Fair(er) trade cannabis: turning a utopia into a possible reality
Main stories from the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, introducing the World Ayahuasca Conference, and more.
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Dear reader,
Between 14 and 21 March 2019, over hundreds of policymakers, experts, as well as civil society and community representatives gathered in Vienna for the 62nd session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs. Below are several important stories we wish to highlight this month.
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 Side event on fair(er) trade options for the cannabis market at the CND 2019
(Photo credit Martin Jelsma) |
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| IDPC: “The ‘Vienna consensus’ stifles progress on UN drug policy” |
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On 14 March 2019, member states at the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) adopted the Ministerial Declaration on ‘Strengthening our actions at the national, regional, and international levels to accelerate the implementation of our joint commitments to address and counter the world drug problem’. Amid progress in some areas, the Declaration remains focussed on the overly ambitious goal of eliminating the cultivation, production, trafficking, and use of illicit drugs. The International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) breaks it down in this brief statement.
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| A critical look at the WHO’s first ever critical review of cannabis |
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In January 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) finally acknowledged the medical usefulness of cannabis and recommended for the rescheduling of cannabis within the international drug control system. Though highly anticipated, the CND unanimously adopted a procedural decision to postpone deliberations on this matter, thus removing it from the 62nd session’s agenda in March 2019. TNI’s Drugs & Democracy programme welcomes this decision, for a handful of good reasons.
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| Fair(er) trade cannabis: turning a utopia into a possible reality
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In the past years, the global cannabis market has faced significant transformation, both in terms of its magnitude as well as its relation with public policies and regulations. Notwithstanding the legal cannabis industry’s potential in enhancing the well being of many, serious concerns are growing with regard to the role of for-profit cannabis companies from the Global North, whose commercial activities further endanger the livelihoods of small-scale and marginalised farmers from traditional cannabis producing countries in the Global South. To address these issues, a report was launched at a dedicated side event at the CND.
For more detailed reporting on the various meetings and (side) events at this year’s CND, we highly recommend you to read through IDPC’s CND Blog.
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| World Ayahuasca Conference 2019 |
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In recent decades, ayahuasca has become increasingly popular around the globe, attracting a wide variety of individuals seeking healthier lives and innovative ways to contribute to the world. To share and expand multidisciplinary knowledge on the subject, the International Center for Ethnobotanical Education, Research & Service (ICEERS) organises the World Ayahuasca Conference, taking place in Spain between 31st May and 2nd June 2019.
Interested in attending the conference? Enjoy a 10% discount by using coupon code TNI10 when purchasing your tickets.
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Formed in 1996, the TNI Drugs & Democracy programme explores the underlying causes of drug production and consumption and advocates for evidence-based policies that respect the human rights of producers and consumers. |
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