The medicinal value of cannabis has persuaded the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs to remove it from a list categorising it as one of the most dangerous drugs, alongside heroin and other opioids.
This follows a recommendation from the World Health Organization to remove cannabis and cannabis resin from its Schedule IV classification under the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs.
According to CNN, substances classified under Schedule IV are a subset of Schedule I drugs. That means not only are they considered to be ‘highly addictive and highly liable for abuse’, they’re also labelled as ‘particularly harmful and of extremely limited medical or therapeutic value’.
Cannabis and cannabis resin will still be subject to restrictions under the Schedule I category.
Drug policy advocacy organisations welcomed the change, saying it reflected the therapeutic uses of the cannabis, and ‘the reality of the growing market for cannabis-based medicinal products’.
The move is largely symbolic, according to CNN, and may not have an immediate impact on how governments control scheduled substances. But it could give a boost to medical cannabis legalisation efforts in countries that look to the United Nations for guidance.
The commission voted 27-25 to reschedule cannabis and cannabis resin. The United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and South Africa were among those who voted in favour, while countries including Brazil, China, Russia and Pakistan voted against.
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