Quick correction - In Singapore the death penalty is available and regularly used for over 500g trafficking of cannabis, or 200g of resin (unsure if it's available for less). But this is more than 2oz re my comment (& you can buy 1oz in Colorado).

Also; most cocaine related deaths involve polydrug use (Scotland 2020: only 8% were cocaine alone).
www.crew.scot/wp-content/u...

& whilst autopsy/forensics cant make a distinction, other data suggests most are related to smoked crack/injected cocaine rather than snorted powder (all are Class A)
4/

Drugs death data has always been something of a minefield - and UK methodology has evolved over this period

But stats pedantry aside, I hope this illustrates that any assumption harsher penalties will deliver better outcomes is tragically misguided & scientifically untenable
3/

Note: this is data for England and Wales only -
ons.gov.uk/peoplepopula...

Numbers are even higher if Scotland and NI (where data is compiled separately) are included
2/

There may be a time where toxicology & risk is properly established for some novel cannabinoids; if lower than legal cannabis this cld provide a justification for a regulatory model. We are nowhere near this IMHO; we know little about these products because they are so new
8/🧵

Some places where the novel legal product mkts have become established (eg in NZ for SCRAs & Czechia for hemp derived cannabinoids) regulation models have been established before cannabis is legalised. While this is obviously mad it's also a legacy of cannabis prohibition
7/🧵

My take on this; regulate cannabis (see Transform guide on how) and ban all these synthetic & semi-synthetic products.

This may seem prohibitionist... But there's no responsible regulatory model where you can just invent new drugs and start selling them unregulated.
6/🧵

Notably use of these 'intoxicating hemp' products is twice as high in cannabis US prohibition states than in regulated cannabis states.

It is clear that the market opportunity for these products is created by the farm bill loophole combined with cannabis prohibition
5/🧵

Research suggests in this largely unregulated wild west many products are mislabeled and/or contaminated. Many are also entirely synthetic (not hemp derived) & many contain hemp derived semisynthetic delta 9THC (ie regular THC) - in both cases federally illegal
4/🧵

The speakers have made it clear how little is known about most of these substances in terms of toxicology, potency & risks. Even consumers often dont know what they are using

Amazingly these products are legal (but unregulated) in many states where cannabis remains illegal
3/🧵

While some states have banned these novel cannabinoids (most - but not all - derived from hemp derived CBD)& there are efforts to close the loophole at a federal level - it has unleashed a policy shit-storm for US regulators & public health advocates
www.marijuanamoment.net/congressiona...
2/🧵

And finally on Thursday afternoon, before I head home, I'm sharing insights on EU policy developments at the International Cannabis Bar Association @theINCBA cannabis law institute
5/🧵

On Thursday morning I'm joining a meeting of the Minority Cannabis Business Association - to learn about how evolving experiences with equity programs can help shape future devlopmenta in the UK and Europe.
minoritycannabis.org
4/🧵

Im on a panel on regulating high potency cannabis products, but the wider event is a great opportunity to connect with many regulatory pioneers & learn about what's working (& what's not), how emerging challenges are being tackled and share analysis from Europe
3/🧵

First up today is the Cannabis Regulators Association (CANNRA) summit; regulators from US reform states meeting external stakeholders (Inc a few international voices like us) to explore development and implementation of best practice
www.cann-ra.org/meetings/8cu...
2/🧵