The cannabis policy kaleidoscope

Cannabis is by far the most commonly used illicit drug worldwide and hence a key area of policy concern. Recent years have seen a wide range of cannabis policy developments, notably an expansion of provision of cannabis or cannabinoids for medical purposes and the legalization of cannabis for recreational purposes. These developments have been accompanied by an increase in commercialization in some jurisdictions, which adds a new dimension to cannabis markets and acts as a spur to innovation. These developments remain controversial but have the potential to snowball and impact on patterns of use and associated risks and harms, leading to a need for new policy responses across a range of areas. There is therefore great interest in the lessons to be learned from ‘early adopters’ and from the different models being implemented in order to inform cannabis policy development going forward. This session will consider four different areas of current cannabis policy development, highlighting key lessons and ongoing challenges before moving on to discussing key issues for cannabis policy in the next decade.