Historic decision of the UN and the European Court of Justice

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UN complies with WHO recommendation to reassess cannabis classification

Two positive decisions on cannabis bode well for international cannabis policy.

European Court of Justice: CBD is not a narcotic drug

After we reported last time that the EU Commission is considering making all hemp extracts – including natural CBD products – subject to narcotics law, a decision by the European Court of Justice now lets us breathe a sigh of relief. The ECJ informed that a member state of the European Union may not prohibit the marketing of cannabidiol (CBD) lawfully produced in another member state if it is extracted from the whole cannabis sativa plant and not only from its fibers and seeds. The court thus follows the WHO recommendation that CBD should not be classified as a drug for the purposes of international narcotics conventions.

However, the really big bang that could make history came from the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) in Vienna on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020. UN Commission agrees to re-evaluate cannabis! This can contribute significantly to simplifying the legal handling of cannabis worldwide. The Commission is thus complying with the WHO recommendation that cannabis no longer be classified as a dangerous drug. Under international treaties such as the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, cannabis has previously been listed on Schedule 4 – with the adoption of WHO Recommendation 5.1, cannabis will now be downgraded to Schedule 1.

Sources and further links:
European Court of Justice: Press release
Hanf Magazin: European Court of Justice: CBD is not a narcotic drug
Marjuana Business Daily: United Nations approves WHO recommendation to reschedule cannabis in historic vote
Hemp Magazine: UN Commission agrees to re-evaluation of cannabis