WHO review of cannabis and cannabis-related substances

In January 2019, WHO Director General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus made a series of recommendations to the United Nations to update the scope of control of cannabis and cannabis-related substances. These new recommendations reflect the emerging therapeutic role of cannabis-based medicines whilst continuing to prevent diversion, misuse, and other public-health related harms that may arise from cannabis use.   

 These recommendations are the outcome of a multi-year review process conducted by the Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (ECDD), an independent scientific advisory body to the WHO. Based on scientific assessment, potential health risk and therapeutic benefit, the ECDD recommends the appropriate scheduling of psychoactive substances within the international drug conventions. The review process leading up to these recommendations may start with a surveillance phase to monitor the risk and therapeutic use and to assess the available data in order to discern whether a full review is necessary and confirm that evidenced-based recommendations are possible. A subsequent pre-review allows for an initial in-depth assessment, which may be followed by a critical review in order to make scheduling recommendations.

This ECDD review on cannabis and cannabis-related substances was originally requested by Member States in 2009 through CND resolution 52/5 in 2009. The Committee then initiated the process in 2012 with a surveillance of cannabis during the 35^th, 37^th, and 38^th ECDD meetings. The decision for a formal review was recommended based on:

• increased use of cannabis and its components for medical purposes;
• the emergence of new cannabis-related pharmaceutical preparations for therapeutic use; and
• that cannabis had never been subject to a formal pre-review or critical review by the ECDD.

Formal reviews were conducted during the 39^th, 40^th, and 41^st ECDD sessions and considered both the best available scientific evidence and data from Member States provided through the annual WHO ECDD Member State questionnaire.  In addition, Member States, members of the public, civil society groups, pharmaceutical industry representatives, and other relevant groups were also able to comment on the ECDD assessments and recommendations through Open Sessions at all ECDD meetings. A vote on the recommendations from the 41^st ECDD was postponed to allow for further dialogue between the ECDD and Member States through several rounds of Q&A at CND intersessional meetings.

Q&A's