A global team of researchers is proposing the introduction of a global minimum tax rate of 70% on alcohol and cannabis products and a ban on their advertising and sponsorship to regulate their rising misuse.
Led by the Aga Khan University’s Brain and Mind Institute and the Global Brain Health Institute, the researchers also want the introduction of a “harm-to-others” tax on cannabis to reflect the broader social and health impacts of cannabis.
The proposals are contained in a proposed international treaty to regulate the rising misuse of alcohol and cannabis, echoing the success of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
Published in Nature Medicine, the commentary highlights alarming increases in alcohol and cannabis consumption worldwide, particularly among young people, and the resulting surge in brain-related health issues, including cognitive decline and dementia.
“We are seeing a silent epidemic,” said Cyprian Mostert, lead author and Brain Health Economist at the Aga Khan University’s Brain and Mind Institute. “Alcohol and cannabis are now the most widely used psychoactive substances after tobacco, and their impact on brain health is being dangerously underestimated, especially in low- and middle-income countries where public health infrastructure is already strained.”
The proposed WHO-led treaty would also include Support prevention, treatment and research programs, especially in underserved regions like Africa.
According to the article, global alcohol consumption is projected to rise by 25% by 2030, cannabis use is soaring, with daily users exceeding 200 million globally and the excessive use of either substance, especially in combination, accelerates brain aging and increases the risk of dementia.
The authors argue that the WHO should urgently convene member states to draft the global treaty, modelled on the FCTC, which contributed to a 25% global reduction in tobacco smoking since its adoption in 2003.
Taxation is not just about revenue, it is one of the most powerful levers we have to reduce harmful consumption,” said Professor Zul Merali, Director of the AKU’s Brain and Mind Institute.
“We now have strong evidence that progressive taxes directly reduce alcohol-related brain disorders.”
The researchers also emphasize the importance of aligning global policies on cannabis as more countries move toward legalization. Without a harmonized approach, the world risks repeating the mistakes made with tobacco and alcohol regulation decades ago.
