Putting Patients First: The Path to Cannabis Reform

At the heart of any meaningful cannabis reform must be a stead- fast commitment to putting the patient first. This must remain the guiding principle if cannabis is to gain the political support needed to finally emerge from the shadows, shed its long-standing stigma, and realise its full potential in society. The global regulatory reality of today tells us that cannabis can be dealt with as an effective medical product. However, the current regulatory framework has some way to go before harmonisation and full adoption as a medical product becomes more mainstream. Although individual governments have been moving towards further descheduling,
Europe and the rest of the world are still some years away from political consensus in adopting adult-use frameworks.

A Pivotal Moment for Medical Cannabis

Since its descheduling by the UN in 2021, medical cannabis now stands at a pivotal moment in its global journey. In 2025, we are witnessing rapid evolution in cannabis policy, particularly across Europe, where countries like Germany are not only embracing rescheduling but actively expanding their markets. Public perception has undergone a profound shift. Increasingly, cannabis is recognised for what it truly is:

1. A plant with proven analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, offering relief from pain, nausea, muscular spasticity, appetite loss, sleep disorders, seizures, and mental health challenges.

2. A substance no more harmful than already legal counterparts like tobacco and alcohol. Viewed through this lens, policies that expand access to medical cannabis and recognise the medical, social, and economic opportunities presented by responsible cannabis liberalisation through regulation are not only compelling, they are simply common sense.

Persistent Challenges

Although surveys consistently reveal strong public support for further cannabis reform towards adult-use markets, with many citing benefits such as job creation, sales tax revenue, and more efficient use of law enforcement resources, key barriers persist. Political hesitation, often rooted in stigma or the vested interests of entrenched industries, continues to obstruct the development of rational, evidence-based cannabis policies that prioritise health and the public good.

A Clear Choice for the Future

The fundamental truth is clear: cannabis use, in its distinct ways, is here to stay. The real question is whether we continue to let consumer demand fuel unregulated, often illicit markets, or whether we choose to regulate and guide this demand towards a safer, more transparent, and socially beneficial system. Now is the time for supranational governmental bodies, supported by their member states, to catch up, not reactively, but proactively, by crafting thoughtful, forward-looking frameworks that support public health, economic growth, and social equity.

A Collaborative Step Forward

The inaugural Global Cannabis Regulatory Summit (‘GCRS’ or the ‘Summit’) marked an important step in that direction. Over three days, leading voices from policy, science, medicine, industry, and crucially, regulators, came together to share insights, forge connections, build networks, and develop informed, collaborative, evidence-based recommendations. This collection contains the resulting GCRS white papers: distilled reflections and actionable frameworks from Summit panels, designed to serve as practical tools for policymakers worldwide. The road ahead may be complex, but it is navigable. With collaboration, evidence, and courage, we can build a regulatory future that delivers real benefits for patients, for economies, and for society as a whole.

By Will Muecke & E. Stanton McLean from Artemis Growth Partners