Welcome to the third installment of our six‑part series based on learnings from 2025’s Global Cannabis Regulatory Summit.
In this collection, each article explores a key theme from the summit distilled into insights for risk experts.
In this piece, we focus on building a mature adult‑use cannabis market and outline three reform priorities that will shape policy, public health, and industry inclusion worldwide.
In this article:
- Why policy fragmentation continues to challenge global cannabis reform
- The importance of integrating legacy market participants
- Why public health must take center stage in regulation
- Implications for insurance brokers and cannabis businesses
The Need for Coherent Policy
Panelists agreed that political and structural barriers are the greatest obstacles to a globally integrated cannabis market (rather than technical or economic factors).
EU regulation blocks even the most forward-thinking countries (like Germany and Luxembourg) from reforming to the extent they otherwise might. In Australia, regulatory tensions between criminalization and public health goals continue to complicate reforms. Meanwhile, in the US, diverse state-level models — from social equity licensing frameworks to open licensing and tiered systems — encourage innovation but make harmonization difficult.
International treaties also restrict cross-border adult-use commerce. Some governments have backed out of commercial models as a result.
To overcome these barriers, panelists gave a few recommendations: bilateral agreements, stronger regional cooperation (i.e., within the EU), and the development of non-binding international standards for product quality, environmental responsibility, and equity.
The Need for Inclusive Participation
The legacy market (growers and sellers who operated before legalization) is key to cannabis supply chains. But formal systems often exclude these actors, undermining efforts to transition consumers away from illicit markets.
In the US, individuals with prior cannabis convictions are often blocked from entering legal markets, whether through explicit licensing restrictions or indirect challenges like access to capital.
There are also patterns of inequity on an international scale. For example, Moroccan hash producers are excluded from Dutch pilot programs. In fact, certified Moroccan cooperatives have no real export channels despite their legal recognition.
The panel emphasized that deliberate and well-resourced strategies to integrate legacy participants are necessary; otherwise, many will likely remain in illicit markets.
The Need for Public Health Leadership
Public health considerations are central to cannabis regulation, but revenues are often diverted away from functions like enforcement, testing and consumer education. Insufficient investment in these areas threatens to erode consumer trust and weakens oversight.
What’s more, there are regulatory gaps in addressing product consistency, labelling standards, and the emergence of synthetic cannabinoids. To address these challenges, the panel proposed establishing unified regulatory agencies with oversight across all cannabinoid markets (medical, adult-use, and hemp).
Integration with existing healthcare systems was also emphasized. Patients often seek cannabis for serious conditions, and policymakers must ensure safe, legal access through trusted medical channels. Simone Van Breda, President of the Union of Cannabis Retailers in the Netherlands, noted that “rigid product limitations (e.g., bans on concentrates) push consumers back into illicit markets, defeating the purpose of reform.”
Takeaways for Brokers and Insurance Professionals
The complexity of global cannabis regulation highlights the importance of having robust risk management strategies. To safeguard operations as the sector matures, innovative companies need coverage founded on deep industry expertise.
Relm provides specialist cannabis insurance solutions for innovators in the sector. Contact us today to learn more, and to download the full Global Cannabis Regulatory Summit White Paper from Artemis Growth Partners here.
