Despite predictions to the contrary, the United States remains far and away the greatest influence on the world culturally. Anyone who doubts that simply has to count the number of McDonald’s restaurants and their copycats worldwide. Other examples are everywhere, from music and clothing to entertainment.

Clearly, what happens in the US does matter, and will have an impact on us directly or indirectly. So I was surprised when I heard Donald Trump announce that, if elected, he would free the way to instigate Colorado-type cannabis reform in every state in the US.

Last year I visited Colorado, where cannabis is regulated, legal and prolific. The general belief among those I discussed the future of the legalisation issue with was that if the Democrats were returned, then most states would legalise cannabis. Currently only four have, although it is liberalised, including medical marijuana, in many others.

We need to reflect on what impact that would have in New Zealand. The only debate here so far is around medical marijuana, led by Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly who is terminally ill and seeking permission to access the product for pain relief.

If we accept that we will continue to be heavily influenced by outcomes in the US, it may be that, in a very short time, the same sort of liberalisation will happen here.

If it does, what difference will it make to policing and to our organised criminals who rely on its illegality for funding and relevance? Will they find alternatives or go away?

From my observations, simply liberalising cannabis without going the full distance and legalising it, results in the worst of both worlds – increased availability and use, and more power and money to the illegal suppliers.

Either way, it is looking increasingly likely that cannabis will be legal in much of the US and Canada very soon (the new Trudeau Government in Canada is in the process of legalisation).

If, as predicted, the big corporates come to dominate the cannabis market there, how long before they seek to expand beyond US borders, like the burger chains?

What will be interesting for us if the legislation does change, is that something we have been arresting people for over many years will suddenly be legal.

Globalisation impacts on us in many ways, and the laws we police are no exception. It shows that those planning policing in the next decade have many factors to consider.

Mind you, if you’re a crook who’s making a good living out of illicit cannabis supply, you may be even more nervous about the outcome of the US election than many others are!