The US House of Representatives passed the MORE Act to help federally decriminalize the possession of cannabis. At the same time, the UN voted and approved of the WHO’s cannabis scheduling. The WHO proposed rescheduling cannabis from a Schedule IV to a Schedule I drug on the international scale. 

Cannabis Classification

The UN has a committee called the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND). This committee classifies drugs and other narcotics on an international level. In the US, Schedule I drugs are the most dangerous and addictive drugs on the market. Schedule IV drugs are the ones with a low to almost nonexistent addictive properties. The UN has kind of the opposite kind of scheduling classification than the US. Schedule IV is for particularly dangerous drugs such as Heroin. Schedule I is for drugs that aren’t as harmful. They are also recognized by the medical community for medicinal purposes.

By reclassifying cannabis, the UN opens up many more opportunities for medical cannabis use and research. Scientists wish to continue learning about the cannabis plant and all its cannabinoids. Cannabinoids have shown positive effects on the human body even though little research has been conducted.

Hopes for the Future

While this new classification opens many opportunities for industry growth and research, this does not have any effect on the laws and regulations that each country has in place. Along with the reclassification of cannabis scheduling, there were 5 other recommendations the WHO set forth that did not pass. There’s the reclassification of THC to a schedule III drug for accessible research. There is also clarifying the confusing wording around CBD with THC in its preparation process.

The new classification of cannabis barely passed a majority vote, with 27 in favor, 1 abstained, and 25 against. Because things were so close, it’s no surprise that the other recommendations didn’t pass. And this is not to say that some countries are against cannabis or any drug reclassification. One representative from Canada said that it wasn’t that the county or the representative was against cannabis, but that the wording the WHO put forth seemed confusing. They recommended rewritting it to have a clear statement about reclassification of not just cannabis but other cannabinoids as well. 

It’s unclear if the WHO will once again submit a reclassification to the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. But this first recommendation passage is a major leap forward for scientific research. There’s much to learn about all cannabis can do for humans medically and recreationally.

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