Richard Branson, the CEO of Virgin, calls on CND members to endorse the WHO recommendations

The fight against drugs: a failure?

The first observation that any informed person can make is that the relentless fight against drugs has not truly borne fruit. On the contrary, this repressive policy tends to increase the black market and drug trafficking. This, in turn, causes even more damage, both to citizens and to economies.

Moreover, Sir Branson makes sure to point this out in his blog post!

After nearly six decades of prohibition and relentless criminalization of drug users, the failed war on drugs has done absolutely nothing to make a dent in the illicit drug trade. This global activity is worth at least $350 billion annually and is entirely controlled by criminal organizations. The drug wars have cost millions of lives and squandered billions in public resources. To make matters worse, the arrival of new, more potent drugs like fentanyl has led to new spikes in drug-related overdoses and deaths worldwide, demonstrating once again that a hard line on drugs yields no results.

Source: https://www.virgin.com/branson-family/richard-branson-blog/rethinking-drug-laws-in-a-new-global-moment

He clarifies:

For decades, without credible scientific basis, cannabis has been listed as a substance of negligible medical or therapeutic value that is considered as harmful as heroin or cocaine. 

Source: https://www.virgin.com/branson-family/richard-branson-blog/rethinking-drug-laws-in-a-new-global-moment

Reclassification of cannabis: a result of public pressure?

While the World Health Organization is certainly highlighted, the public's contribution to this recommendation should not be overlooked. Indeed, in the USA, following votes, a large portion of the population, spread across various states, supports this reclassification. This, admittedly, cannot leave policymakers indifferent.

Once again, Sir Branson makes this clear in his remarks!

While much of the world's attention is focused on the aftermath of the US presidential election and the transition of power to President-elect Biden, I was pleased to see some of the other outcomes of this year's US election. Voters in several states passed sensible drug policy reforms that will make a huge difference in people's lives, ease the burden on criminal justice systems, improve public health, and ultimately save lives. 

Source: https://www.virgin.com/branson-family/richard-branson-blog/rethinking-drug-laws-in-a-new-global-moment

He adds:

In Arizona, New Jersey, Montana, and South Dakota, voters approved the regulated sale of recreational cannabis, continuing a trend that has been going on for several years, bringing the total number of U.S. states allowing recreational cannabis to 15.

Source: https://www.virgin.com/branson-family/richard-branson-blog/rethinking-drug-laws-in-a-new-global-moment

He added:

Oregonians have taken a significant step forward and supported a ballot initiative to decriminalize the personal possession of small amounts of all currently illegal drugs.

Source: https://www.virgin.com/branson-family/richard-branson-blog/rethinking-drug-laws-in-a-new-global-moment

Reclassification itself: what is it?

We feel it's important to revisit this point, even though it was already addressed in a previous article. Why? Because we want to be reassured that all our readers fully understand what the WHO's recommended reclassification of cannabis , supported by Richard Branson , actually means .

To do this, we've embedded our previous article on the reclassification of cannabis. It seems more convenient to have it accessible directly here, rather than in a new tab.

The recommendations supported by Branson, in detail

Following the above, we feel it is important to focus on these recommendations supported by Richard Branson. Here they are:

1. Remove cannabis and cannabis resin from Schedule IV of the 1961 Convention;
2. Add dronabinol and its stereoisomers (delta-9-THC) to Annex I of the 1961 Convention;
3. If point 2 is adopted: Remove dronabinol and its stereoisomers (delta-9-THC) from Schedule II of the 1971 Convention;
4. If point 2 is adopted: Add tetrahydrocannabinol to Annex I of the Convention;
5. If point 4 is adopted: Remove tetrahydrocannabinol from Annex I of the 1971 Convention;
6. Remove cannabis extracts and tinctures from Appendix I of the 1961 Convention;
7. Add a footnote on cannabidiol preparations to Annex I of the 1961 Convention should read as follows: “Preparations containing primarily cannabidiol and not more than 0.2% of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol are not under international control”;
8. Adding preparations containing dronabinol, produced either by chemical synthesis or in the form of cannabis preparations that are compounded like pharmaceutical products, preparations with one or more other ingredients and in such a way that the dronabinol cannot be recovered by readily available means or in a yield that constitutes a risk to public health, to Annex III of the 1961 Convention.

The CND's response to the WHO recommendations

We will keep you updated on the return of the CND, once it is available.