New CEPOL eLesson offers a virtual tour of an illicit Cannabis plantation

Cannabis remains the most widely used illicit drug in Europe, according to the European drug report: trends and developments published by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) in June 2022. 

Our second CEPOL eLesson on Illicit drug laboratories - Cannabis plantation is available for registered users of our online learning platform, LEEd. Law enforcement practitioners, including customs officials, forensic experts and representatives from judicial authorities, who may be confronted with illicit cannabis plantations and/or involved in their investigation and closure, can learn how to deal with the dangers related to illicit cannabis plantations. In approximately 60 minutes, they will gain knowledge aiming to help them better respond to the prevention and fight against such crimes.

This new eLesson offers a virtual tour of an illegal cannabis plantation – detailing the characteristics of grow sites, the different steps involved in cultivation, the equipment and materials used, the hazards to watch out for, and the essential safety measures for both law enforcement officials and members of the public. These topics can be explored by browsing a series of interactive hotspots that are linked to photos, explanatory texts and videos. The tour can be taken from any computer or mobile device, and by using virtual reality goggles.

The eLesson also contains a glossary of terms and abbreviations, and it includes a job aid with concrete tips and suggestions for law enforcement officials who encounter suspected illicit cannabis plantations. Learners can check their levels of understanding of the topic by considering a selection of quiz questions. Upon successful completion of the session, participants will obtain a badge and a certificate.

About the topic: Cannabis

More than 22 million adults in Europe reported having used cannabis during 2021, and an estimated 27.3 % (78.6 million) of the adults surveyed reported having used it at some point during their lifetime. In 2020, around 80 000 people entered specialised drug-treatment programmes for issues related to cannabis use. Furthermore, cannabis was the primary problem substance that new clients cited most frequently, accounting for 45 % of all first-time drug-treatment referrals.

Cannabis production causes a range of environmental harms and is also linked to health-and-safety risks. In the EU, herbal cannabis appears to be produced mainly for sale in domestic markets and in neighbouring countries, rather than for export outside the region.

Enrol via CEPOL's online learning platform LEEd.

Why not have a look at our eLesson on Illicit drugs laboratories - MDMA (ecstasy)? More here.

About eLessons

CEPOL eLessons are 60 minutes digital training and learning resources designed to address emerging and current training needs of law enforcement officials.

They are compact and easy-to-follow, covering current topics presented engagingly with a focus on practical applicability. Users learn individually, at their own pace, and in an explorative way. Trainers can embed eLessons in their formal training – be it as a requirement in national curricula or as a pre-course activity for a CEPOL training activity. Students will obtain certificates and badges upon successful completion of the corresponding online tests. The job-aids embedded in eLessons ensure that the learners will more easily transfer the knowledge and skills learned into their every-day practice.

All LEEd users can enrol to eLessons free of charge, without nomination by a CEPOL National Unit/CEPOL National Contact Point.