The world health organization recommends clarifying CBD and hemp status

The proposal of WHO about the CBD and hemp should look something like this:

• Hemp would not be so severely classified under the International Convention on Drugs, it would be removed from List IV of the Convention on Drugs - a list of the most dangerous substances.
• THC should be placed alongside hemp relocated from the 1971 Convention - thus simplifying the classification
• Preparations with CBD that will not contain more than 0.2% THC will not be included in international drug control conventions
• Pharmaceutical preparations containing THC will be placed in Schedule III to the 1961 Convention, subject to certain criteria - there is a low likelihood of misuse of the products

What about the classification of hemp and hemp products will be a change especially for:

Hemp and hemp resin

The proposal recommends that hemp and hemp resin (hashish) be deleted from List IV of the International Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961 "

List IV of the 1961 Convention is the most restrictive category and includes dangerous substances with extremely low or no curative properties.

If CND will follow the recommendation, hemp and hemp resin will remain in List I.

The ECDD states in the rationale of the amendment:

"The evidence submitted to the Commission does not indicate that the hemp plant and its resin would be particularly likely to cause similar negative effects as other substances included in List IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. In addition, hemp preparations have shown therapeutic potential for the treatment of pain and other illnesses such as epilepsy and spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis. Considering the facts above, we believe that hemp and hemp resin should be controlled to avoid any damage caused by the use of hemp and, at the same time, not to hamper the research and development of hemp products for medical use. "

Dronabinol (delta-9-THC) and tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9-THC isomers)

The Council recommends that dronabinol and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC and its isomers) "be deleted from the 1971 List of the Convention on Psychotropic Substances and added to List I of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. "

This recommendation would simplify the classification as it would classify all forms of THC according to the same List as hemp and hemp resin.

The reclassification report uses an example of cocaine, which is in the same category as coca leaves, and morphia in the same category as opium.

For delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol isomers, the recommended step would also be to simplify and increase system consistency.

"Due to the chemical similarity of each of the six delta-9-THC isomers, it is very difficult to distinguish any of these six isomers from their own delta-9-THC using standard chemical analysis methods," the report said.

 

Hemp extracts and tinctures

 

The report recommends that hemp extracts and tinctures be "deleted from List I of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs."

The Commission recommended deleting this group of preparations from the 1961 Convention because extracts and tinctures include "different preparations with different delta-9-THC concentrations", and some are not psychoactive and have "promising curative use".

Preparations with cannabidiol

The ECDD has already made a critical summary of the findings on clean CBD and has recommended that this substance should not be included in the Lists of International Conventions on Drugs.

However, doubts arise as to how to handle CBD formulations containing some THCs. The report clarifies its position as follows:

"The Commission recommends adding a footnote to the following wording to List I of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs:" Preparations containing predominantly cannabidiol and less than 0,2% tetrahydrocannabinol are not under international control. "

The Commission also stated:

"Cannabidiol is contained in hemp and hemp oil but has no psychoactive properties or potential for abuse or addiction. It does not have serious negative side effects. It has been shown that cannabidiol is effective in managing certain for the treatment of resistant childhood epileptic diseases. In 2018, US approval was approved for this use and is currently being decided to be approved in the EU. "

Pharmaceutical preparations from hemp and dronabinol

According to the Commission, there are now two main types of drugs containing delta-9-THC:

• preparations containing delta-9-THC and CBD (cannabidoid), such as Sativex
• preparations containing only delta-9-THC as an active substance, such as Marinol or Syndros

Because "there is no evidence that the use of these delta-9-THC-containing drugs is associated with abuse or addiction and is not abused for non-curative use" and "we do not hinder access to these medicines", the Commission recommends not to include these drugs in restrictive Schedule I to the 1961 Convention or to List II of the 1971 Convention.

Article author:

Ondřej Šťovíček



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