Regulating Cannabis for Public Good: Is ‘Public Ownership’ Model the Answer?”

Abstract

(En anglais seulement) The legalisation of cannabis on the American continent has reinvigorated calls for cannabis law reform in many countries. Non-commercial models for cannabis law reform, such as cannabis social clubs, not-for-profit community ‘trusts’ and government monopolies, may offer a buffer against industry marketing and commercialisation. To date, few jurisdictions have implemented these ‘middle ground’ models in practice, instead favouring familiar alcohol-style for-profit legalisation. This presentation will outline a framework for understanding cannabis law reform options between decriminalisation and commercial markets, with particular focus on ‘public ownership’ models for legal cannabis sale. The benefits and costs of the ‘public ownership’ model will be presented, drawing on empirical research with key policy stakeholders involved in implementing government-run retail stores for cannabis (Société québécoise du cannabis) in Quebec (Canada), ‘community licensing trusts’ for alcohol in New Zealand and experience with cannabis social clubs in a number of countries. Particular attention will be paid to formal and informal governance mechanisms and regulatory protections around price, retail, and product control under ‘public ownership’ models.  

Biography

DR. MARTA RYCHERT is a Senior Research Officer in College of Health, Massey University, New Zealand. Her academic work lies at the intersection of public health, policy 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. Rychert has published over 60 articles in peer-reviewed academic journals and acted as an advisor to health and drug government agencies in Europe, New Zealand and Australia. She is the co-Editor-in-Chief of “Drugs, Habits, and Social Policy”, an international drug policy journal publishing critical drug scholarship. Prior to her academic appointments in New Zealand, she worked in the EU Drugs Agency in Portugal. 

Une attestation de participation sera émise sur demande aux membres du Barreau du Québec et de la Chambre des notaires. Registration required. 

Please kindly confirm your attendance by filling out this form. A Zoom link will be sent to you ahead of the talk.