The international drug control conventions and the legal use of cannabis and cannabinoids
Email this pagePresentation of Ing. Pavel Pachta on Cannafest Prague 2015. The lecture is in the original version. Brief synopsis can be found in the description below.
The aim of this presentation is to inform the audience about to what extent the current international conventions on drugs allow for cannabis and cannabinoid use in medicine. First we analyse the status of cannabis and cannabis extracts within the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs from 1961 – in a version adjusted by 1972 Protocol. We point out to the fact that placing cannabis in the List I and IV of this Convention does not prevent governments from allowing its use in medicine. Cannabis extracts are listed only in the List I, so the Convention does not offer governments any alternative to their prohibition, while listing cannabis to the List IV provides this opportunity. Next we analyse the current situation in terms of the legal access of patients to cannabis extracts and cannabis on a global level. Certain issues, which make it harder for the governments to allow cannabis use in medicine, are mentioned. We compare the accessibility of cannabis in different countries where the medicinal use is legal with the accessibility of other substances under international control, such as opioids and benzodiazepines. Furthermore we analyse in detail the accessibility of dronabinol (synthetic version of THC) which is listed in the List II of the International Convention on Psychotropic Drugs from 1971, while emphasizing the fact that cannabidiol (CBD) does not fall under international control. During the presentation we also focus on the current discussion on possible changes regarding the status of cannabis and cannabinoids in terms of international treaties concerned with the control of narcotics and psychotropic substances. The contribution confirms the fact that even under current conditions it is possible to legally use cannabis and cannabinoids in medicine and shows some ways to make its usage easier.
Your are cordially invited to the annual conference at Cannafest, the international trade fair of cannabis and medical herbs that will take place on November 11-13, 2016 at the Prague Exhibition Holesovice. The conference presentations will be simultaneously interpreted into English and Czech.