- The regulation of cannabis is a policy option gaining traction internationally and Scotland should be prepared to engage with the different models and processes involved.
- Creating a new narrative on cannabis in Scotland, including challenging the idea that we are unable to do it because of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. There is flexibility and grey legal areas that can be worked through if there is a willingness by all those involved to engage with it.
- The new narrative must engage different publics in order to raise awareness around the impact of the current system of non-regulation on cannabis consumers, and potential outcomes of legal regulation.
- This may also include analysis on potential revenues such as Hemp production, cannabis research in Scottish universities and pharmacies, as well as taxable income from different regulatory models.
- It must also include the impact of criminal sanctions on consumers (physical, psychological and financial), and the financial impact on the Scottish Courts and police (see below on policy aims).
- Engaging with medical community in regards health benefits such as chronic pain, MS, arthritis and other neurological and nervous systems disorders which have shown to benefit from cannabis use.
- The Expert Working Group on Cannabis in Scotland will take the outcomes of this meeting and work on a proposal for implementation. This proposal will be brought back to the SDPC group as a provisional draft and we will deliberate its content and how to take it forward. This will likely happen towards the end of 2017.