Policymakers will have to think carefully about pricing, taxation and providing discounts for buying in bulk. Else legalisation may not deliver a substantial tax windfall after all.
Cannabis growers in the capital report many obstacles, from laws banning the purchase of seeds and artificial lights to the lack of information on growing conditions.
Beth Cohen, University of California, San Francisco
Clinical trials have demonstrated the health benefits of cannabis for certain conditions, but many aren’t testing smoked or vaped forms. Research on cannabis smoke is raising concerns.
While the pandemic was often blamed for 2020-2021’s strong recreational cannabis sales growth, the boost in sales was more likely due to existing trends, added stores and new products.
If the goal of cannabis legalization was to protect public health and safety, education and awareness campaigns must normalize safe cannabis use, not stop cannabis consumption.
Young New Zealanders are less likely to use cannabis than their 1990s counterparts. But if New Zealand decides to legalise recreational use, teens will have easier access.
Parents of teens often worry about marijuana use and whether it might lead to other drugs or behavioral problems. A recent study suggests it doesn’t, but that there are real dangers to be aware of.
Mexico’s new president is backing an initiative to regulate cannabis from seed to smoke. Here’s how legalisation would work, and why it’s a good proposal.
Two-thirds of all US states now have some kind of legal pot, and support for legalization has never been higher. But ballot initiatives can only take legalization so far, researchers say.
Midterm voters in Utah, Missouri, Michigan and North Dakota will decide whether to join the 31 US states that have some form of legal marijuana. But ballot initiatives can only take pot so far.
The legalisation of the private use of cannabis in South Africa is a victory for human rights. But, much more work needs to be done to make it practical.