The Transnational Institute (TNI) has always believed in the need to find global answers to global problems, been a strong defender of multilateralism and an advocate of a well-functioning United Nations which stands as the guarantor of universal human rights. On the drugs question, our position is straightforward: drug control should respect human rights. An accessible but comprehensive primer on why TNI believes that human rights must be at the heart of any debate on drug control.

The United Nations drug control conventions of 1960 and 1971 and later additions have inadvertently resulted in perhaps the greatest restrictions of medical and life sciences research. These conventions now need to be revised to allow neuroscience to progress unimpeded and to assist in the innovation of treatments for brain disorders. In the meantime, local changes, such as the United Kingdom moving cannabis from Schedule 1 to Schedule 2, should be implemented to allow medical research to develop appropriately.

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On May 1, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland appeared before the Canadian Senate’s Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade (AEFA) to discuss the international dimensions of Bill C-45 to regulate cannabis. She acknowledged that regulating cannabis would entail “contravening certain obligations related to cannabis under the three UN drug conventions,” adding that, “we have to be honest about that.” Asked about the ‘inter se’ proposal, whereby like-minded nations can negotiate amongst themselves to contract out of certain provisions of the treaty, Minister Freeland replied that the government had discussed the ‘inter se’ concept and that it was worth thinking about: “We are definitely open to working with treaty partners to identify solutions that accommodate different approaches to cannabis within the international framework.”

The president of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) is questioning whether the agency’s decades-old drug conventions are outdated given global policy developments in recent years involving drugs such as cannabis. During a presentation for the 2019 INCB annual report, President Cornelis P. de Joncheere discussed the developments taking place with regard to cannabis and synthetic drugs. “We have some fundamental issues around the conventions that state parties will need to start looking at,” he said. “We have to recognize that the conventions were drawn up 50 and 60 years ago.” De Joncheere said 2021 is “an appropriate time to look at whether those are still fit for purpose, or whether we need new alternative instruments and approaches to deal with these problems.”

The INCB dedicated one of its latest series of Alerts, from June 2019, to the issue of ‘State responses to drug-related criminality’, covering decriminalisation, proportionate sentencing, the death penalty and extrajudicial killings. The Board has recently taken a more positive stance towards decriminalisation, in particular under the leadership of Werner Sipp in 2016. In April 2017, the INCB had already published an Alert on the issue, although mostly reiterating language included in the UN drug conventions. This month’s Alert goes into further detail, explaining the ‘more differentiated’ approach adopted by member states in recent years – as 26 countries have now moved towards a decriminalisation model.

Does the cannabis legalisation planned by the German government's traffic lights coalition violate European law and relevant UN agreements? While Bavarian Health Minister Klaus Holetschek (CSU) presented an expert opinion by law professor Bernhard Wegener from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg in Munich, who answered this question with a clear "yes", LTO has received an unpublished legal study by two scientists from the University of Nijmegen, which comes to the opposite conclusion. They examined the relevant EU Framework Decision 2004/757/JHA, which obliges Member States to criminalise any form of illicit trafficking in drugs and thus also in cannabis. 

La Comisión Europea ha propuesto que los estados miembros que participen en la Comisión de Estupefacientes de Naciones Unidas que se reunirá en Viena en marzo voten a favor de retirar el cannabis de la Lista IV de la Convención sobre Estupefacientes, donde se encuentran las drogas más peligrosas, para favorecer así el uso medicinal y terapéutico de la planta de la marihuana. Sin embargo, en la propuesta se aboga por solicitar un nuevo informe a la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) para seguir analizando la conveniencia de dejar de considerar fiscalizable el cannabidiol (CBD), componente utilizado en algunos fármacos, o las tinturas y extractos.

La Junta Internacional de Fiscalización de Estupefacientes (JIFE) ha recordado al Gobierno de Uruguay que el uso recreativo del cannabisva en contra de la normativa internacional. La JIFE sostuvo una reunión telemática con altos funcionarios del Gobierno uruguayo centrada en la ley adoptada en 2013 que legalizó el consumo recreativo de cannabis, informó este organismo de Naciones Unidas, que vela por el cumplimiento de los tratados internacionales sobre drogas. La Junta recordó que la Convención Única sobre Estupefacientes de 1961 establece que el uso de cannabis debe limitarse a actividades médicas y científicas, y que otras normativas prohíben su "producción, distribución o venta". (Véase también: Legalización de cannabis en Uruguay incumple tratados, ¿cuáles?)

Si l'usage thérapeutique du cannabis est déjà entré dans une phase de test, son emploi «à des fins récréatives» n'est pas encore à l'ordre du jour de la Chambre. Annoncée à plusieurs reprises par le gouvernement de Luxembourg, la mesure devrait «prochainement» aboutir à un projet de loi, a annoncé Etienne Schneider (LSAP), ministre de la Santé. Le projet de loi qui inquiète les voisins du Grand-Duché n'est pas encore prêt. Aucune date précise n'a été avancée. La future disposition pourrait entrer en conflit avec des conventions internationales ratifiées par le pays. (A lire aussi: Luxembourg : plus d’obstacles que prévu sur le cannabis)

La ONU aprobó uno de los mayores cambios en política de drogas de las últimas décadas al reconocer las propiedades medicinales del cannabis y eliminar esa planta de la clasificación de los estupefacientes más peligrosos, aunque su consumo con fines recreativos sigue prohibido. La mayoría simple de los 53 Estados de la Comisión de Estupefacientes -el órgano Ejecutivo de la ONU en políticas de drogas- decidió retirar el cannabis y su resina de la Lista IV de la Convención sobre drogas de 1961. El cannabis estaba hasta ahora clasificado en las listas I y IV, esta última reservada a las drogas más peligrosas y bajo control más estricto, como la heroína, y a las que se otorga escaso valor médico. (Véase también: La ONU da luz verde al cannabis medicinal pero no desafía el legado colonial de la prohibición)

Germany's Health Minister Karl Lauterbach is sticking to his legalisation plans. In the coming weeks, he will present a proposal for cannabis legalisation that conforms to European law. "In the meantime, we have changed the original key point paper somewhat," Lauterbach said, without giving details. The proposal that he will present will be in conformity with European law on the one hand, and on the other hand will achieve the goals of the Federal Government. Scientists from Nijmegen University concluded in an expert report that the introduction of a state-controlled, national cannabis licensing system by an EU member state is possible under certain conditions in accordance with European and international law.

Luxembourg's plans to allow residents to grow four cannabis plants at their home have been thrown into question after the country's de-facto upper chamber stated the proposals would breach international law. Lawmakers who put forward the draft law "risk exposing themselves to criticism on the international level of non-conformity with international law," the State Council said in a legal opinion. While Luxembourg's plans would breach international law, they would conform with existing EU law, the state council found, given the country would not completely legalise cannabis. (See also: Cannabis cultivé chez soi : l’Europe ne dit pas non)

La volonté du Grand-Duché de légaliser le cannabis récréatif est clairement opposée à l’engagement pris pour limiter l’usage de cette substance à des fins médicales ou scientifiques. L’Organe international de contrôle des stupéfiants (OICS) confirme que «la légalisation du cannabis à des fins non médicales par un État parti à la convention de 1961 constituerait une violation manifeste des obligations juridiques qui lui incombent». Cette limitation reste «un principe fondamental auquel aucune dérogation n’est permise». La tournure diplomatique pour répondre à l’OICS est que «le Luxembourg reste engagé en ce qui concerne la mise en œuvre des conventions et reste ouvert à discuter avec les autres pays et organisations des problèmes qui résulteraient éventuellement de la légalisation nationale».

The Czech cabinet recently approved drug policies that include introducing a strictly regulated cannabis market. The details of the plan are still being fine-tuned – but there already obstacles in sight. The exact rules are now being drafted by an expert group. The state’s drugs policy chief, Jindřich Vobořil, said previously that taxation on legalised cannabis could bring no less than CZK 15 billion into the state coffers annually. The authorities in Germany are discussing a similar move. However, they recently had to tone down their intentions somewhat following concerns from the European Union.The Czech government’s plans could run into similar obstacles. Another aspect is that all elements within the five-party Czech government coalition may not be in unison on the matter.

The tide is turning against the criminalisation of cannabis. Copenhagen wants to join the movement with a three-year trial to decriminalise the drug. But while city officials envisage Copenhagen undertaking one of the world’s most ambitious decriminalisation projects – both production and sale would be legalised – questions remain about what shape the so-called 'Copenhagen Model' would take. Around 150 attendees gathered in the City Hall to hear the City Council’s plan. One of the primary goals of the trial is to take the cannabis trade out of the hands of criminals. (See also: Stop criminalising pot smokers, demonstrators say)

Luxembourg met a possible hurdle in legalising cannabis as a parliamentary question brought to light that the current plans are in violation of international drug control treaties. The Grand Duchy is a signatory of three United Nations treaties, which together form a global drug control framework, and which lay down that cannabis may only be used for medical or research purposes. Canada has run into trouble with the International Narcotics Control Board - the guardian of the treaties - over its legalisation of recreational cannabis, and Luxembourg faces a similarly damning verdict. The government is now discussing the issue with UN authorities and with Canada, the country whose model to legalise cannabis it wants to follow, health minister Etienne Schneider in answer to a parliamentary question.

En 1961, la Convención Única sobre Estupefacientes de Naciones Unidas dispuso “que la masticación de la hoja de coca quedará prohibida dentro de los 25 años siguientes a la entrada en vigor de la presente Convención”. El politólogo neerlandés Martin Jelsma, una de las mayores autoridades en políticas internacionales con respecto a las drogas, dice que con el retiro y posterior reingreso de Bolivia en la Convención del 61 (con la reserva sobre el masticado de coca), se debatió más la relación entre derechos humanos y de pueblos indígenas y las políticas de drogas.

A Cabinet minister has denied that behind the scenes talks with London are the reason for a delay in sending controversial legislation on legalising cannabis in Bermuda to the Governor for consideration. The remarks came after OBA former premier Craig Cannonier said the fact that the Cannabis Licensing Bill had not been sent to Government House more than four weeks after passing Parliament was “unusual”. Mr Cannonier insisted he had information that the delay may have been caused by correspondence between the Government and 10 Downing Street over the issue. However, Jason Hayward, the Economy and Labour Minister, dismissed the suggestion. Mr Hayward told a press conference: “I am not aware of any negotiations.”

The UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) met to vote on several rescheduling recommendations on cannabis. Morocco provided an important “yes” vote to remove cannabis from the UN’s Schedule IV category of drugs that have limited or no therapeutic use. The vote concluded with a 27-25 majority, meaning that without Morocco’s “yes” vote, the cannabis recommendation likely would not have passed. “Morocco’s vote today means that the country has joined the community of forward-looking states recognizing the historical error of denying the medical usefulness of cannabis,” the Transnational Institute’s (TNI) drug policy expert Tom Blickman said. (See also: Potential fall-out from the vote on the WHO cannabis recommendations)

UN member states have agreed to hold a Ministerial Segment immediately prior to the 62^nd Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) ‘to take stock of the implementation of the commitments made to jointly address and counter the world drug problem, in particular in the light of the 2019 target date’ set out to eradicate or significantly reduce the overall scale of the illegal drug market. This advocacy note outlines the key issues for consideration by member states as they reflect on what has been achieved since the adoption of the 2009 Political Declaration and Plan of Action, including in light of the implementation of the UNGASS Outcome Document, and the implications for the next phase of the international drug policy regime.

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