Legal Market Research Articles

(Mis)Governing World Football? Agency and (Non)Accountability in FIFA

Abstract —We identify the variables that have enabled the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to evade internal and external legal and juridical rules and processes, allowing it to prioritise the interests of its leaders and staff rather than its stakeholders. An interdisciplinary theoretical framework highlights the weaknesses of the legal systems, democratic processes, market mechanisms and regulatory regimes governing FIFA’s activities since its foundation. The historical processes transforming FIFA into a wealthy enterprise whose leaders could abuse their power with impunity are reviewed. An evaluation of the structural reforms introduced in 2016 following the exposure of FIFA corruption by US authorities in 2015 then shows how they have strengthened the internal and external rules and procedures enabling stakeholders to hold FIFA to account, whilst arguing that the reforms have not eliminated the leadership’s ability to ‘capture’ its democratic processes, exploit its monopolistic controls over lucrative contracts and evade regulatory controls.

Bridging the gap: Exploring consumer experiences and motivations for transitioning between illicit and regulated cannabis markets

BackgroundCanada pioneered the non-medical legalization of cannabis production and sales, witnessing substantial growth in the regulated market over the last five years, post-legalization. However, persistent barriers hinder many consumers from transitioning to the legal market, necessitating a nuanced understanding of their behaviors for targeted policy interventions. This study aims to improve understanding of cannabis consumers’ unregulated purchase decisions in British Columbia (B.C.), and to explore motivational factors for transitioning to the legal market. MethodsWe conducted semi-structured interviews with cannabis consumers in B.C., who were at least 19 years old and purchased some or all of their cannabis through unregulated sources. Interviews were transcribed and an inductive thematic analysis was conducted using NVivo. Through coding iterations, we moved from descriptive to analytic codes, and finally mapped the codes to themes aligned with the Five Stages of Consumer Decision Making model. ResultsParticipants (N = 31) represented a broad range of demographic characteristics (i.e., gender, age, education, income). Four themes were identified: seeking information, evaluation of alternatives, purchase decision, and post purchase evaluation. Despite purchasing all or some of their cannabis from the unregulated market, most participants were supportive of legalization and felt that legal cannabis is safe, accessible, and of reasonable quality. However, several barriers prevent consumers from regularly accessing the regulated market, including: price, lack of sales and promotions, potency, limited product variety, and inadequate product interaction. ConclusionThis study delineates barriers that obstruct consumers' transition to the regulated market. These findings, aligned with considerations for public health and safety, offer valuable insights to inform cannabis policy and promote a more effective and consumer-oriented regulatory framework.

South Africa’s crowded cannabis market: identifying new market opportunities for Ilco Farming’s “green gold”

Learning outcomes Following a discussion of the case, students should be able to analyse competitive dynamics: provide an in-depth critical analysis of Ilco Farming’s microenvironment, using the structure–conduct–performance framework; evaluate strategic positioning: conduct a SWOT analysis of Ilco Farming’s medicinal cannabis business; and develop strategic approaches: propose actionable strategies that would provide effective solutions to the problem of constrained market conditions currently faced by Ilco Farming. Case overview/synopsis Coenie and Ilse Venter established Ilco Farming, a cannabis farm located in the Viljoenskroon district in the Free State province in South Africa, in 2021. From the beginning, they poured their hearts and souls into their new venture, which soon paid off. A few short months after Ilco Farming began operating, despite the presence of other large competitors, Ilco Farming supplied a large share of the domestic medicinal market with flower heads. But then an unexpected challenge presented itself. In March 2023, Ilco Farming was operating at only 23% (600 m2) of its production capacity of 2600 m2 and had considerable room for growth, the local market – at least the local legal market – for cannabis began to show signs of saturation. Coenie and Ilsa found themselves at the proverbial crossroads, grappling with the crucial decision of how to secure their farm’s future in the face of a fast-saturating local (legal) cannabis market and a thriving (illegal) black market. Coenie and Ilse refused to entertain the idea of going the black market route, as they were unwilling to risk losing their operating licence. They calculated that the farm would reach breakeven point within the next two years, with profits unlikely during this period. Should they persist with their current strategy of producing high-quality products and delivering a superior service in the hopes of growing their market share? Or should they consider other strategic options? Coenie and Ilse were sitting at their boardroom table having a cup of coffee and looking out of the window at Ilco Farming’s impressive SAHPRA- and GAP-approved warehouse and tunnels. “What should we do?” they both wondered. Complexity academic level The case study can be used in postgraduate courses in microeconomics (PGDIP/MBA) and agricultural economics (PGDIP/MBA). Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 5: International business.

Get Peace of Mind with Do-It-Yourself Living Wills: The Digitalisation of Medical-Legal Practice and the New Post-Covid 19 Approach

“The automatisation of the core tasks performed by legal practitioners […] is an ongoing and open-ended process” (Schäfke-Zell & Asmussen, 2019, p. 65). “A host of innovative legal-tech companies have entered the market of legal service providers, presently challenging the lawyers’ monopoly over the practice of the law, and ultimately, altering the mode of production in the legal field” (Caserta, 2020, p. 1). Beginning with these assumptions, this study draws on ongoing research on healthcare powers of attorney, living wills, and advance directives (Giordano, 2019, 2021) and will explore the current radical changes and restructuring of modalities of production in medical-legal documents and in the delivery of legal services. The legal websites in the corpus under investigation provide guidance in creating a personal living will according to well-established legal procedures that are pursuant to the laws and regulations of a particular state or country. Living wills and advance directives are signed documents in which the declarants state whether or not they wish to be kept alive using artificial means in the event a doctor declares their death to be imminent. Doctors and medical practitioners are legally bound to follow these directives. Following the increased digitalization of the legal field, these documents are now frequently drafted and completed online, thus embracing the full potential of the new technologies available today. Both verbal and visual rhetoric (Murray, 2014; Sherwin, Feigenson, & Spiesel, 2005) will be investigated to ascertain whether and to what extent digital transformation is redefining the ways in which this legal service is offered, thus promoting greater understanding and wider knowledge of a controversial issue such as making decisions regarding one’s end of life and the choices available among various life-prolonging measures and treatments. The research aims to determine whether the new digital genres can help translate the specific constraints and demands of legal argumentation into new popular, cultural and technological discourse which better appeals to peoples’ emotions and values. The legal sector’s increasing use of digital forms and templates embellished with visual and multimedia content may at once have a commodifying and democratizing effect. Legal meanings and services in the new legal market (Schäfke-Zell & Asmussen, 2019, p. 66) might be better understood and internalized, thus reinforcing and disseminating the emerging vernacular of digital culture along with law, regulations and legal institutes and instruments, which would otherwise be difficult for a layperson to comprehend or accept (Anesa, 2016; Calsamiglia, 2003; Calsamiglia & van Dijk, 2004). In addition to this process of democratization of new media, the Coronavirus pandemic also contributed to changing people’s approach to life (Garzone, 2023) and to living wills, triggered by an increased sense of precariousness of life and imminence of death. English-speaking countries, in particular, have seen a surge in people updating and altering advance directives as a result of the complications caused by the disease; different steps might be taken now, when current documents may be dangerously inadequate. The best ways to update existing texts to the new post-Covid 19 conditions therefore call for thorough investigation.

Edible cannabis for chronic low back pain: associations with pain, mood, and intoxication.

Cannabis, commonly known for both therapeutic and intoxicating effects, is gaining accessibility on legal markets and traction as a potential alternative therapy for pain mediation, particularly in those suffering from chronic low back pain. However, the effectiveness in this population of legal market forms of cannabis, particularly commonly used edibles, is unknown. Therefore, this study utilized a naturalistic prospective design where participants with chronic low back pain with intentions to initiate cannabis use for treatment were recruited and self-selected edible cannabis products containing varying amounts of delta- 9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). Products were categorized as CBD-dominant, THC-dominant, or combined THC and CBD (THC + CBD). 249 participants [140 female (56.62%), mean (SD) age of 46.30 (16.02), 90% White] were tracked over 2weeks of ad libitum use and assessed during a naturalistic acute cannabis administration session on changes in pain, mood, and subjective drug effects. During acute administration, a significant correlation between THC dose and short-term pain relief was found, suggesting that higher THC doses were associated with greater pain reduction (p < .05). In addition, THC was associated with higher levels of subjective cannabis drug effects (p < .001), regardless of whether CBD was also in the edible product. Acute CBD dose was primarily associated with short-term tension relief (p < .05); however, there were no associations between CBD dose and acute pain. Over the 2-week ad libitum administration period results suggested pain reductions across participants using all forms of cannabis. However, trends suggested that more frequent use of CBD-dominant edible cannabis may be associated with greater reductions in perceived pain over the 2-week observation period (p = .07). These findings support the short-term analgesic effects of THC and anxiolytic effects of CBD and further suggest that orally-administered THC and CBD should continue to be evaluated for the potential to provide both acute and extended relief from chronic low back pain. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03522324?locStr=Boulder,%20CO&country=United%20States&state=Colorado&city=Boulder&cond=chronic%20low%20back%20pain&intr=Cannabis&rank=1, identifier NCT03522324.

Legal scientific and research infrastructure in ukraine and the world, its impact on the development of innovations

Problem setting. The absence of a systematic state policy regarding the development of research infrastructures and insufficient funding of scientific institutions and institutions of higher education significantly affects the decrease in the competitiveness of scientific research in Ukraine and negatively affects the development of the national economy. Therefore, one of the priorities of state policy should be the development of scientific and research infrastructure, including the legal one. Analysis of recent research and publications. Ukrainian scientists who studied this issue are: Hlibko S.V., Lyubchych A.M., Kokhan V.P., Rozgon O.V., Golovashchenko O.S. etc. Foreign researchers are Adrian Dusha, Dietrich Nelle, Günter Stock, and Gert G. Wagner and others. Purpose of research is to analyze the state of development of the legal research infrastructure in Ukraine and the world to determine the prospects for its improvement in Ukraine. Article’s main body. The Concept of the State target program for the development of research infrastructures in Ukraine for the period until 2026 states that a significant decrease in the competitiveness of scientific research has a negative impact on the development of the national economy and, accordingly, on the quality of life of its citizens. The reasons for this are lack of a systematic state policy regarding the development of research infrastructures; multi-year underfunding for support and renewal of the material and technical base of scientific institutions and institutions of higher education; low remuneration of scientists; inability of scientists and young lawyers to fully realize their scientific and professional potential in Ukraine; migration of scientists abroad. All the factors listed above make it impossible to build a society based on knowledge and make it impossible to develop the spheres of scientific and innovative activity. Lawyers note the problems of inconsistency of legal education in Ukraine with the modern requirements of the legal market. Thus, in 2021, the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Education, Science and Innovation approved the Concept of the Development of Legal Education, which provides for a comprehensive reform of legal education. Ways to solve the outlined problems are improvement of the regulatory framework for the regulation of this sphere of relations, attraction of various forms of funding for scientific research, modernization of the material and technical base of research infrastructures. Conclusions and prospects for the development. Legal research infrastructures play a significant role in the development of modern legal science and the training of experts in the field of law, on whom the legal order and welfare of society depend. In our opinion, it is necessary to create and develop such elements of the legal research infrastructure that will allow future lawyers to acquire, first, real practical and empirical knowledge. In our opinion, the question of sufficient funding of research infrastructures and decent remuneration of scientists and lawyers is extremely important to create a comfortable and safe environment for conducting research at the highest level.

Silent boundaries: exploring the limits of legal confidentiality in Poland

ABSTRACT Legal confidentiality, an integral aspect of European legal culture and legal services, plays a pivotal role in safeguarding the trust and privacy of professional-client relationships. This study focuses on the multifaceted dimensions of legal secrecy, particularly within the context of commercial lawyers in the European legal services market, using Polish legal advisers as an exemplar. The research explores evolving attitudes, expectations, and perceptions of legal secrecy amidst dynamic legal changes and discrepancies in interpretations among lawyers, public authorities, and citizens. A comprehensive mixed-method approach was used, including surveys, structured in-depth interviews, content analysis, and desk research, to investigate the diverse facets of legal secrecy. Findings reveal that while legal secrecy remains highly esteemed, its interpretation varies significantly across national and EU laws and among stakeholders. There are a multitude of types of legal secrecy, creating confusion and opportunities for public authorities to breach confidentiality. The study underscores the critical need for standardisation and unification of legal secrecy across European countries to enhance cross-border legal services, streamline justice systems, and bolster citizen protection. It emphasises that despite legal and societal changes, the fundamental essence and importance of legal secrecy in upholding democracy, justice, and trust remain steadfast.

Trends of Global Legal AI Market and Factors of Its Russian Segment’s Development

From the perspective of applying a systems-evolutionary approach and studying the results of a number of modern research studies into the processes of formation and development of the Legal AI market (artificial intelligence system for the legal field) and LegalTech market (digital platforms, software products, and tools used to optimize the provision of legal services), the article reveals the growing potential of these market segments. The author takes into account the prospects for using their market objects for the technological (digital) modernization of the Russian companies that provide qualified legal support for the economic activities of business entities, and enhancing on this basis their competitiveness under evolving Industry 4.0, the economy’s digital transformation, and the unfavorable impact of the external environment. Given the limited open access to up-to-date statistics on the state of all studied market segments, this paper mainly focuses on the modern dynamics of the Legal AI market (more precisely, the Legal AI Software Market, the market for the AI software in the legal field), its subject and object, and geographical structure, along with the development trends and forecasts due to the profitability of the market participants’ activities, growing investment, and other factors that result in expanding this market value in the regions of the world and in Russia.

Predicting Short Time-to-Crime Guns: a Machine Learning Analysis of California Transaction Records (2010–2021)

Gun-related crime continues to be an urgent public health and safety problem in cities across the US. A key question is: how are firearms diverted from the legal retail market into the hands of gun offenders? With close to 8 million legal firearm transaction records in California (2010–2020) linked to over 380,000 records of recovered crime guns (2010–2021), we employ supervised machine learning to predict which firearms are used in crimes shortly after purchase. Specifically, using random forest (RF) with stratified under-sampling, we predict any crime gun recovery within a year (0.2% of transactions) and violent crime gun recovery within a year (0.03% of transactions). We also identify the purchaser, firearm, and dealer characteristics most predictive of this short time-to-crime gun recovery using SHapley Additive exPlanations and mean decrease in accuracy variable importance measures. Overall, our models show good discrimination, and we are able to identify firearms at extreme risk for diversion into criminal hands. The test set AUC is 0.85 for both models. For the model predicting any recovery, a default threshold of 0.50 results in a sensitivity of 0.63 and a specificity of 0.88. Among transactions identified as extremely risky, e.g., transactions with a score of 0.98 and above, 74% (35/47 in the test data) are recovered within a year. The most important predictive features include purchaser age and caliber size. This study suggests the potential utility of transaction records combined with machine learning to identify firearms at the highest risk for diversion and criminal use soon after purchase.

Online judicial auction, loan availability, and corporate investment in China

Online judicial auctions can significantly impact corporate investment by enhancing creditor protection and facilitating loan availability. Using a dynamic difference-in-differences strategy, we find that the reform significantly boosts corporate investment. Mechanism tests reveal that the reform boosts corporate investment by improving corporate loan availability and creditors' willingness to lend. The effect is more pronounced in regions with high judicial auction turnover, high public participation, poorer legal environments, and lower banking competition, suggesting that these reforms enhance legal system efficiency and market competition. Additionally, we find that judicial auction reform reduces firms’ precautionary savings and fosters regional economic development. Overall, our study contributes to understanding the important role of creditor protection in corporate investment and provides insights for implementing digital judicial reforms.

LEGAL ANALYSIS OF EU ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ACT (2024): INSIGHTS FROM PERSONAL DATA GOVERNANCE AND HEALTH POLICY

Background: This study correlates the up-to-date ethical, functional and legal evaluations related to the management and governance of artificial intelligence (AI) under European Union (EU) law, particularly impacting the health data sector and medical standards as provided by the Artificial Intelligence Act within the Regulation adopted by the European Council in May 2024. The initial proposal for the management and governance of the AI sector was submitted in April 2021. Three years later, on 13 March 2024, the European Union Artificial Intelligence Act (EU AIA) was adopted by the European Parliament. Subsequently, on 21 May 2024, the Council adopted an innovative legislative framework that harmonises the standards and rules for AI regulation. This framework is set to take effect in May 2026, with the central objective of stimulating and motivating a fair, safe, legal single market that respects the principles of ethics and the fundamental rights of the human person. Methods: The current legal analysis focuses on the European Union’s new institutional governance involving a multistage approach to managing health data, ethical artificial intelligence, generative artificial intelligence and classification of types of AI by considering the degree of risk (e.g. artificial intelligence systems with limited risk and systems with high risk) and medical devices. It outlines the legal framework for AI regulation and governance in the EU by focusing on compliance with the previously adopted legislation in the Medical Devices Regulation (2017) and the In-Vitro Diagnostic Regulation (2017). The paper also examines the application of the newly adopted EU Artificial Intelligence Act in relation to national justice systems, previous EU regulations on medical devices and personal data protection regulation, and its correlation with the European Court of Human Rights jurisprudence. This opens up complex discussions related to judicial reform and access to justice. For this purpose, as a research objective, the legal analysis includes an innovative perspective following an integrative discussion on the latest legal reforms and regulations of the AI sector in Eastern Europe launched in 2024 with a special focus on the latest developments in the EU Candidate Countries namely Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova. Results and conclusions: The present research facilitates the exploration of the real benefits of managing innovative AI systems for medical data, research, and development, as well as within the medical technology industry.

The Biosimilar Revolution: Assessing the European Union's Approach to Biosimilarity, Interchangeability, Patient Access, and Its Market Analysis.

The biosimilar revolution alters the biopharmaceutical environment, delivering an appropriate strategy for improving accessibility and cutting healthcare costs. The European Union (EU) has established a broad regulatory structure to ensure the proper and efficient use of biosimilars. This review examines the EU's approach to biosimilarity, interchangeability, and patient access, encompassing the legal framework, scientific considerations, market dynamics, and patient viewpoints. The EU's regulatory system has developed to accommodate biosimilar development, approval, and adoption difficulties. Biosimilarity involves demonstrating comparability to the reference product, whereas interchangeability necessitates a more nuanced approach. Patient access is affected by pricing, reimbursement, and education. Employing a mixed-methods approach, this review combines an evaluation of regulatory documents, scientific literature, and market survey analysis. This review looks at the accomplishments and obstacles of the EU's strategy, identifying areas for advancement and chances for further development. This review intends to give significant insights to stakeholders, such as policymakers, producers, medical professionals, and patients, by examining the EU's biosimilar revolution. This critique helps to shape initiatives to improve the EU's approach, boost patient access, and promote sustainable healthcare systems. Ultimately, this review demonstrates that the EU's approach to biosimilars has successfully increased market growthand suggested suitable areas for development.

Hemp-based psychoactive use and risk among young adults: Trend theory, policy, and regulation beyond legality

BackgroundHemp-based psychoactives comprise a burgeoning legal substance market with rising trends in use across the U.S. and Canada as well as parts of Europe. Currently, scant empirical research on the use of these Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) exists. By examining policy, market conditions, consumer uptake, and related risks, this research extends theory on drug trends by describing the regulatory environments that shape the emergence and popularity of psychoactive hemp-based products among young adults. MethodsRelying on ethnographic fieldwork of hemp-based markets across 3 U.S. state hemp and cannabis policy contexts as well as in-depth interviews with 40 young adult cannabis consumers recruited across 10 U.S. states, we examined how regulatory conditions shape hemp-based psychoactive markets, trends in their use, and associated risks. ResultsYoung adults are motivated to consume hemp-based psychoactives due to the regulatory and market environments that facilitate the production of highly potent products that are inexpensive and easily accessible. States that regulate hemp-based psychoactives as cannabis, do not provide hemp markets with a competitive advantage and as such see minimal uptake. In the absence of hemp specific policies, substantial variations in product potencies, insufficient dosing information, and unscrupulous product packaging practices may increase related risks. ConclusionTrend theory provides insight into the complex relationships that exist between drug policy, markets, and the proliferation of legal highs. Understanding the contextual significance that both market and regulatory conditions have on legal drug production, distribution, and consumption may better inform approaches to reduce the risks commonly associated with novel psychoactive substances like hemp-based psychoactives.

CRITICAL REVIEW ON INSTITUTIONAL REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT DECISION-MAKING MODELS

This critical review delves into the underexplored realm of institutional real estate investment decision-making, a domain that holds paramount significance in the financial landscape. Despite the extensive scrutiny of individual real estate investors' decision-making processes, there exists a noticeable lack of research on the pivotal role played by institutional investors. As the primary stakeholders armed with substantial financial resources, institutional investors, encompassing entities such as investment funds, insurance companies, and pension funds, wield unparalleled influence in the market. This paper aims to unravel the complex decision-making models employed by institutional investors, focusing on the period from 2000 to 2024. Employing the PRISMA model, the review meticulously incorporates 21 pertinent articles, and a comprehensive thematic analysis, facilitated by ATLAS.ti version 23.2.1, reveals three prominent decision-making models – the Normative Model, the Descriptive Model, and the Prescriptive Model. In dissecting the factors that shape institutional real estate investment, the study identifies four key influencers: political, economic, legal, and real estate market fundamentals. The intricate interplay of these factors forms the crux of decision-making strategies adopted by institutional investors, as they diligently safeguard the interests of their trustees. Moreover, a noteworthy revelation surfaces regarding the geographical bias in existing research, with a scarcity of studies in developing countries, notably in Malaysia. This observation not only underscores the need for more comprehensive exploration in these regions but also presents a compelling avenue for future research endeavors. This critical review not only contributes to the ongoing discourse but also paves the way for a more nuanced understanding of the dynamic landscape of institutional real estate investment decision-making.

Rules over words: Regulation of chatbots in the legal market and ethical considerations

Rules over words: Regulation of chatbots in the legal market and ethical considerations

Harmonizing Rights and Rewards: Music NFTs as a Paradigm for Equitable Compensation in the Digital Era

This paper provides a critical examination of Music Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) within the context of the digital transformation of the music industry, focusing on the implications for equitable artist compensation. As digitalization reshapes consumption and revenue models, the advent of Music NFTs, predicated on blockchain technology, presents a nuanced paradigm for artist-fan interactions and compensation structures. Through an interdisciplinary methodology that integrates literature review and expert interviews, this study scrutinizes the operational mechanisms of Music NFTs, their potential to reconfigure the economics of music production, and the attendant legal and technical challenges. While Music NFTs proffer an innovative approach to direct artist revenue and engagement, this inquiry reveals a complex landscape fraught with legal ambiguities, technological hurdles, and market volatility. The findings underscore the dialectical relationship between the potential benefits of Music NFTs for artists and the prevailing challenges that circumscribe their efficacy.

Research on the training path of Chinese foreign-related lawyers from an international perspective

With the economic globalization and the internationalization of the legal service market,the professional quality and international perspective of foreign-related lawyers have become important standards for measuring the level of a country’s legal services. This article aims to systematically study the training path for foreign-related lawyers in China, analyze the challenges and shortcomings of the current training model, and propose a new path for training foreign-related lawyers that adapts to Chinese characteristics based on the experience of training. First, the article explores the background and motivations for training foreign-related lawyers in China. With the globalization of China’s economy and the advancement of national strategies such as the “One Belt, One Road” initiative, Chinese companies have become more active on the international stage. In this context, it is particularly urgent to cultivate foreign-related lawyers with international vision and professional capabilities. In addition, the rapid changes in the international legal services market have also placed higher professional and skill requirements on foreign-related lawyers. Then, the article further analyzes the main challenges faced by the cultivation of foreign-related lawyers in China, including the high barriers to entry in the international legal service market, the disconnect between domestic legal education and practice, and the difficulties in cross-cultural.Furthermore,this article examines the British lawyer training model in detail. This model provides important inspiration for the training of foreign-related lawyers in China, especially in terms of professional practice ability training and professional ethics education. Finally, the article puts forward strategies for building a new path for cultivating foreign-related lawyers in China. It is recommended to be guided by the country’s foreign-related legal strategy, strengthen the dual education of legal professional ethics, focus on the close integration of legal education and practical work, and cultivate special talents who are proficient in the laws, cultures and languages of different countries. These measures will help enhance the international competitiveness of China’s foreign-related lawyers and better serve the country’s opening up and international cooperation.

What can we learn from low-THC cannabis growers in Europe? A comparative transnational study of small-scale cannabis growers from Italy and Switzerland

BackgroundA market for cannabis with low levels (LT) of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has recently emerged in Europe alongside an ongoing trend of domestic cannabis cultivation with high-THC content (HT). This phenomenon may have diversified the growers’ profile. This study investigates LT growers’ (LTG) characteristics (demographics, consumption patterns, growing experience) and growing motivations with a subsequent comparison with HT growers (HTG). MethodsData from 11,479 small-scale growers was collected through an online survey (ICCQ 2) conducted by the Global Cannabis Cultivation Research Consortium (GCCRC) from 2020 to 2021. This exploratory study analyses a subsample of the 1618 respondents residing in Italy and Switzerland. A quantitative approach was used, performing comparative bivariate and multivariate analyses between participants who have only grown HT plants in the previous year (HTG; n = 1303) and those who have either grown LT only or alongside HT (LTG; n = 315). ResultsLTGs differ significantly from HTGs. LTGs are older than HTGs. Growing medical cannabis for oneself and others is more likely among them than HTGs. Compared to HTGs, LTGs have lesser odds to grow for recreational use and to have problematic cannabis use. Growing for legality, pleasure and accessing milder cannabis is more likely for LTGs than HTGs. HTGs have greater experience than HTGs, growing for longer, more extensively and better meeting their consumption needs. There is a wider production of by-products, such as oils and extracts, among LTGs than HTGs. Having been in contact with the police for growing is also more likely among them than HTGs. ConclusionLTGs reported significantly more growing experience when compared to HTGs and should be considered a distinct group of growers. The results suggest that the emergence of the legal LT market has more likely drawn previous HTGs into growing LT, mainly medically, rather than attracting new individuals toward cannabis cultivation.

The Dispute and Countermeasure of Workers' Off-line Right in the Digital Age

In the age of digital advancement, society has shifted to a data-centric and interconnected paradigm. This transformation has not only altered lifestyles but also impacted labor dynamics significantly. As digital tools bring convenience, they also pose challenges such as blurred work-life boundaries and prolonged working hours.This article delves into the debate surrounding offline rights of workers in the digital era and proposes effective solutions. Employing a mixed-method approach, it elucidates the essence of these rights and argues for their legal recognition. The focus is on devising a comprehensive framework that balances legal clarity, market dynamics, and worker protection.By offering innovative policy recommendations, this research addresses the pressing need to safeguard workers' offline rights. It not only provides theoretical insights but also practical guidance to promote work-life balance and sustainable digital economy development. Upholding these rights signifies a commitment to modern labor values and social equity in today's digital age.

Geographic clustering of cannabis stores in Canadian cities: A spatial analysis of the legal cannabis market 4 years post-legalisation.

Following the legalisation of non-medical cannabis in 2018, the number of cannabis stores in Canada has rapidly expanded with limited regulation on their geographic placement. This study characterised the clustering of cannabis stores in Canadian cities and evaluated the association of clustering with provincial policy and sociodemographic variables. Cross-sectional spatial analysis of cannabis store density in dissemination areas ('neighbourhoods', n = 39,226) in Canadian cities in September 2022. Cannabis store density was defined as the count of stores within 1000 m of a neighbourhood centre. Clusters of high-density cannabis retail were identified using Local Indicators of Spatial Autocorrelation. Associations between provincial policy (privatised vs. public market), sociodemographic variables and cannabis store density were evaluated using multivariable regression. Clusters of high-density cannabis retail were identified in 86% of Canadian cities, and neighbourhoods in clusters had a median of 5 stores within 1000 m. Toronto, Canada's most populous city, had the most extreme clustering where neighbourhoods in clusters had a median of 10 stores (and a maximum of 25 stores) within 1000 m. Neighbourhoods in private versus public retail markets had a significantly higher neighbourhood-level density of cannabis stores (adjusted rate ratio [aRR] 63.37, 95% confidence interval [CI] 25.66-156.33). Lower neighbourhood income quintile was also associated with a higher neighbourhood-level density of cannabis stores (Q5 vs. Q1, aRR 1.28, 95% CI 1.17-1.40). Since cannabis was legalised, clusters of high-density cannabis retail have emerged in most Canadian cities and were more likely to form lower income neighbourhoods and in private retail markets.