UN : Marijuana is no more a Dangerous Drug in 2020 | UPSC

• This decision that could influence the global use of medicinal marijuana, decades after it was first placed on the list.

• 27 Member States voting in favour, 25 against, and one abstention.
• India was part of the voting majority, along with the US and most European nations.
• China, Pakistan and Russia were among those who voted against, and Ukraine abstained.

• Currently in India, the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985  illegalises any mixture with or without any neutral material, of any of the two forms of cannabis – charas and ganja.
• Also it is illegal to use any form of cannabis in preparing drink from it.

THE CANNABIS PLANT

• According to the WHO, cannabis is a generic term used to denote the several psychoactive preparations of the plant Cannabis sativa.

• The Mexican name ‘marijuana‘ is frequently used in referring to cannabis leaves or other crude plant material in many countries.

Marijuana  | UPSC

• Most species of cannabis are dioecious plants that can be identified as either male or female.

• Cannabis oil (hashish oil) is a concentrate of cannabinoids — compounds which are structurally similar to THC.
• It is obtained by solvent extraction of the crude plant material or of the resin.
• The WHO says that cannabis is by far the most widely cultivated, trafficked and abused illicit drug in the world.

Marijuana | UPSC

UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW

• The Vienna-based CND, founded in 1946, is the UN agency mandated to decide on the scope of control of substances by placing them in the schedules of global drug control conventions.

• Since it was first scheduled, however, global attitudes towards cannabis have changed dramatically.
• Many jurisdictions permitted cannabis use for recreation, medication or both, despite it remaining on Schedule IV of the UN list.
• Currently, over 50 countries allow medicinal cannabis programs, and its recreational use has been legalised in Canada, Uruguay and 15 US states, as per UN News.

THE CND VOTE

• In January 2019, the WHO made six recommendations related to scheduling of cannabis in UN treaties.
• The proposals were to be placed before the CND’s session in March that year.
• Members overwhelmingly voted to postpone the vote, requesting additional time.

• However, both substances will continue to remain on Schedule I, the least dangerous category.

WHAT THIS COULD MEAN FOR THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY

• The reclassification of cannabis by the UN would not immediately change its status worldwide as long as individual countries continue with existing regulations.
• Now many nations follow the lead of international protocols while legislating.

• Scientific research into marijuana’s medicinal properties is also expected to grow.
• The CND reviews and analyzes the global drug situation, considering supply and demand reduction.
• It takes action through resolutions and decisions.

UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION ON NARCOTIC DRUGS (CND)