United Nations (UN) has declassified Cannabis as a ‘risky narcotic’ declaring it as a less dangerous drug on Wednesday December 2nd.
As per details, UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) acting on the recommendations of World Health Organization (WHO) has decided to remove cannabis from Schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs.
The 53-member CND voted by 27-25 in favor of removing cannabis from the Schedule IV list of dangerous drugs that include the likes of heroin and other addictive opioids such as tramadol, Xanax (alprazolam), carisoprodol (Soma), Klonopin (clonazepam), Valium (diazepam), Ativan (lorazepam (Ativan)
“The medical cannabis wave has accelerated in recent years already, but this will give it another boost,” said Martin Jelsma – drugs and democracy program director at the Netherlands-based Transnational Institute.
The development holds critical significance as it may encourage countries to reevaluate how cannabis is classified on their own lists of narcotic drugs.
The re-classification of Cannabis will pave the way for more research into medical marijuana and its use as a treatment for a variety of ailments and conditions.
It is pertinent to know that WHO in January 2019 last year, had issued six recommendations regarding the reclassification of cannabis.
WHO had argued that cannabidiol (CBD) – a non-intoxicating compound – is not subject to international controls.
Cannabis and the significance of UNCND’s decision
Cannabis, also known as marijuana is a psychoactive drug from the Cannabis plant used primarily for medical or recreational purposes. The main psychoactive component of cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is one of the 483 known compounds in the plant.
Cannabis has various mental and physical effects, which include euphoria, altered states of mind and sense of time, difficulty concentrating, impaired short-term memory and body movement, relaxation, and an increase in appetite.
Onset of effects is felt within minutes when smoked, and about 30 to 60 minutes when cooked and eaten. The effects last for two to six hours, depending on the amount used. At high doses, mental effects can include anxiety, delusions (including ideas of reference), hallucinations, panic, paranoia, and psychosis.
Cannabis is mostly used recreationally or as a medicinal drug, although it may also be used for spiritual purposes. In 2013, between 128 and 232 million people used cannabis (2.7% to 4.9% of the global population between the ages of 15 and 65).
It is the most commonly used illegal drug in the world, though it is also legal in some jurisdictions, with the highest use among adults (as of 2018) in Zambia, the United States, Canada, and Nigeria.
Since the early 20th century, cannabis has been subject to legal restrictions. The possession, use, and cultivation of cannabis is illegal in most countries of the world.
In 2013, Uruguay became the first country to legalize recreational use of cannabis. Other countries to do so are Canada, Georgia, and South Africa, along with 15 states and the District of Columbia in the United States (though the drug remains federally illegal). Medical use of cannabis, requiring the approval of a physician, has been legalized in many countries.
Medicinal aspect
Medical cannabis, or medical marijuana, can refer to the use of cannabis and its cannabinoids to treat disease or improve symptoms; however, there is no single agreed-upon definition.
The rigorous scientific study of cannabis as a medicine has been hampered by production restrictions and by the fact that it is classified as an illegal drug by many governments.
There is limited evidence suggesting cannabis can be used to reduce nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy, to improve appetite in people with HIV/AIDS, or to treat chronic pain and muscle spasms. Its use for other medical applications is insufficient for drawing conclusions about safety or efficacy.
So far, more than 50 nations including Canada, Uruguay and 15 Stated from US have adopted medicinal cannabis programmes.
