Tuesday, July 10, 2018

World Health Organization Takes First Steps to Reschedule Cannabis

Source: safeaccessnow.org



In June, Americans for Safe Access and other members of the International Medical Cannabis Patients Coalition (IMCPC) testified at the 40th meeting of the World Health Organization's (WHO) Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (ECDD) in Geneva, Switzerland.
The ECDD is assessing the international classification of cannabis in light of its medical uses and potential harms. Members of ASA and IMCPC produced and delivered four reports with references and recommendations on the cannabis plant and cannabis resin, extracts and tinctures of cannabis, cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
International bodies have been calling on the WHO to address the scheduling of cannabis for almost a decade. In 2009, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs requested an updated review by ECDD. In 2013, the International Narcotics Control Board asked WHO to evaluate “the potential medical utility of cannabis and the extent to which cannabis poses dangers to human health.” Cannabis is currently scheduled in Schedules I and IV of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs as amended by the 1972 Protocol (the “Single Convention”).
“The current international policies on cannabis are based on a League of Nations report from 1935,” said Sherer. “They are having a detrimental impact on patients worldwide and do not reflect the reality of over 30 countries globally that have passed medical cannabis laws.”
Advocates filed a Critical Review and three Pre-Review in response to the ECDD technical documents, which outline the medical efficacy, toxicology, and epidemiology of various preparations of cannabis (WHO reports can be downloaded here).
Patient advocacy groups at the meeting from Argentina, Mexico, Uruguay, France, Germany, New Zealand, the Netherlands, South Africa, and the United States all recommended changes in the international scheduling of cannabis and medical products made from it.
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