Great and long-awaited news for Cannabis: the United Nations has approved the WHO recommendations to remove cannabis and cannabis resin from Schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs.
A historic vote
The vote is historic and could have very positive and important implications for the entire Cannabis industry , starting with the legislative initiatives that are being carried out in individual countries.
The vote ended with 27 votes in favour , 1 abstention and 25 votes against. The European Union, including Italy, voted in favor with the sole exception of Hungary.
The first comments
“The wave of medical cannabis has already accelerated in recent years, but this news will give it a further boost,” Martin Jelsma, director of the drugs and democracy program at the Netherlands-based Transnational Institute, told Marijuana Business Daily.
“While this decision does not completely free the plant from treaty control, it is a giant step towards the normalization of cannabis especially in medicine, but also in our societies in general,” independent researcher Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli of CND Monitor.
“It took decades of effort to remove cannabis from Schedule IV, with implications that will slowly but surely be seen over the next few decades.”
“ Today's decision removes the obstacles of international control, imposed since 1961 by the Single Convention on Narcotic Substances, on the production of cannabis for medical-scientific purposes”, declares Marco Perduca , who for the Luca Coscioni Association , active internationally in protection of the right to science and health.
The big picture
This news adds to the ruling of the European Court of Justice last November, which stated that CBD extracted from the Cannabis plant in its entirety cannot be considered a narcotic substance.
The European Court of Justice had already ruled on a seizure case, which occurred in France, regarding a CBD extract imported from the Czech Republic.
The judges recognized the right to produce and market CBD, if "it is extracted from the Cannabis sativa plant in its entirety and not only from its fibers and seeds."
The therapeutic potential of cannabidiol
Various research by the scientific community has demonstrated the formidable effects of CBD, which has proven surprisingly useful in treating certain pathologies, from the most delicate ones such as epilepsy in children or diseases affecting the gastrointestinal system , up to lighter but still disabling conditions such as insomnia, poor appetite or mood disorders.
Taking CBD can be useful to combat chronic and even acute pain, such as migraines, menstrual pain or muscle pain.
In addition to being an excellent analgesic, CBD can also be a powerful anti-inflammatory , it is this synergy that makes it so attractive as a natural medicine.
Furthermore, its ability to interact with our endocannabinoid system makes it a powerful serotonin stimulator, capable of relieving stress, anxiety and mild depression.
Taking CBD can also help fight insomnia and stimulate appetite, and can finally be a valid ally against nausea and to deal with THC withdrawal symptoms.
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