Analysis

Cashing in on the green rush


Listen Later

Some countries have legalised cannabis, often with the hope of kick-starting a lucrative new source of tax revenue - but just how profitable has it been?

Aside from a few fact-finding trips, the prospect of legalising cannabis is not on the political agenda here in the UK - but could it be missing out?

Advocates say it's a bad call to let criminals continue to profit when legal businesses and the government could reap the financial rewards instead. Opponents counter that no amount of money is worth the associated public health risks.

But in the past decade countries including Canada, Malta, Uruguay and parts of the United States have decided to embrace the so-called green rush.

But how is it working out for them economically and what lessons could other places considering legalisation learn?

Reporter Datshiane Navanayagam talks to:

Christopher Snowden, Head of Lifestyle Economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs

Adam Spiker, executive director of a cannabis trade association in California

Amanda Chicago Lewis, a US based investigative reporter covering cannabis

Laura Schultz, executive director of research at Rockefeller Institute of Government in New York

Rishi Malkani, Cannabis Leader at Deloitte

Charlotte Bowyer, Head of Advisory at Hanway Associates

Producer: Ben Carter

Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith
Production co-ordinators: Helena Warwick-Cross and Maria Ogundele
Sound engineer: James Beard

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

AnalysisBy BBC Radio 4

  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6

4.6

195 ratings


More shows like Analysis

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,837 Listeners

From Our Own Correspondent by BBC Radio 4

From Our Own Correspondent

374 Listeners

More or Less by BBC Radio 4

More or Less

892 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,071 Listeners

The Reith Lectures by BBC Radio 4

The Reith Lectures

179 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,503 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,803 Listeners

In Our Time: History by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time: History

1,879 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,887 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,068 Listeners

Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4 by BBC Radio 4

Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4

2,122 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

1,980 Listeners

Profile by BBC Radio 4

Profile

108 Listeners

The Media Show by BBC Radio 4

The Media Show

32 Listeners

BBC Inside Science by BBC Radio 4

BBC Inside Science

413 Listeners

Moral Maze by BBC Radio 4

Moral Maze

58 Listeners

The Inquiry by BBC World Service

The Inquiry

737 Listeners

Start the Week by BBC Radio 4

Start the Week

162 Listeners

Any Questions? and Any Answers? by BBC Radio 4

Any Questions? and Any Answers?

41 Listeners

Daily Politics from the New Statesman by The New Statesman

Daily Politics from the New Statesman

144 Listeners

The Briefing Room by BBC Radio 4

The Briefing Room

68 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,212 Listeners

The Bomb by BBC World Service

The Bomb

1,044 Listeners

Westminster Insider by POLITICO

Westminster Insider

32 Listeners

Radical with Amol Rajan by BBC Radio 4

Radical with Amol Rajan

58 Listeners