Page 36 - Nile Explorer Issue 12

and this latest vote certainly helps. What it is expected to expand to more than $34
means is that proponents still have much billion by 2025, according to industry
work to do to improve international reports.
access to medical marijuana, although But aside from the financial boon it
the recent developments suggest the could provide not just for the American
movement is gaining steam. and European marijuana markets, but
It is important to note that the globally downgrading the dangers of
reclassification by the UN agency is cannabis may have the biggest impact on
coming at a time many countries across countries that have more conservative
the world are relaxing the criminalization policies, such as many Caribbean. Asian
of marijuana, particularly for medical and Africa nations.
use and to benefit from the every “Something like this does not mean
growing and huge global demand. that legalization is just going to happen
In January, for instance, Uganda’s health around the world,” Ms. Steinberg said.
ministry issued guidelines for the But “it could be a watershed moment.”
cultivation of marijuana for medical The 53 Member States of the CND, the
purposes, bringing the country in line UN’s central drug policy-making body,
with other African nations including voted to remove cannabis from that
Zambia, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe that are Schedule – where it had been placed
easing restrictions on growing medical for 59 years – and to which the strictest
marijuana. control measures apply, that generally
Earlier this year, Thailand, which has discouraged its use for medical purposes.
had harsh drug penalties, became With a vote of 27 in favour, 25 against,
the first Southeast Asian country to and one abstention, the CND has opened
legalize the use of medical marijuana for the door to recognizing the medicinal
patients. And in late November, the Thai and therapeutic potential of the drug, After voting, some countries made
government announced plans to allow although its use for non-medical and statements on their stances. Ecuador
the use of cannabis — minus its most non-scientific purposes will continue to supported all of WHO’s
addictive elements, like the flowers — in remain illegal. The decision could drive recommendations and urged that
cannabis production, sale and use, have
cosmetics and cooking. additional scientific research into the “a regulatory framework that guarantees
On November 26, the Mexican Senate plant’s medicinal properties good practices, quality, innovation and
overwhelmingly voted to legalize Back in January 2019, WHO unveiled research development”.
marijuana, and Canada legalized six recommendations surrounding the Voting against, Chile argued, among
marijuana back in 2018. The US has not listing of cannabis in international drug other things, that “there is a direct
federally legalized marijuana, but four control treaties. While the proposals
more states voted to legalize it in the were presented for decision by the relationship between the use of cannabis
and increased chances of suffering from
2020 election, bringing the total to 15. CND at its March 2019 session, many
Last year, nn December, the US House of countries requested more time to study depression, cognitive deficit, anxiety,
Representatives took up the Marijuana the matter and define their positions, psychotic symptoms, among others”
Opportunities, Reinvestment, and according to news reports. Therefore, while Japan stated that the non-medical
Expungement (MORE) Act which will be the vote followed two years of intensive use of the plant “might give rise to
the first time federal decriminalization and detailed consideration. negative health and social impacts,
of marijuana has been considered Among WHO’s recommendations, it was especially among youth”.
by either chamber of Congress. If it suggested that cannabidiol (CBD) with Experts say that the vote will have
passes, the bill, sponsored by Vice 2 percent or less Tetrahydrocannabinol no immediate impact on loosening
President-elect Kamala Harris, will also (THC, the addictive substance) should international controls because
expunge marijuana convictions, which not be subject to international controls. governments will still have jurisdiction
have long disproportionately plagued Member States rejected that over how to classify cannabis. But many
communities of color. recommendation for a variety of countries look to global conventions
The overhaul of cannabis policy, reasons, including some Member States for guidance, and United Nations
particularly around legalization for arguing that CBD is not currently under recognition is a symbolic win for
medical use, has moved at a rapid pace international control and there was, thus, advocates of drug policy change who say
over the last few years, said Jessica no need for action. CBD has taken on a that international law is out of date.
Steinberg, managing director at the prominent role in wellness therapies in Marijuana for medical use has exploded
Global C, an international cannabis recent years, and sparked a billion-dollar in recent years and products containing
consulting group. Industry insiders industry. cannabis derivatives like cannabidiol
have expressed hope that the vote will Currently, more than 50 countries or CBD, a nonintoxicating compound,
open the field for more research into the have adopted medicinal cannabis have flooded the wellness industry.
therapeutic benefits of the drug. programmes while Canada, Uruguay Cowen, an investment and financial
In the United States, where more and 15 US states have legalized its services company, estimates that the
states legalized the use of medical and recreational use, with Mexico and CBD industry in the United States will
recreational marijuana in the recent Luxembourg having political debates as be worth $16 billion by 2025.
election, the market for both of those to whether to follow that path. The reclassification passed 27 to 25, with

36 | The Nile Explorer 012