Regulating Cannabis for Public Good: Is 鈥楶ublic Ownership鈥� Model the Answer?鈥�
Abstract
The听legalisation听of cannabis on the American continent has reinvigorated calls for cannabis law reform in many countries.听Non-commercial models for cannabis law reform, such as cannabis social clubs, not-for-profit community 鈥榯rusts鈥櫶齛nd government monopolies, may offer a buffer against industry marketing and听commercialisation.听To date, few jurisdictions have implemented these 鈥榤iddle ground鈥� models in practice, instead听favouring听familiar alcohol-style for-profit听legalisation. This presentation will outline a framework for understanding cannabis law reform options between听decriminalisation听and commercial markets, with particular focus on 鈥榩ublic ownership鈥� models for legal cannabis sale. The benefits and costs of the 鈥榩ublic ownership鈥� model will be presented, drawing on empirical research with key policy stakeholders involved in implementing government-run retail stores for cannabis (厂辞肠颈茅迟茅听qu茅b茅coise听du cannabis) in Quebec (Canada), 鈥榗ommunity licensing trusts鈥� for alcohol in New Zealand and experience with cannabis social clubs in听a number of听countries. Particular attention will be paid to formal and informal governance mechanisms and regulatory protections around price, retail, and product control under 鈥榩ublic ownership鈥� models.鈥�
Biography
DR.听MARTA RYCHERT听is a Senior Research Officer in College of Health, Massey University, New Zealand. Her academic work lies at the intersection of public health,听policy听and law, with particular focus on legal aspects of regulating drugs, cannabis law reform, as well as discipline and regulation of health workforce. Her research analyses socio-legal and policy challenges in drug law reform, with a view to informing effective design of public health regulations that capture the benefits of reform while avoiding the negative effects of large-scale commercial markets. Dr.听Rychert听has published over 60 articles in peer-reviewed academic journals and acted as an advisor to health and drug government agencies in Europe, New听Zealand听and Australia.听She is the co-Editor-in-Chief of 鈥淒rugs, Habits, and Social Policy鈥�, an international drug policy journal publishing critical drug scholarship.听Prior to her academic appointments in New Zealand, she worked in the EU Drugs Agency in Portugal.听
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