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A UN commission voted Wednesday to remove cannabis from a category of the world’s most dangerous drugs, in a long-awaited and long-overdue decision that could clear the way for expanded research and medical use of marijuana.
A review by the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs, which is based in Vienna and includes 53 member states, considered a series of recommendations from the World Health Organization on the reclassification of cannabis and its derivatives. But attention turned to a key recommendation to remove cannabis from Schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, where it was listed alongside dangerous and highly addictive opioids like heroin.
Experts say the vote will not have an immediate impact on the relaxation of international controls, because governments will still have jurisdiction over how to classify cannabis. But many countries look to global conventions for guidance, and that UN recognition is a symbolic victory for advocates of drug policy change who say international law is out of date.
The vote was a “big step forward”, recognizing the positive impact of cannabis on medical patients, said Dirk Heitepriem, vice president of Canopy Growth, a Canadian cannabis company. “We hope this empowers more countries to create frameworks that allow patients in need access to treatment.”
Growing popularity
Marijuana for medical use has exploded in recent years, and products containing cannabis derivatives such as cannabidiol or CBD, a non-intoxicating compound, have flooded the wellness industry.
Some research has suggested that CBD can protect the nervous system and relieve seizures, pain, anxiety, and inflammation. The list of CBD-infused products, including creams, serums, sodas, and juices, is also expanding rapidly.
The reclassification passed 27-25, with one abstention from Ukraine. The United States and European nations were among those who voted in favor, while China, Egypt, Nigeria, Pakistan and Russia opposed. The Chinese delegate said that despite the UN move, the country would strictly control cannabis “to protect it from harm and abuse.” The UK delegate said the reclassification was “in line with the scientific evidence of its therapeutic benefits” but that the country still strongly supported international controls for cannabis, adding that marijuana poses “serious risks to public health. “. – New York Times
