UN commission reclassifies marijuana as less dangerous drug

The 53 member-states of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) on Wednesday has voted in favor of the reclassification of marijuana and its derivatives as a less dangerous drug.

The move came after the CND reviewed recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) to remove marijuana from Schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, in which it has been classified a dangerous drug alongside addictive opioids, including heroin.

Substances listed under Schedule IV are described as "highly addictive and highly liable for abuse" and should be labeled "particularly harmful and of extremely limited medical or therapeutic value."

Marijuana, however, will remain subject to all levels of control under Schedule I of the 1961 Convention, including the requirement for a prescription to be written on "official forms to be issued in the form of counterfoil books by the competent governmental authorities or by authorized professional associations."

The member-states voted 27 in favor of the reclassification, 25 voted against the action, while there was one abstention.

The UN CND is the policy-making body of the United Nations system with prime responsibility for drug-related matters.

It can be recalled that under international drug control conventions, it is the mandate of the CND to decide on the scope of control of substances by classifying them in the schedules of the conventions.

The decision, according to reports, paves the way for the further scientific research on the medicinal and therapeutic potential of marijuana.

At present, more than 50 countries have adopted medicinal marijuana programs while other countries such as Canada, Uruguay and 15 states in the US have legalized its recreational use. -- BAP, GMA News