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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
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Canadian legislative overview
Canada has had several medical-use cannabis regimes since 2001 with the introduction of the Medical Marihuana Access Regulations.
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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.
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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.
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Netherlands legislative overview
The Netherlands has been known for its distinctively tolerant policy on drugs.
Recent publications
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It passed! Unpacking the key changes arising from the Environment Legislation Amendment Act 2025
A range of significant reforms to NSW’s key environmental laws has just been passed by the NSW Parliament, and our responses to the FAQ’s about the Environmental Legislation Amendment Act 2025 (the Amendment Act) are set out below:
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Promoting investment in Western Australia: An overview of the State Development Bill
The State Development Bill 2025 (WA) (the Bill) proposes to provide the State Development Minister (currently the Hon Roger Cook MLA, Premier) and the Coordinator General (CG) (an existing office with a new statutory role) with a range of powers to coordinate and fast-track approvals for strategically important developments, all with the aim of securing investment in areas the WA Government considers are key to WA’s future. If passed, the key reforms in the Bill will come into force on a date to be proclaimed.
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