For 59 years, cannabis had been subject to the strictest control schedules, which even discouraged its use for medical purposes, the UN said. (AP)
India has voted with the majority at the United Nations to remove cannabis and cannabis resin from the list of most dangerous substances in the flagship international Convention on narcotic drugs.
The decision taken by the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) on Wednesday at its ongoing 63rd session will lead to changes in the way cannabis is regulated internationally.
“The CND zeroed-in on the decision to remove cannabis from Schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs — where it was listed alongside deadly, addictive opioids, including heroin,” the UN said in a news release on December 2.
Opinion| India must join other countries in decriminalising marijuana
For 59 years, cannabis had been subject to the strictest control schedules, which even discouraged its use for medical purposes, the UN said.
Twenty-seven of the CND’s 53 Member States — including India, the United States and most European nations — voted “Yes” on the motion to delete…
