“Many countries have the drug problem they deserve.”

That is the straggering assessment of Antonio Maria Costa, the executive director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. Many took the statement as a specific swipe at the UK, whose drug policies Costa opposes.

Costa was calling on European players to plan and implement a strategy that would see a long term approach accross the area with the goal of reducing the use of cannabis.

According to Costa, Cannabis use has become pandemic accross Europe and is causing almost as much damage as cocaine or heroin. He also believes that modern cannabis is far more powerful and potent than the crop of 30 years ago.

“The cannabis pandemic, like other challenges to public health, requires consensus, a consistent commitment across the political spectrum and by society at large. Today, the harmful characteristics of cannabis are no longer that different from those of other plant-based drugs such as cocaine and heroin,” he said.

Well, that speech is likely to raise a few eyebrows.