A leaked document which was published and spread by various pro-cannabis groups has revealed that the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that whole cannabis plants, as well as their resin, be removed from the list of Schedule IV drugs.
Drugs classified as Schedule IV require prescriptions to obtain them. WHO wants delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to be completely removed from the 1971 drug treaty, and instead be added to the Schedule I classification from a 1961 convention.
WHO reportedly also plans to make it clear that cannabidiol (CBD) and CBD-focused preparations which contain no more than 0.2% THC are not under international control. CBD was not scheduled under international conventions, and the new recommendation is predicted to make it more clear.
Marijuana and cannabis resin would then also remain in Schedule I of the 1961 treaty, as they are currently dual-designated in both Schedules I and IV. Schedule IV is reserved for those substances that are seen as particularly harmful with limited medical benefits.
Investors who buy into marijuana stocks may also experience a high as a result of this news breaking, as it is predicted that their investments would soar by a whopping 150% if WHO’s recommendations are followed.
As reported by Bloomberg, the proposal will be tabled before the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs, where 53 member nations will have a chance to vote on the decision.
This reposition on the status of marijuana follows the South African Constitutional Court ruling that it is legal for citizens to cultivate and consume marijuana for personal use in the privacy of their own homes. Effectively, this means that the private use of marijuana was decriminalised and Parliament has been given a deadline of 24 months to amend the country’s drug laws.
Dagga still cannot be smoked in public spaces, and dealing remains illegal.
Picture: Pixabay
