The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) has released Cannabis Research in Times of Legalization: What’s on the Agenda. The report is based on a workshop of the same name that was co-organized by CCSA and the Department of Political Science at the University of Zurich. Held on February 8, 2021, the workshop was organized to exchange research experiences and encourage networking among international cannabis experts and researchers.
The report summarizes the workshop discussions, which included the following observations:
- While the goals associated with the legalization of cannabis for non-medical purposes vary by country, there are common questions to be addressed.
- There is a need for more reliable data and information, as well as consistent measurement methods and tools to allow for knowledge transfer in varying contexts and over time.
- The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on research, including disrupting data trends and changing data collection strategies.
Participants at the workshop saw an opportunity for future collaboration in developing a common research agenda with internationally comparable questions on cannabis use.