Cigarette and alcohol use among 15- and 16-year-olds is declining across Europe but the numbers using cannabis are growing, an EU survey shows.

The Espad report for 2015 includes most EU countries, but not Germany or the UK, and data for Spain is incomplete. 

In 2015 "current smokers" accounted for 21% of those surveyed, and the highest total was in Italy (37%). 

In 1995-2015 those using alcohol in the past 30 days fell from 56% to 47%. Top in cannabis use were the Czechs (37%).

That figure for Czech teenagers reporting a lifetime experience of cannabis was higher than the level in the US - 31% in comparable surveys. 

The participants in a procession held in the centre of the Bulgarian capital on Sunday demanded the legalisation of cannabis.

Among the main demands of the protesters are: allowing the medical use of cannabis, decriminalising the possession and cultivation of cannabis for personal use, allowing and regulating the growth and procession of all products from industrial cannabis.

Organisers remind that this is one of the fastest developing industries in the world, in which Bulgaria used to be a regional leader some hundred years ago.

Protesters are in favour of allowing patients to undergo treatment with medical cannabis.

Police in Italy’s San Severo found 400 kg of marijuana worth over EUR 1.5 M in a van with a Bulgarian registration plate.

The Ford Transit van, where the drugs were found, had stopped by the side of a road near San Severo when a police patrol approached it, according to reports of Italy’s Corriere del Mezzogiorno daily, as cited by the Bulgarian National Radio.

A man jumped out of the van and ran away into the field.

The marijuana found in the van could be used to make 280 000 single doses.

Bulgaria is the next European country to make headlines for cannabis. Member of parliament Velar Enchev Penkov will introduce legislation this month calling for the adoption of cannabis to treat illness in the country.

Independent lawmaker Velizar Enchev has announced he is to put forward in September a bill that would allow for cannabis to be used for medical purposes.

He has warned that "thousands of people suffering in Bulgaria" could find a means to alleviate their pain if they are able to use a mouth spray and has underlined that legalizing smoking has never crossed his mind.

In a Monday interview with private bTV station, citing the experience of several EU countries and a number of US states which have approved medical cannabis, he asserted that "everybody opposing this is also opposing their practices."

Independent lawmaker Velizar Enchev has announced he is to put forward in September a bill that would allow for cannabis to be used for medical purposes.

He has warned that "thousands of people suffering in Bulgaria" could find a means to alleviate their pain if they are able to use a mouth spray and has underlined that legalizing smoking has never crossed his mind.

In a Monday interview with private bTV station, citing the experience of several EU countries and a number of US states which have approved medical cannabis, he asserted that "everybody opposing this is also opposing their practices."

The Lovech Regional Court acquitted Marin Kalchev who was tried for owning and growing two cannabis plants in his home. 

Kalchev, who is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, was using the plants for extracting cannabis oil to alleviate his symptoms, until last April his home was stormed by police, which found the two plants.