UPSC Articles
UN Decides Cannabis Not A Dangerous Narcotic
Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Health
In news
- The UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) recently reclassified out of the most dangerous category of drugs.
Key takeaways
- The CND has decided to remove cannabis from Schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs.
- Earlier, cannabis was listed alongside deadly, addictive opioids, including heroin.
- Now, it is removed from the strictest control schedules that even discouraged its use for medical purposes.
- The removal has opened the door to recognizing the medicinal and therapeutic potential of the commonly-used but still largely illegal recreational drug.
- The decision could also drive additional scientific research into the plant’s long-heralded medicinal properties and act as catalyst for countries to legalize the drug for medicinal use, and reconsider laws on its recreational use.
- Twenty-seven of the CND’s 53 Member States — including India, the USA and most European nations — voted “Yes” on the motion to delete cannabis and cannabis resin from Schedule IV of the 1961 Convention.
- Under India’s Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, the production, manufacture, possession, sale, purchase, transport, and use of cannabis is a punishable offence.
For further read, click the below links:
- Fighting Drug Menace
- What is India’s Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985? Click here
