Are social clubs the way forward for cannabis reform?

September 28, 2023 by Sarah Sinclair

Research suggests that cannabis social clubs play a key role in future legislation reform and can be effective in achieving social justice for those affected by prohibition. 

A gradual shift is taking place across the globe, as more and more jurisdictions look to address the failings of longstanding drug laws and instead move towards adopting policies rooted in public health and harm-reduction.

Earlier this year a group of United Nations (UN) representatives and Human Rights experts called for an end to the ‘global war on drugs’, urging its members to decriminalise personal use as a ‘matter of urgency’.  

Further to this, on Wednesday 20 September, the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk highlighted in a statement that over-reliance on punitive measures to control drug use, disproportionately affects the poorest and most vulnerable and is ‘fanning an increase in human rights violations’. 

While a small number of countries have adopted the full legalisation of cannabis – most notably Canada and several US states –  many more have introduced varying types of reform and limited enforcement. But there remains much debate over the best approach in order to ensure legislation is addressing the harms of prohibition and ensuring public health and safety.