Once a controversial topic discussed mostly by activists and enthusiasts is now being debated by governments, healthcare professionals, researchers and regulators around the world.
While every country continues to approach cannabis differently, the overall trend has clearly been moving towards decriminalisation, medicinal cannabis access and regulated legal cannabis markets.
Canada became one of the first major nations to fully legalise recreational cannabis nationwide in 2018, creating one of the world’s largest regulated cannabis industries.
Since then, several US states have expanded legal recreational access, while countries including Germany, Malta, Luxembourg and parts of South America have introduced varying forms of cannabis reform.
Thailand also made international headlines after removing cannabis from its narcotics list, becoming one of the first countries in Asia to significantly relax cannabis restrictions.
The medicinal cannabis sector has experienced particularly strong growth globally. Millions of patients worldwide now access medicinal cannabis products legally for conditions such as chronic pain, epilepsy, inflammation, anxiety and sleep disorders.
As scientific research continues expanding, governments are increasingly reviewing cannabis policies that were often developed decades before modern medicinal cannabis studies existed.
Organisations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) have also contributed to ongoing discussions surrounding cannabis, cannabinoids and public health policy.
Australia has undergone significant change as well. Since medicinal cannabis was legalised federally in 2016, patient access has expanded rapidly, with prescription numbers increasing every year. Medicinal cannabis clinics, telehealth consultations and specialist prescribing pathways have helped thousands of Australians legally access cannabis-based treatments under current regulations.
The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) became the first Australian jurisdiction to legalize personal possession and limited home cultivation for adults under territory law. While federal legal complexities remain, the ACT reforms represented a major shift in Australia’s cannabis conversation and demonstrated growing political willingness to explore alternative cannabis policy models.