9781422276921

Introduction In the past decade, public opinion regarding cannabis legalization has begun to change around the world. A growing number of countries have legalized the medical use of cannabis to treat pain, nausea caused by cancer and other diseases, poor appetite and weight loss caused by chronic illnesses, muscle spasms caused by multiple sclerosis, seizure disorders, Crohn’s disease, and other medical condi- tions. It is also being used to help fight the opioid abuse crisis and post-traumatic

stress disorder (which is experienced by some military veterans; those who have been victims of natural disasters, serious accidents, terrorist incidents, or physical or sexual assault; and others). Countries that have legalized medical cannabis in recent years include the United States (in a majority of states), Canada, Australia, Spain, Portugal, Jamaica, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Romania, Germany, India, Israel, Macedonia, South Africa, and Uruguay. A small but growing number of countries have also legalized or decriminalized the use of recreational cannabis by adults. (Decriminalization means reducing or getting rid of punishments for having and using small amounts of cannabis.) Recreational use of cannabis has been decriminalized in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Denmark, Italy, Spain, Czech Republic, and Germany, although it is still technically illegal. The Neth- erlands has long ignored recreational

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