Do levels of cannabis in wastewater in Australia vary by geographic location?
The amount of cannabis found in Australian wastewater varies substantially between Australian jurisdictions†.
The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission reported that cannabis consumption in regional South Australia and the Northern Territory is consistently among the highest in the country, while Hobart has the highest consumption level of capital cities. In general cannabis use was higher in regional areas than in capital cities.
Estimated cannabis consumption for April 2024 in mass consumed per day (left axis)^
Estimated average cannabis consumption per jurisdiction, August 2023 to June 2024 in mg consumed per day per thousand people^
^ The number of collection days varied from 5-7 days
Source: Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (2024). National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program: Report 23. Canberra: ACIC.
Source: Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (2024). National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program: Report 23. Canberra: ACIC.
† This FAQ uses data from the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the main psychoactive compound in cannabis. Cannabis consumption was measured by its urinary metabolite, 11-nor-9-carboxy-∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH).