UN Removes Cannabis From The Most Dangerous Drug

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What has happened?

The United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) on Wednesday voted to remove cannabis and cannabis resin from Schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, decades after they were first placed on the list.
At its ongoing 63rd session, the 53-member CND has chosen to affirm a WHO recommendation from 2019 to remove cannabis from its ‘most dangerous’ category.
It could influence the global use of medicinal marijuana.

27 Member States voting in favour, 25 against, and one abstention.
India was part of the voting majority, along with the US and most European nations.
China, Pakistan and Russia were among those who voted against, and Ukraine abstained.

According to the WHO, cannabis is a generic term used to denote the several psychoactive preparations of the plant Cannabis sativa.
The major psychoactive constituent in cannabis is
Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
The Mexican name ‘marijuana‘ is frequently used in referring to cannabis leaves or other crude plant material in many countries.
The two main active substances in it are cannabidiol or CBD and delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC

The WHO says that cannabis is by far the most widely cultivated, trafficked and abused illicit drug in the world.

The Vienna-based CND, founded in 1946, is the UN agency mandated to decide on the scope of control of substances,
By placing them in the schedules of global drug control conventions.
Cannabis has been on Schedule IV–the most dangerous category– of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs for as long as the international treaty has existed.
Since it was first scheduled, however, global attitudes towards cannabis have changed dramatically,
With many jurisdictions permitting cannabis use for recreation, medication or both, despite it remaining on Schedule IV of the UN list.

Currently, over 50 countries allow medicinal cannabis programs.
Also its recreational use has been legalised in Canada, Uruguay and 15 US states.

In January 2019, the WHO made six recommendations related to scheduling of cannabis in UN treaties.
The proposals were to be placed before the CND’s session in March that year,
But members overwhelmingly voted to postpone the vote, requesting additional time.

Then, at its currently ongoing session, the CND rejected five of the six proposals,
But approved the key one to remove cannabis and cannabis resin from Schedule IV.
However, both substances will continue to remain on Schedule I, the least dangerous category.

The reclassification of cannabis by the UN agency, although significant, would not immediately change its status worldwide,
As long as individual countries continue with existing regulations.
Still, Wednesday’s vote could impact this process, as many nations follow the lead of international protocols while legislating.
Scientific research into marijuana’s medicinal properties is also expected to grow.

Currently in India, the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985,
Illegalises any mixture with or without any neutral material, of any of the two forms of cannabis – charas and ganja — or any drink prepared from it.
The NDPS Act, however, does not apply to the leaves and seeds of cannabis plants.
In case the CBD is extracted from the leaves of the cannabis, then technically it is not illegal.
CBD oil manufactured under a licence issued by the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 can be legally used.

Q) Which among the following organs of UN is the parent organisation of United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs?