Dr. Jonas von Hoffmann

Reviewing extant information about practices and preferences regarding cannabis regulation, public opinion and current debates, the report features prominently the results of an original public opinion survey regarding the workings of cannabis prohibition and design considerations for cannabis regulation.

Why was there no marijuana legalization in Chile, arguably the “most likely” case after Uruguay in Latin America? Drawing on original data sources, including 36 interviews with key actors, this article provides the most-detailed account of cannabis reform in Chile between 2014 and 2018.

Why did Uruguay become the first country in the world to legalise marijuana in 2013? Based on extensive original research and a review of secondary sources,the article assesses alternative explanatory accounts through a unique combination of process tracing and counterfactual analysis.

Initial ‘top-down’ support, or lack the thereof, can have substantial consequences on subsequent reform processes and outcomes. A comparison between Uruguay and Chile illustrates how presidential support structures policy processes and affects the outcomes of marijuana legalization efforts.