Legalising Cannabis | Prof Simon Lenton

Could Australia legalise recreational cannabis use while avoiding the same profit-driven pitfalls that have occurred with tobacco and alcohol?  

In this episode, Sarah is joined by Professor Simon Lenton from the National Drug Research Institute to explore how Australia may go about legalising the recreational use of cannabis, learning from the commercial models seen in North America. 

• Highs and lows of commercialising cannabis [04:31]
• Cannabis social clubs [07:44]
• The cannabis profit playbook [11:09]
• Reducing the risk of drug driving [13:58]
• Cannabis law in Australia right now [16:31]
• Finding the middle ground for legalisation [19:00]
• ‘Things are wrong with the system’ [21:51]

Learn more

• It could take 10 years to measure the impact of legalising weed
• Assessing options for cannabis law reform
• Legalizing cannabis: Experience, lessons and scenarios

Connect with our guest

Professor Simon Lenton has worked with the National Drug Research Institute since 1993 in both research and professional roles. He also works part-time as a clinical psychologist in private practice. 

His research interests include bridging the gap between drug policy research and drug policy practice, illicit drug use and harm reduction, and the impact of legislative options for drugs.

He has published widely on drugs, health and the law and has given advice to a range of government and private organisations, both in Australia and internationally, on evidence-based drug policy and other drug issues. 

Web: ndri.curtin.edu.au

Twitter: @NDRIau

Facebook: @NDRIau

LinkedIn: National Drug Research Institute (NDRI)

YouTube: NDRIau

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Transcript

https://thefutureof.simplecast.com/episodes/legalising-cannabis/transcript

Behind the scenes

This episode came to fruition thanks to the combined efforts of:

• Sarah Taillier: Host
• Karen Green: Researcher 
• Recorder and Editor: Zoe Taylor
• Anita Shore and Jarrad Long: Executive Producers
• Annabelle Fouchard: Producer
• Alexandra Eftos: Assistant Producer
• Amy Hosking: Social Media.

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

First Nations Acknowledgement

Curtin University acknowledges the traditional owners of the land on which Curtin Perth is located, the Whadjuk people of the Nyungar Nation, and on Curtin Kalgoorlie, the Wongutha people of the North-Eastern Goldfields; and the First Nations peoples on all Curtin locations.

Music

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