Comprehensive News & Analysis

17-12-2020 | 15:36 PM

New classification of Cannabis by UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND)

• The United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs excluded cannabis from Schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1).
• This was achieved in order to understand the medicinal values of the plant. While cannabis has been excluded from Schedule IV, non-medicinal cannabis is now in Schedule I.

1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs:

• The single convention schedules for drugs range from the most restrictive to the least restrictive in the following order: Schedule IV, Schedule I, Schedule II and Schedule III.
• Schedule I: The drugs under Schedule I are limited only to scientific and medicinal purposes. They require medicinal prescription for the supply.
• Schedule II: Medical Prescription of these drugs are not obligatory The Governments are not bound to prevent the accumulation of these drugs.
• Schedule III: They are subjected to lesser restrictions.
• Schedule IV: The drugs under this category such as Heroin are considered to have dangerous properties. Under this category, the parties are required to limit their research purposes.

Cannabis usage in India:

• The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has found that some 2.83 percent of Indians between the ages of 10 and 75 use cannabis products.
• India and the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961
• India is a signatory to the treaty. Bhang was, however, left out of the definition of cannabis.

Legislation on Cannabis in India:

• The use of cannabis in India is regulated by the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Medicines Act, 1985. The Act regulated the cultivation and selling of cannabis flowers and resins. The act, however, makes the use of seeds and leaves.