Drug Survey 2026

DS26: Cannabis

6 Feb 2026 — 2 min read

Of the 322 respondents that answered the questions in this section, a razor-thin majority had consumed cannabis in some form. This is very different to what national statistics find – in one recent study, 12.5% of youths aged 16-24 reported to have consumed the drug. This might be due to self-selecting drug users answering our survey, and the share of cannabis users within the wider student body is possibly closer to the national average.

A slightly higher share of men use cannabis compared to women (data from non-binary respondents was excluded because the sample was too small to be significant), and consumption is more widespread in respondents over the age of 20.

Students from the Faculty of Medicine were found to use the most cannabis (48 respondents), followed by those from the Faculty of Natural Sciences (161 respondents), while relative usage is lowest within the Faculty of Engineering (156 respondents). The Business School was excluded because of a lack of responses.

Ways of smoking weed were ranked by 125 repondents. Joints (pure cannabis in cigarette paper) came out on top, followed by spliffs (which unlike joints contain a mix of tobacco and cannabis). As for edible cannabis, brownies (74 answers) and gummies (52 answers) were the most popular foods.

Drug Survey 2026

Issue 1890

From Issue 1890

6 Feb 2026

Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents

Explore the edition

Read more

DS26: Alcohol

DS26: Alcohol

National studies find that around three-quarters of Generation Z drink in the UK, meaning Imperial’s 28% is broadly in line with the average. The faculty of engineering had the highest proportion of drinkers. However, among those who drink within faculties, Business School students and medics have the most

DS26: Nicotine

DS26: Nicotine

Of the 370 students who completed the nicotine section of the survey, a third reported a consumption of nicotine, either regularly or in social contexts only. Among these, 77% smoke cigarettes, 54% vape, and 42% take snus or nicotine pouches. Nationally, the share of youths that report using nicotine pouches

DS26: Who answered our survey?

DS26: Who answered our survey?

The total sample size was 429 people, of which 242 answered all questions. Respondents were given the option to skip any question. 40% of respondents were women, slightly lower than Imperial’s 44%, but in line with the average for undergraduate courses (6:4 men-to-women ratio). The faculty

Presenting: the 2026 Felix Drug Survey

Presenting: the 2026 Felix Drug Survey

After a long wait, it is our pleasure to present Felix’s first Drug Survey results. Keen to diversify this newspaper’s survey topics (currently, just sex) into more highbrow issues, last May the team launched a survey interrogating Imperial students’ consumption of tobacco, alcohol, cannabis and other psychoactive substances.

Climate justice for a just world

Environment

Climate justice for a just world

In mainstream discussions on climate change, there is a tendency to focus on the environmental dimensions of the issue. Increasingly, however, there is greater recognition of the need to place equal emphasis on human impacts, notably in relation to under-recognised and vulnerable groups in society affected by social injustices

Who hears the cries during the celebration?

Sport

Who hears the cries during the celebration?

As the World Cup comes to an end, people from all around the world are celebrating this grand finale as a symbol of unity. It is supposed to be a joyful moment for everyone. Yet for some people, the happiness in the air conceals cries for help. Research from Lancaster

Imperial to downsize its security team

News

Imperial to downsize its security team

Imperial College is reducing the size of its Security and Community Safety (SCS) team to make financial savings. In emails sent to staff concerned by the changes in early June, the Director of Security and Community Safety said she identified a need to improve “value for money” and announced a

Hugh Brady to remain College President until 2030

News

Hugh Brady to remain College President until 2030

Professor Hugh Brady’s term as President of Imperial has been extended by three years until August 2030, following a unanimous approval by the College Council. In an email to students and staff, Council Chair Vindi Banga said a Search Committee commissioned in February found “extensive support for this extension”