Cannabis, in recent years, has seen a remarkable shift in its perception by the public. From being solidified as a Schedule I drug by the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, it has undergone legislative and societal changes unseen by any other drug of the same class, with Colorado and Washington legalizing the substance in 2012 for the first time in the US. Now, half of Americans have legal access to the substance, and an overwhelming nine out of ten people support the legalization of the drug in one form or another. Once universally scrutinized as a dangerous and addictive substance without even being used in a clinical setting, cannabis is now at the forefront of a worldwide debate that addresses not only its use in the medical field but also its recreational applications. So why has the view toward cannabis evolved so drastically in the past few decades?
Medical studies have been a major contributing factor to the relaxation of cannabis’s perception as a hardcore drug. Several countries have recognized chemical components found in cannabis, namely tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), as potential treatments for several chronic neurological diseases or a therapeutic remedy for disorders such as epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, or even cancer-related symptoms. The shift in views on the drug from an abused substance to a life-saving medicine has had a significant effect on the societal stigma surrounding cannabis, with even traditionally anti-drug hardline countries such as South Korea now legalizing its prescription in certain circumstances.
On a more morally ambiguous pretext, economic factors have played a critical part in the trend of legalizing the plant, with anecdotal evidence proving that the cannabis industry is viable in providing a substantial source of profit not only for businesses but also for governments in the form of tax. Marijuana thus becomes an enticing market for many nations to capitalize off, especially those looking for new avenues for economic growth. For example, the United States reported almost three billion dollars in revenue from cannabis in 2022, and its nationwide legalization is projected to produce over eight and a half billion dollars purely from taxes drawn from sales.
The legislative representation that cannabis poses on the international stage has shown broad reception, with the Americas traditionally showing a more lax approach and Canada becoming the second country to legalize the recreational use of the substance following Uruguay in 2013. Europe has taken a more cautious stance with an emphasis on medical use only, though some countries have been experimenting with decriminalization rather than full legalization, counting the possession of small amounts of marijuana as a minor offense, if at all. Asia and the Middle East have been relatively slow in their alleviation of all drug-related laws, with possession charges carrying severe criminal penalties. However, a slow change is seen with breakthroughs such as Thailand’s decriminalization of the drug in June 2022.
It is hard to imagine a world where people on the streets of Korea freely smoke marijuana. However, the fact that cigarettes are commonplace highlights the potential stigma against cannabis and the challenges and controversies still left to resolve before the substance becomes widely accepted. The trend toward legalization or decriminalization is likely to continue as medical evidence evolves and new economic opportunities become apparent. In an international setting, bodies such as the UN or WHO will have a large influence on cannabis policy moving into the future, as well as the public opinions surrounding it. The current transformation in global cannabis policy shows an unprecedented approach to how drugs are regulated. Drug regulation has historically been a straight-cut divide between legal or criminally prosecuted — hence the popular term “war on drugs” — but it is now moving towards a more nuanced and informed discussion of the complexities surrounding marijuana’s risks and potential applications.