Ms Niamh Eastwood:

There are some interesting models to look at from the US. In the European context, EU member states are limited in what they can do around legalisation of cannabis because of EU law. There is a 2004 law that requires member states to restrict the production of drugs for commercial purposes. That means that Germany has had to approach the social clubs as a model, which many of us are interested in because it reduces the risk of commercialisation and potentially allows access. The impact on prevalence will be interesting to see within that context.

In the US we have seen an interesting mixture of models across the states. More recently, we saw moves by New York, Illinois and Massachusetts to do a social equity approach, whereby the model should seek to allow legal access to cannabis, but should then attempt to repair some of the harms that have been done by prohibition on communities that have suffered because of the war on drugs. For example, it allows people who have criminal records for cannabis-related offences to get licences. It provides taxation revenue into communities that have been over-policed, investing in education, health and community projects. In New York, for example, the participation of corporate actors has been banned for a five-year period to allow the regulated environment to benefit these different actors. For example, in New York the first licence went to a HIV NGO that works with the African-American community. We are seeing really interesting economic models that seek, through reparative approaches, to bring the benefits of the economy closer to the ground, which is really interesting and it is something we have not seen in other goods and products. There is potential for us to see how we could benefit communities through regulation.

On prevalence, the evidence is quite mixed in how it affects adolescents. Professor Stevens might confirm that. However, we are seeing increases. Interestingly, the generation that is using it most and has accessed these new markets is those in their 60s, 70s and 80s. There is some evidence that they are choosing to do that rather than use traditional medicines. That is an interesting demographic that has been one of the drivers of increased prevalence in the US and Canada.