The UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs has voted to remove cannabis and cannabis resin from a category of the world’s most dangerous drugs, in a move certain to impact the global medical marijuana industry.

The Vienna-based UN agency said in a statement that it had voted 27-25, with one abstention, to follow the World Health Organisation’s recommendation to remove cannabis and cannabis resin from Schedule IV of the 1961 Convention on Narcotic Drugs, where it was listed with heavier drugs like heroin, which has caused many overdoses and several other opioids.

The drugs that are on Schedule IV are a subset of those on Schedule I of the convention, which already requires an immensely high level of international control. The agency voted to leave cannabis and cannabis resin on the list of Schedule I drugs, which also include cocaine, fentanyl, morphine, Methadone, opium and oxycodone, which are dangerous and often deadly.

In 2019 WHO found last year and said that Cannabis, by contrast carries no significant risk of death and it has shown potential in treating pain and conditions such as epilepsy.

WHO said last year that “Cannabis should be scheduled at a level of control that will prevent harm caused by cannabis use and at the same time will not act as a barrier to access and to research and development of cannabis-related preparation for medical use”

Schedule I Drugs include Fentanyl, Morphine, Cocaine, Opium, Methadone, & Oxycodone. These drugs have had a severe detrimental impact on peoples lives, young adults and communities, even death.

According to the CDC Website between the years 1999–2018, it’s writes that almost 450,000 people died from an overdose involving any opioid, including prescription and illicit opioids.

Experts have said that removing cannabis off the strictest schedule could lead, however, to the loosening of international controls on medical marijuana.

We look forward to 2021.