Seminar International Law and Cannabis Policy: Options for Reform?

The Global Health Law Groningen Research Centre of the Department of Transboundary Legal Studies and the Research Centre for Public Order, Anti-Social Behavior and Security of the Department of Legal methods of the University of Groningen cordially invite you to participate in a seminar on International Law and Cannabis Policy: Options for Reform?

Cannabis policy is a hot topic in the Netherlands and around the world. Whilst technically cannabis falls within the often strict regulations of the international drug control system, a range of countries have taken more progressive and liberal approaches to cannabis regulation with outliers to even legalizing cannabis use and possession.

Both nationally and internationally, the debates around cannabis have also raised the question whether international standards on cannabis should be reformed including de-scheduling cannabis from the international drug control treaties, and drafting and adopting a separate international treaty to regulate cannabis. In this session, we will share insights from academia and practice and discuss the options for reform.

Everyone is welcome and participation is free of charge! We only ask you to write to ghlg@rug.nl to indicate your presence for catering purposes.

Programme

Chair: Prof. Brigit Toebes, Academic director Global Health Law Groningen Research Centre

14.30
Welcome and coffee

15.00 - 15.20
Dr. Allyn Taylor - University of Washington
To be announced

15.20 - 15.40
Tom Blickman - Transnational Institute
Yes, Legalizing Cannabis Breaks the UN Drug Control Conventions but We Can Deal With That

15.40 - 16.00
Michelle Bruijn, LLM - University of Groningen
The Alternative War on Drugs: Fighting Crime by Legalizing Cannabis

16.00 - 17.00
Q&A and focused discussion towards outcome document

17.00 - 18.00
Drinks