Challenges and contradictions in the cannabis sector: a critical analysis of corporate practices in contexts of limited regulation in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa

• Grant number: 24/15730-9
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International
• Start date: April 11, 2025
• End date: April 24, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Political Science - International Politics
• Principal Investigator: Paulo José dos Reis Pereira
• Grantee: Paulo José dos Reis Pereira
• Visiting researcher: Kojo Koram
• Visiting researcher institution: Birkbeck, University Of London/Bbk, England
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Sociais. Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo (PUC-SP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The research activities that Professor Kojo Koram will contribute to aim to critically examine the practices and strategies of cannabis corporations in contexts of limited regulation, with a specific focus on the medicinal and export cultivation sectors. The study will concentrate on selected countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa, regions where cannabis regulations are at various stages of development and implementation.The proposal is to investigate how companies in the sector adapt to local regulations and often exploit gaps and ambiguities in these laws. In many of these countries, cannabis regulation is still evolving and may have deficiencies that allow large corporations to position themselves advantageously, often to the detriment of local communities and small producers. The research will analyze how these companies use strategies to maximize their profits while circumventing inadequate or non-existent regulations.To achieve these objectives, Professor Kojo Koram's contribution will be crucial in utilizing a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods. This will include designing data collection procedures through interviews with stakeholders such as regulators, industry representatives, and members of civil society; policy analysis to identify gaps and failures in existing regulations; market data collection and analysis to understand economic and commercial dynamics; and case studies in selected countries to illustrate corporate and regulatory practices in specific contexts.A specific contribution to this investigation will be the theoretical advancement of the concept of corporate capture and its application to emerging drug markets. The goal is to expand understanding of how large corporations influence and shape regulations, introducing new dimensions to the theory of corporate capture by applying it to emerging cannabis sectors.The proposal aims to reveal the tensions and contradictions in corporate and regulatory practices, highlighting how the interaction between cannabis corporations and regulatory systems can create inequalities and challenges. The expected outcomes will provide a critical view of current regulatory failures and challenges, offering recommendations for a more effective and equitable approach to controlling the cannabis sector.These recommendations will aim to promote policies that balance economic development with social justice, ensuring that the benefits of cannabis regulation are distributed fairly and that local communities, especially those historically involved in drug production, can benefit from legalization and regulation. Additionally, the research will seek to identify best practices and policies that can be adopted to improve the equity and effectiveness of regulations in countries with varying levels of regulatory development. (AU)