Legally regulated cannabis markets in the US: Implications and possibilities

This report from the Global Drug Policy Observatory analyses the developments in cannabis policy in the United States in order to understand the domestic and global implications as well as the potential for further changes within the US.
It begins with an attempt to locate recent changes in US cannabis policy within a historical framework going back to the 1970s.
The briefing then summarises the details of the planned regulative frameworks for recreational cannabis within Washington and Colorado and highlights both similarities and differences in approach.
It also outlines the status and details of similar reformist endeavours that have taken place in other US states during 2013.
KEY POINTS:
- In November 2012, voters in Washington and Colorado passed ballot initiatives that establish legally regulated markets for the production, sale, use and taxation of cannabis - the first time anywhere in the world that recreational use of the drug will be legally regulated.
- The construction of legally regulated cannabis markets in these US states must be viewed as part of a long running process of 'softening' the official zero-tolerance approach.
- Support for legalising cannabis has been growing in the US for some time and it is highest in states that have medical marijuana laws, but not decriminalisation. This suggests that voters recognize the benefits of regulation over the relaxation of laws.
- The regulatory regimes being pursued in Washington and Colorado differ in a number of respects. It will be important to see how these differences affect the operation of their respective markets.
- The votes put these US states in contravention of US federal law and, beyond US borders, they generate considerable tension between the federal government and the international drug control system.
- These developments also impact on the ongoing policy shifts within Latin America - including Uruguay - and the emerging tensions around cannabis within the UN system.
- It is vital that the operation of the legally regulated markets in Washington and Colorado is closely monitored and that, where necessary, structures are adjusted in response to any emerging issues.
- Other states in the US and countries across the world will be observing the regulatory frameworks introduced in Washington and Colorado in order to see how effective they are in reducing the harms associated with the illicit cannabis market.