Toward a Regulatory Framework for the Legalization of Cannabis: How Do We Get to There from Here?

This article discusses several issues related to the development of a regulatory system for the legalization of cannabis. We first outline a framework for considering how goods and services in general are treated from a legal and regulatory point of view. This is followed by a brief summary of the current legal treatment of cannabis in Canada and in several other countries. Next, we outline several possible motivations for government intervention in the cannabis industry, followed by a discussion of policy options available for realizing an optimal regulatory structure for cannabis in general. Finally, we summarize the nature of the policy choices facing the federal and provincial governments in developing a regulatory framework for the legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada.