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UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs Will Meet for its 68th Session in March

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The emblem of the United Nations is a blue logo on a white background.

The UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) will convene this March to discuss the state of the world’s issues concerning drug trafficking, drug abuse, and the question of cannabis.

On December 2, 2020, the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), the drug policy-making body of the UN, re-classified cannabis and cannabis resin under an international listing that recognizes its medical value. The CND voted on recommendations made by the World Health Organization (WHO)’s 41st Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (ECDD), which suggested that cannabis and cannabis resin should be reclassified from their current listing alongside heroin, fentanyl analogs, and other opioids considered to be exceptionally harmful to the public health as they often contribute to or cause substance use disorder.

The removal of cannabis and cannabis resin from that Schedule entered into force in 2021, which subsequently spawned a cultural phenomenon marked by annual celebrations in acknowledgment of International Cannabis Liberation Day on Jan 22.

In 2018, WHO’s ECDD carried out a formal review of cannabis and all cannabis-related substances that are currently subject to international control measures.  At that time, the ECDD advised that certain cannabis-derived medicines like cannabidiol have no potential to be abused or cause dependence but have significant health benefits for children with treatment-resistant epilepsy and, therefore, should not be placed under international control.

The Committee went on to scientifically review cannabis and other products derived from the cannabis plant and made a series of recommendations that would more effectively control cannabis preparations with high levels of delta-9-THC (dronabinol), and allow further research and development of and improve access to cannabis-related medicines whilst also minimizing public health problems associated with non-medical cannabis products.

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The CND has been considering the WHO’s recommendations since 2018 and agreed to an in-person vote in Vienna in December 2020.  While the CND voted to accept the ECDD’s primary recommendation on the reclassification of cannabis, they did not accept further recommendations made by the ECDD to change the classification of other cannabis-related substances that were aiming at ensuring their availability for medical use whilst preventing harms associated with non-medical use.

Reclassification of cannabis and cannabis resin will remove some international procedural barriers to the research and development of cannabis-based medical products according to national regulatory frameworks. However, cannabis and cannabis resin are still classified as having a similar degree of abuse and dependence potential as medicines such as morphine and oxycodone. Advocates in drug policy reform circles do not believe this classification is accurate and are lobbying the CND to have cannabis and cannabis resin removed entirely from the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs.

The 68th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs will be held on March 10 through 14, 2025, in Vienna, Austria, concurrently with the International Cannabis Business Conference (ICBC) and Spannabis in Barcelona, Spain. Registration and accreditation for CND 68 will open on February 10, 2025.

In addition to attending, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in consultative status with the UN’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) may organize side events and exhibitions.

 

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