(Drugs, Crime and Society)
by Mafalda Pardal (Editor)
As
cannabis legalization reforms are underway, there is some concern that
non-profit, ‘middle ground’ options may remain under-researched and thus
less visible. This book offers an in-depth account of one of the
possible ‘middle ground’ models for the supply of cannabis: the Cannabis
Social Club.
Cannabis Social Clubs (CSCs) are
typically formal, non-profit associations of adult cannabis users who
produce and distribute that substance close to or at cost price among
themselves. They constitute an user-driven model for the supply of
cannabis. In most jurisdictions, CSCs remain a grass roots, unregulated
initiative of groups of users, but the model has been legalized in
Uruguay and Malta, and it has featured recent debates and legislative
proposals in other countries. This book brings together contributions
from internationally respected scholars, drawing on case studies,
empirical findings and policy reflections, from a range of countries
(such as Belgium, Canada, New Zealand, Spain, Uruguay, USA), and a
consideration of the CSC model from different disciplinary backgrounds.
Part one provides detailed analysis of where and how CSCs have been
operating, and a critical analysis of their key features and
relationship with institutional actors. Part two discusses several
policy outcomes and proposes a design of a regulatory market, as well as
considering whether the CSC model might be suited for adaptation to the
supply of other substances.
The Cannabis Social
Club is important reading for academics in the fields of drug policy
analysis, criminology, economics, policy studies and anthropology. It
will also be of interest to policy makers, journalists, law-enforcement
personnel.
