Press release — History made today: UN recognizes medical cannabis
Although we believe correcting the record was inevitable – the overwhelming evidence would lead to no other outcome – government’s failure to accept the more advanced WHO proposals is disappointing and represents a lost opportunity to make the treaty best fit to purpose. However, none of today’s negative votes will result in any worsening of controls over cannabis whatsoever.
These changes to international law will take effect after each government receives their official notification from the UN Secretary-General. In case a country contests the vote, it would only delay the entry into force of the decision to March 2021, which would only serve to reinforce the historic character of this set of decisions since the Single Convention was adopted in New-York 60 year earlier, to the day, on 30 March 1961.
[1] This was WHO’s recommendation 5.1 (see detail below).
[2] Recommendations 5.2, 5.3, and 5.6.
[3] According to a memo from the UN Office of Legal Affairs from 26 November.
[4] Recommendation 5.5.
Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli
Independent researcher (Spain/France)
Michael Krawitz
Executive Director, Veterans for Medical Cannabis Access (USA)