Editorial
The globalisation of cannabis cultivation: A growing challenge

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Explanations

Contemporary cannabis cultivation takes many different forms with variations in approach identifiable both within and between different countries. Clearly, there is not a single, simple explanation for the growth of the industry in every country, and there are undoubtedly a number of factors at play. A simple typology of modern cannabis cultivation might therefore be “old” or “traditional” cultivation, occurring in the developing world for exportation to the developed world, and “new”

World Wide Weed

The spread of cannabis cultivation has obvious implications for those countries where it is an emerging phenomenon, but also for those countries whose traditional position as major exporters is being undermined. An increasing number of countries have shown unease about the international treaty regime's strictures on cannabis. Over the past decades, parties to the UN drug-control conventions have exploited flexibility within the international legislation to engage in decriminalization of

Policy implications

The findings of the various studies included in this volume suggest the need for a serious reflection on the manner in which policy intervenes and handles cannabis growers. Seeing the cultivation industry as a one-dimensional phenomenon is a mistake. Instead, the heterogeneity of participants in this activity is probably the most robust finding of research on cannabis cultivation. Such variability in involvement makes policy recommendations so important yet so delicate at the same time. Can

Conflict of interest statement

We wish to confirm that there are no known conflicts of interest associated with this publication and there has been no significant financial support for this work that could have influenced its outcome.

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