WHO Revisiting Cannabis Drug Classification

The World Health Organization has called for a review of cannabis and its legal status. The global health body wants to revisit the 1971 drugs treaty and potentially change how cannabis is scheduled under drug controls and restrictions. The aftermath could have huge effects on both medicine and business.

The WHO is looking into changing whole-plant marijuana and resin from a schedule IV substance into a schedule I substance. They are also looking into making amendments to the 1971 drug treaty. Certain THC-related products could thus be removed from the 1971 treaty and added to the schedule I list. Some analysts believe that if the changes are adopted, it will serve as an admission by governments that they were wrong about cannabis. That doesn’t mean the whole world would suddenly change it’s mind on the intoxicating substance, as countries would still have their own laws regarding cannabis and any related products. It would however lay the groundwork into more research on the substance and its medicinal and societal effects, which could spark wider changes.

The global legal cannabis industry is worth tens of billions of dollars, and the illegal market is worth hundreds of billions. While recreational cannabis use is only legal in two countries, many others already allow it for medicinal purposes.

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5 years ago
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