Transform first published How to Regulate Cannabis: A Practical Guide in 2013, shortly after Colorado and Washington passed state-level initiatives to legalise cannabis, and shortly before licensed sales of cannabis began. Since then, the cannabis policy scene has changed dramatically. As well as an ever-increasing number of state-level initiatives to legalise cannabis in the US, now well into the double figures, we have seen moves at a national level in Uruguay, Canada and Mexico — with more to follow. Cannabis regulation is no longer hypothetical, and the challenge is no longer to prove that workable frameworks exist; regulation has already been implemented in many different ways with differing impacts. Instead, the challenge now is to draw on best practice, learn lessons from early experiences, and make the case for optimising regulatory models to ensure they best protect public health, reduce harms, and promote social justice.

Early experiences of cannabis legalisation have brought the issues of social and racial justice to the fore. In this revised and updated version, Transform aims to spell out how to build a regulatory framework that truly works to promote social justice, as well as protect public health. This book will help guide all those interested in cannabis policy through the key practical challenges to developing and implementing an effective regulation approach.

Reform is accelerating. We are fast approaching half a billion people living in legal cannabis jurisdictions. Emerging lessons from these new legal jurisdictions have been incorporated throughout this updated and expanded third edition.

This guide takes a detailed look at cannabis policy through the key practical challenges involved in developing and implementing an effective regulation approach. Rather than a ‘one-size-fits-all’ model, this guide makes broad recommendations that are flexible enough to help those interested in cannabis regulation to develop an approach appropriate to their local circumstances.

The third edition of 'How to Regulate Cannabis: A Practical Guide' is out now

You can access both the Executive Summary and the full book online NOW or order the hard copy for only £15.