Publication
Australian legislative overview
Australia became a signatory to The Convention in March 1961.
Cannabis’ legalization and what it means for regulatory regimes worldwide
Global | Publication | February 2020
Cannabis has been considered an illegal substance globally since the creation of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (The Convention) in 1961. The Convention is an international treaty which outlines the prohibition of certain drugs and is in place to prevent their production and supply, unless they are being produced for scientific or certain medicinal purposes. This was an attempt by the UN to try and reduce the supply of drugs entering through illegal channels and being sold on the black market. Under The Convention, cannabis had the same restrictions placed upon its cultivation and distribution as opioids.
All the countries we will provide an overview on are signatories to The Convention and in total there are 186 parties involved in the treaty1. Over the past two decades, many of the positive effects of, or more specifically, certain types of cannabis, have come to light. Many countries across the globe are now taking steps to open up legal avenues for the production, sale and consumption of cannabis, reflecting scientific research which shows that it has the ability to help people with a wide range of medical issues from Cancer to Alzheimer’s and sociological evidence showing that the criminalization of cannabis is of questionable benefit. With the evidence in favor of legalization seemingly mounting, cannabis is expected to be an industry worth USD$66.3 billion globally by the end of 2025.2
In this piece we explore the current regulatory regimes enforced in a selection of jurisdictions and take a look at what the future holds for the development of these regulatory regimes worldwide.
Footnotes
1
[1] Treaties.un.org. (2020). UNTC. [online] Available at: https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=VI-18&chapter=6&clang=_en [Accessed 10 Feb. 2020].
2
Grand View Research, 2019 Legal Marijuana Market Worth $66.3 Billion By 2025 | CAGR: 23.9% https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-legal-marijuana-market
Legislative overviews
Publication
Canadian legislative overview
Canada has had several medical-use cannabis regimes since 2001 with the introduction of the Medical Marihuana Access Regulations.
Publication
French legislative overview
Legalization of cannabis is a recurrent topic in France, which has reached a new milestone under the pressure of the changes underway in other European countries.
Publication
Greek legislative overview
As demand for cannabis products continues to skyrocket, the cannabis industry worldwide has developed into a unique market that is independent, with controversial reputation and shifting legalities.
Publication
Netherlands legislative overview
The Netherlands has been known for its distinctively tolerant policy on drugs.
Recent publications
Publication
Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) proposes to impose port fee increases on Chinese vessels and vessel operators (consultation closing on 24 March 2025)
On 16 January 2025, the USTR published a notice of determination that China’s targeting of the maritime, logistics and shipbuilding sectors for dominance is actionable under Section 301 of the US Trade Act of 1974. Section 301 grants the USTR the authority to investigate and remediate, including through the imposition of tariffs or other import restrictions, foreign trade practices that it determines (1) are unreasonable or discriminatory, and (2) burdens or restricts US commerce.
Publication
Global Minimum Tax rules in 2025
The OECD Pillar Two rules (also known as the Global Minimum Tax), where implemented by a national jurisdiction, require multinational enterprises (MNEs) with a consolidated group turnover of more than €750 million to calculate the effective tax rate in each jurisdiction in which it operates.
Subscribe and stay up to date with the latest legal news, information and events . . .