Many things have changed in the world of cannabis in recent decades thanks to the hard work of cannabis activists around the globe and the spread of policy reform. Unfortunately, some things have remained the same, particularly unfounded claims being made by cannabis opponents in their ongoing effort to cling to failed cannabis prohibition. A recent example of this can be found in Europe, where authorities are claiming that North American legalization is turning European countries into ‘narco states.’
Belgium’s head of customs recently made comments blaming Canada’s historic 2018 national adult-use cannabis legalization measure for a surge in cannabis seizures at the Belgian port of Antwerp-Bruges. While seizures in Belgium involving cannabis originating from Canada have increased from 2024 to 2025, no evidence has been offered by Belgian authorities proving that the seized Canadian cannabis came from regulated sources.
The comments made by Belgium’s head of customs are similar to comments made by authorities in other European countries and by the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA). Earlier this year, the EUDA warned of a “sharp increase” in cannabis being smuggled into Europe from North America.
It is no secret that wherever cannabis sales are prohibited, unregulated sources of cannabis will fill the void. History is very clear about that. However, rather than concluding that the world needs more cannabis prohibition, the available evidence suggests that cannabis prohibition has significant limitations and that policymakers should consider alternative regulatory approaches.
Legalization Is Displacing the Illicit Market
The fact of the matter is that North America does not have a cannabis legalization problem. Rather, Europe has a cannabis prohibition problem. Cannabis regulation works, and enough data has surfaced to sufficiently demonstrate that when cannabis consumers are allowed to purchase cannabis from legal sources and cultivate cannabis at home, most of them will choose to do so instead of obtaining cannabis from unregulated sources.
Uruguay became the first country on the planet to adopt a national adult-use cannabis legalization measure back in 2013, with sales of legal recreational products beginning in Uruguay’s pharmacies in 2017. Consumers also have the option of cultivating cannabis at home or joining a cultivation association in Uruguay. According to Uruguay’s National Drug Board, the nation’s legal cannabis model has dramatically eroded the market share of Uruguay’s unregulated cannabis sources.
A similar trend has occurred in Canada. According to a market analysis conducted last year by a team of investigators affiliated with academic and research institutions based in Canada, the U.S, and the U.K., Canada’s legal cannabis industry had captured a 78% market share post-legalization.
One of the most dramatic shifts caused by cannabis policy modernization efforts can be found along th
