Intellectual Property and Cannabis

This pioneering book explores the relationship between intellectual property (IP) and cannabis. Expert scholars from across the globe reflect on the legal, cultural, and socio-economic significance of cannabis, addressing the difficulties of adapting legal frameworks to this unique and multifaceted product.

Chapters delve into key issues at the intersection of IP and cannabis, from branding and packaging to social equity concerns surrounding the rapid growth of the market. Contributing authors demonstrate the intricate contradictions between positive IP protection and cannabis regulation, drawing on case studies from jurisdictions where the product is legalised to varying degrees, including Canada, Jamaica, Uruguay, and the Netherlands. Covering different plant varieties, moral rights, and links between cannabis and traditional knowledge, this incisive book highlights the challenges of harmonising global cannabis laws while balancing innovation and tradition.

Providing novel interdisciplinary insights into the controversies and complexities of the law surrounding cannabis, this book is an essential read for students and academics in intellectual property law, pharmaceutical law, innovation and economics. It is also an invaluable toolkit for policymakers in governments and tribunals, as well as commercial entrepreneurs.