ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a detailed overview of 'the present' of cannabis cultivation around the world. It also provides case-studies on two jurisdictions that have experimented with the toleration of small-scale cultivation. The succession of case studies from different countries around the world also emphasizes the need for comparative research examining the impact of various policies on the structure of the cannabis cultivation industry. Several systems of cannabis supply regulation have been proposed in different countries, and research on their effectiveness would be of international interest. Cultivation for medical purposes might be considered as a separate issue in that there are stronger arguments and more public sympathy towards medical use than recreational use. Commercial growing can be small-scale, especially when non-commercial growers realize they can sell their surplus or are offered money when they try to give gifts.
