Four years ago the US State of Colorado voted to legalise the sale of cannabis. Since then the states of Washington, Oregon and Alaska have followed suit. This November, in all likelihood, California and Massachusetts will support legalisation ballots. Uruguay has become the first country to legally regulate cannabis. The Canadian Prime Minister has announced that his government will bring forward a legalisation White Paper. Just last month the Mexican President spoke at the UN and suggested that his country was giving serious consideration to moving to a regulated market.

These reforms, in relation to cannabis in the Americas, constitute the greatest collective wave of drug policy reform in over half a century. They have precipitated a new debate; how best to create an infrastructure that safeguards legitimate public health concerns, whilst creating incentives for business to invest, and removing the black market.

The ‘tidal effect’ of these reforms will change the debate about cannabis legalisation in the UK.

VolteFace is delighted to host ‘Regulate. But How?’, to examine how best to create a sustainable legal regulated market. #VFRegulate

Invited speakers

Sam Bowman

Sam is the Executive Director of the Adam Smith Institute. ASI is one of the world's leading think tanks, who promote libertarian ideas. Sam’s focus is on free markets and a free society in the United Kingdom. Tweets @s8mb

Ann Fordham

Ann is Executive Director at International Drug Policy Consortium. Ann works with international policy makers and civil society partners, focusing on shaping drug control policies to be more humane and effective. Tweets @AnnFordham

Brendan Kennedy

Brendan is the Chief Executive Officer of Privateer Holdings and an entrepreneur who has successfully led many new and existing companies. Through acquisitions, investments and incubation, Privateer are building a portfolio of global brands that look to define the future of cannabis. Tweets @BrendanTKennedy

Mike Power

Mike is the author of Drugs 2.0: The Web Revolution That's Changing How the World Gets High. He is also an investigative journalist who specialises in drugs, science and technology. Tweets @mrmichaelpower

Steve Rolles

Steve is the Senior Policy Analyst at Transform. A key figure in much of the public debate around the regulation of drugs both in the UK and internationally, Steve is the lead author on many of Transform's publications. Tweets @SteveTransform