cocaine

Cocaine surpasses cannabis and becomes the number 1 drug in France

undefined undefined 8 décembre 2025 undefined 20h00

The Editor

For decades, cannabis has been the reigning champion of the drug market in France. It was almost a cultural certainty. But in 2023, the scene has changed. For the first time, cocaine has taken the lead, becoming the most lucrative illegal drug in the Hexagon. This shift might be subtle in numbers, but it tells a huge story about today’s drug trafficking.

For a long time, cannabis held the top spot: it was everywhere—in everyday use, in conversations, and in statistics. Then, almost quietly, another product took the elevator up. In 2023, cocaine surpassed cannabis and established itself as the most lucrative illegal drug in France. This is a strong signal that speaks volumes about the evolution of the narcobusiness and our consumption habits.

More than €6.8 billion generated

According to a report (2010-2023) published by the French Observatory of Drugs and Addictive Trends (OFDT) on Monday, December 8, spending related to cocaine now reaches about €3.1 billion per year, compared to €2.7 billion for cannabis. Over the past 13 years, the cocaine market has generated nearly €6.8 billion. And consumption is following the same trend.

upward trend: from around 15 tons at the beginning of the 2010s, it's now close to 47 tons.

A more accessible and normalized drug

This surge isn't just about cocaine. Synthetic drugs are also making significant strides, creating an increasingly saturated landscape. But in terms of value, the white powder has now overshadowed the competition. An abundant supply, increasing purity, and relatively affordable prices have greatly contributed to its spread (the price per gram has dropped from €68 to €56 in just a year). Once limited to party and nightlife circles, cocaine has found its way into much broader usage, sometimes incorrectly perceived as an almost harmless drug.

A narcobusiness that’s scaling up

Behind this normalization, the consequences are serious. Trafficking is becoming more organized, industrialized, and both more efficient and violent. France has become a strategic zone for the import and redistribution of cocaine in Europe, particularly through its major ports. And with this rise in power, the risks are skyrocketing: rapid dependence, cardiovascular issues, and violence related to the narcobusiness.

So when cocaine surpasses cannabis, it’s not just a matter of ranking. It’s a sign of a tense market, hardening usage patterns, and an increasingly urgent challenge for public health and prevention policies.