old.

This was reflected in its 2024 Annual Report, presented this Friday to mark the start of the judicial year and reviewed by Europa Press. For the Prosecutor's Office, this early initiation of consumption—with genetically modified substances to achieve high concentrations of THC (sometimes exceeding 40%)—represents, and even more so in the near future, a "significant public health problem ," due to the risk of developing mental illnesses associated with the use of this substance.

In this regard, he emphasizes that young people are unaware of the "serious risks" derived from cannabis abuse from a mental health perspective, as well as the risks of cannabis use and the triggering of certain pathologies, which "can lead to psychotic episodes and lead to numerous involuntary admissions of minors due to reactive psychosis due to substance use."

In addition to underage use, he warns of the "exponential growth" of so-called cannabis associations . He states that increases in cases of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are already visible among adolescents and young adults, who share this use as a common pattern and who, "once developed, will become part of their reality."

For this reason, the Public Prosecutor's Office emphasizes that it is seeking and promoting control over cannabis associations , "in an effort to prevent them from fraudulently distributing cannabis indiscriminately, under the guise of an activity that appears only legitimate."

Furthermore, he maintains a proactive approach in pursuing large marijuana plantations , which often "involve the commission of other illegal acts, such as water and electricity fraud."

Nitrous oxide or 'laughing gas'

Likewise, the Prosecutor's Office has highlighted the use of nitrous oxide , or laughing gas , especially due to street sales of this substance on the island of Ibiza. According to the report, this type of sale leads to the initiation of " numerous urgent criminal investigations and preliminary investigations during on-call duty during the summer season." In this regard, it emphasizes that this is a substance that consumers believe has no harmful effects, as it is not classified as such in the lists of international conventions.

"While inhaling it can pose significant health risks, especially since most of those who acquire this substance are teenagers who hope to obtain a certain feeling of intoxication or joy by inhaling a balloon filled with nitrous oxide, its price, around three or five euros, is particularly attractive," he points out.

However, the Prosecutor's Office points out that the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products ( AEMPS ) indicates that this is a pharmacologically active substance subject to medical prescription and can only be administered by experienced medical personnel with access to resuscitation equipment.

"Its use for recreational or other non-medical purposes poses a risk to public health due to potential adverse respiratory, hematological, or neurological effects, which can even lead to death," it warns. In total, 216 preliminary investigations and 58 urgent investigations were initiated on the island of Ibiza in 2024, and 50 indictments were filed, for crimes against public health under Article 359 of the Penal Code.

On the other hand, the Prosecutor's Office has announced that the dangerous increase in the number of cases is being subjected to "careful analysis". arrests arising from MDMA and pink cocaine or 2cb (popularly known as 'tusi'), as it ensures that "they clearly denote a sharp increase in the consumption patterns of these substances."

Thus, he points out that both substances are strongly linked to nightlife and, therefore, are very accessible to young people and adolescents. He also warns that their use is associated with a "very harmful" impact on health, exacerbated by their combination, sometimes simultaneously, with cannabis and alcohol.