Cannabis regulation is evolving across Europe — and most of us agree why it’s needed. But “legalisation” has become a buzzword, often used to delay hard choices with the idea that things will be “fixed later.” Meanwhile, we see a hybrid reality: recreational brands operating under medicinal frameworks, unclear responsibilities, and a widening gap between policy and practice.
As it stands, consumers are not being served by the systems in place — and patients who could genuinely benefit from cannabis are being pushed away from access, precisely because the lines between markets have become so blurred. By relying on temporary workarounds and legal loopholes, we risk sending the message that cannabis policy doesn’t require serious, structured governance.
This session doesn’t present a fixed solution. Instead, we explore the next layer: What practical steps can we take now toward transparent, functional and inclusive regulation? And ultimately — can we work toward a European legislative framework that reflects reality, respects national diversity, and is broadly supported across countries and sectors?
