INCB President addresses second intersessional meeting of Commission on Narcotic Drugs
VIENNA, 8 October - The President of the International Narcotics Control Board, Mr. Cornelis P. de Joncheere, addressed the second intersessional meeting of the sixty-third session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, held on 8 October 2020. The meeting provided an opportunity for Member States, intergovernmental organizations and civil society organizations to discuss the World Health Organization recommendations on the scheduling of cannabis and cannabis-related substances.
The INCB President provided technical clarifications on the implications of the recommendations, should they be adopted, on the control measures and reporting obligations. INCB had provided to Member States an analysis of the possible impact of the WHO recommendations on the control requirements of the international drug control system.
Mr. de Joncheere pointed out that INCB has no role in the scheduling process for the 1961 and 1971 conventions and that it was providing technical advice to Member States upon request. He noted that the recommendations provided an opportunity to clarify and streamline the control requirements applicable to cannabis and cannabis-related substances.
He noted that Member States have demonstrated a strong commitment to monitoring and controlling substances in accordance with the three international drug control conventions, and set out three elements that would be necessary to ensure the same level of monitoring and control for cannabis and cannabis-related products: a shared and common understanding of the control requirements for cannabis and cannabis-related substances; a consistent approach with regard to imports and exports; and realistic and uniform conversion factors to provide for effective monitoring.
Mr. de Joncheere reiterated the commitment of the Board to continue supporting Member States in the implementation of the three international drug control conventions, and in the practical application of scheduling decisions adopted by the Commission, to ensure availability of controlled substances, including cannabis and cannabis-related products, for medical and scientific purposes while preventing diversion and abuse.