Visions of Cannabis Control

Abstract Visions of Cannabis Control documents the history of cannabis policy and the role of racism, labelling, and stigmatization. The book argues that these problems stem from the failure to properly frame cannabis prohibition as the result of moral panics that have been instigated, perpetuated, and sustained in ways that are difficult to dislodge. Stan Cohen argued that reforms designed to replace carceral tendencies within correctional institutions often extend such approaches into our communities. The idea that criminal justice reforms often reproduce what they were intended to disrupt is depressing and provocative. It remains relevant to the cannabis revolution currently underway around the world. Racial disparities in arrests persist, exacerbated by laws that make it legal to possess cannabis but illegal to consume it anywhere but in your home. Too often, cannabis liberalization comes at the cost of expanding paternalistic public health models and abstention-based diversion programs. Finally, the goal of dismantling and disrupting illicit markets has been undermined by onerous regulations, anemic marketing efforts, and the failure to promote consumer-centered approaches. Emphasizing public health goals ahead of market conditions complicates legal cannabis as an industry. To understand the future of cannabis policy, Visions of Cannabis Control examines the experience of six countries and several US states through the lens of criminological theory, recent research, and practice. The book presents several options to guide responsible regulation from extensive research and practice, finally concluding that sustaining reform will require ensuring those affected by cannabis policies are consulted, respected, and included.