WHO officially recommends not to classify CBD as a controlled substance

Since last November and the 39th^ème At the meeting of the WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (ECDD), the fate of CBD with regard to its possible classification on the list of controlled substances under the UN Convention on Narcotic Drugs—to which all Member States are signatories—was pending. At the end of the 40th^ème At the ECDD meeting, however, experts explicitly recommended against listing CBD on the international list of controlled substances.

A Necessary Review

Resolution 52/2 of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs had indeed noted that the status of cannabis had not been updated for some time. At the same time, during the 38th^ème At the ECDD meeting, experts acknowledged the increase in its use for medicinal purposes and the inclusion of its components in a growing number of pharmaceutical products. Consequently, the Committee undertook a comprehensive review of cannabis during a meeting devoted entirely to its study.

In preparation for the 40th^ème At a meeting specifically dedicated to this issue, preliminary reviews had been conducted and had concluded that CBD posed no risk of abuse or dependence and was therefore «generally well tolerated with a good safety profile,» which in itself was sufficient to rule out its potential inclusion on the list of dangerous narcotics. In short, CBD has been determined not to be dangerous which implies that monitoring it is not justified.

The 40^ème The ECDD meeting took place from June 4 to 7, and its conclusions were sent to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in a letter dated July 23. The letter explicitly recommends that CBD not be included on the UN convention’s list of controlled substances.

An important opinion

This recommendation, endorsed by global experts from a powerful and prestigious body that includes nearly all of the world’s nations, is important for CBD users. However, the status of CBD remains in the hands of the United Nations, which has the authority to decide whether or not to follow these recommendations (although it is highly unlikely that it will not do so). Nevertheless, the decision to act in accordance with this international reclassification of CBD rests with the member states, which may very well choose to disregard the UN’s opinion.

Despite its unique status, the UN has no authority to impose its views, and its role regarding the CBD remains advisory. However, this provides a strong argument for advocates of the compound, and any states that choose to oppose these recommendations would have little legitimacy. Moreover, if the normative nature of this recommendation is incorporated into the legislation of a sufficient number of member states, a domino effect could shift the landscape in recalcitrant countries.

A mixed victory

The CBD industry, which has now expanded into many countries and spans numerous sectors such as food, cosmetics, medicine, and wellness, has welcomed the fact that CBD has not been reclassified as a medical substance only; had it been, its use would have remained limited to medication and restricted exclusively to pharmaceutical companies. Since many patients are already using CBD for self-treatment, such a reclassification would have forced them to rely on a controversial intermediary and would have restricted some people’s access to their medication.