The Global Cannabis Regulatory Summit (“GCRS”, or the “Summit”) was founded with a simple purpose: to create a trusted international forum where regulators and policymakers could meet in a safe, constructive environment to share experience and learn from their counterparts around the world.
The concept grew from an unmet need identified by Artemis Growth Partners for a dedicated forum to help regulators navigate the rapidly evolving global cannabis landscape. Working together, Artemis and The Liaison Group (TLG) developed that idea into the Global Cannabis Regulatory Summit, culminating in the launch of the inaugural forum in Washington, D.C. in 2025.
Over the following year, Artemis and TLG, together with our other committed partners, continued to refine the GCRS model, broaden its international reach and sharpen its focus. In 2026, GCRS moved to London, bringing together a growing community of regulators, policymakers, patients, clinicians, researchers and responsible industry participants from around the world.
Throughout that evolution, the purpose has remained constant.
Health-related cannabis is advancing rapidly across jurisdictions, bringing increasingly complex questions of regulation, quality, access, science and patient care. At the same time, the industry itself is maturing — becoming more responsible, more standardized and a more credible counterparty to government.
At the center of this work is the patient. Patient voices and lived experience reinforce what effective regulation must ultimately deliver: safe access, supportive care, standardized medicines and responsible providers capable of supporting successful treatment.
Industry also has an important role to play, but as a constructive partner rather than an intrusive one. Responsible operators can provide practical insight, technical expertise and implementation experience while respecting the independence and authority of regulators.
GCRS brings these perspectives together.
By convening regulators, patients, clinicians, researchers, policymakers and responsible industry participants, GCRS helps regulators access the knowledge, international relationships and real-world insight needed to work efficiently, fulfil their public mandate and enforce the laws and frameworks established within their jurisdictions.
The objective is not uniformity. It is better-informed regulation: regulation that protects patients, supports responsible access, encourages high standards and enables legitimate operators to work effectively within clear rules.
Looking ahead to 2027, GCRS will continue to broaden its mandate while focusing the discussion where it can be most useful to regulators and policymakers. Working in constructive partnership with industry, patients, providers and other stakeholders, the forum will seek to address the most important regulatory challenges facing the sector and help shape a more equitable, responsible and effective global cannabis framework.
Our ambition is to strengthen the international regulatory community around health-related cannabis and, in doing so, help the sector better fulfil its fundamental mission: serving patients and their providers safely, responsibly and effectively in markets around the world.
We are grateful to everyone who has contributed to the first two years of GCRS and look forward to building the next chapter together.
The Founders
Global Cannabis Regulatory Summit
William Muecke
Co-Founder, GCRS
E. Stanton McLean
Co-Founder, GCRS
Saphira Galoob
Co-Founder, GCRS