cannabisnews.com: UN Narcotics Control Board Questions Canada UN Narcotics Control Board Questions Canada Posted by CN Staff on February 25, 2003 at 17:11:20 PT By Lisa Schlein, Canadian Press Source: Canadian Press Geneva - An official with the UN drug watchdog questions whether Canada is too hasty in allowing the medical use of marijuana but praised Ottawa for having legislation in place to control a variety of other narcotics. "We have to be much more positive about Canada this year because it has finally put all the psychotropic substances under its national law," says Herbert Schaepe, secretary of the International Narcotics Control Board. Canada now "fully complies" with the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971, which obliges governments to introduce control measures such as licensing of companies, import-export authorizations, prescription requirements and inspections. The board had said last year that Canada was the only developed country that failed to live up to the treaty, and this "could adversely affect efforts to control quite a number of substances." Psychotropic drugs such as benzodiazepines - familiarly known as "bennies" - phenobarbital and amphetamines were allowed to make their way through Canada to illicit markets in the United States as a result, it said. "So, I think with these changes and with the co-operation between the police authorities of Canada and the United States, this is something which is probably now solved," Schaepe said. The board is part of the UN International Drug Control Program based in Vienna, Austria. It released its latest annual report on the global drug control situation on Wednesday. A key point is that far from making poor countries rich, illicit drug production keeps most people in developing countries trapped in poverty. As for North America, the report says cannabis remains the most common drug of abuse and is widely available in Canada, Mexico and the United States. Schaepe said a significant amount of cannabis seized in the United States "is coming from Canada where probably the attitude of the authorities is more liberal than on the other side of the border." The board is concerned that the Canadian government may be jumping the gun on "the medical use of cannabis," he said, and may be making some exceptions in this regard "before research into the supposed medical benefits of cannabis has been completed." "What we do not understand is why the legislators cannot wait until this medical research comes up with definite results." Two years ago, a Canadian court sided with an epileptic who said he needed marijuana to control his seizures. In response, Ottawa adopted regulations that allow the use of marijuana for medical reasons under certain circumstances. But the regulations have been criticized for being cumbersome and unfair, and there have been further court rulings and appeals that left an air of uncertainty over Canadian laws on marijuana. Schaepe also expressed misgivings about Vancouver's proposed safe-injection sites for drug users. "We think it is not in line with international conventions when the government or local governments just condones the abuse of substances which are coming from the illicit market and opens up places where this can be done," he said. Vancouver officials explained that the city wants to incorporate harm-reduction measures, such as better health treatment for addicts, in its drug strategy which includes prevention, treatment and enforcement. The UN report notes that after the terrorist attacks in the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, the amount of drugs seized at airports and border crossings in both Canada and the United States "decreased considerably." The board says "enhanced border controls" resulted in "reduced availability of cocaine and heroin on illicit markets" - which has generally led to increased prices. Complete Title: UN Narcotics Control Board Questions Canada's Policy on Use of MarijuanaSource: Canadian PressAuthor: Lisa Schlein, Canadian Press Published: Tuesday, February 25, 2003Copyright: 2003 The Canadian PressRelated Articles & Web Site:Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmJust Say 'Yes' - Maclean's Magazine http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15548.shtml Pot Support in Full Flowerhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15522.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #15 posted by FoM on February 26, 2003 at 10:19:01 PT Thanks BGreen That was really funny! Thank you and thanks afterburner. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by afterburner on February 26, 2003 at 09:50:09 PT: The GCW & FoM & BGreen Welcome back, The GCW. FoM, my condolences on your porch problems. BGreen, thanks for the links. [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by BGreen on February 26, 2003 at 08:23:41 PT I'm sick of the snow We've had the 4th highest total snowfall in history so far and we're less than two inches away from hitting third place. It's pretty but it's dangerous.Bud [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by FoM on February 26, 2003 at 08:17:09 PT BGreen I didn't get to it the other day but I will today. Yesterday we had a big mess here. My father in law's house, who passed away the end of November, has been vacant and we didn't notice that his huge elevated back porch collapsed under the pressure of all the snow. It was at least 40 feet long and 25 feet deep. When it collapsed it broke the electric meter and we had hot wires and the repair crew was out here late at night and got it fixed. My husband had to run all night to get his load to Chicago. We lost my mom's old glass top table and gas grill and a few more things that were on the porch. We won't be able to repair the porch until the weather breaks. It was suspended about 20 feet above the ground and is going to take a crane to lift it back up. It's always something. I will watch it later today because I need some comic relief. Thanks for reminding me. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by BGreen on February 26, 2003 at 08:01:38 PT My pleasure, FoM, and if you haven't already done it take three minutes out of your morning to watch this clip from The Comedy Channel that I mentioned the other day. It's really funny.BudThe Comedy Channel's Adnauseam gives us a humorous and critical look at the Federal US Governments crop of latest anti-Drug Ads The Comedy Channel on Those Nauseating anti-Drug Adds [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by FoM on February 26, 2003 at 07:44:58 PT BGreen and The GCW Thanks for finding the links for The GCW.The GCW I was worried about you and am glad to know you are ok! Nice to see you! [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by BGreen on February 26, 2003 at 06:17:28 PT Here's some links, The GCW U.S. Loses Seat on U.N. Drug Policy Panelhttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/9/thread9633.shtmlU.S. Has Lost Not 1 but 2 Seats on Key U.N. Panelshttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/9/thread9632.shtmlBush Upset By U.N. Rejectionshttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/9/thread9636.shtmlUN Cut US Off As Drug Monitorhttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/9/thread9627.shtmlU.S. Loses Seat on U.N. Drug Policy Boardhttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/9/thread9626.shtmlU.S. May Withhold U.N. Paymentshttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/9/thread9594.shtmlU.S. Loses Seat on U.N. Rights Bodyhttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/9/thread9587.shtmlHouse Votes To Withhold Funds From U.N.http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/9/thread9663.shtmlHouse Threatens To Hold Back U.N. Dueshttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/9/thread9645.shtml [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by The GCW on February 26, 2003 at 03:53:24 PT CANNABIS IS NOT A DRUG. + remember app. 3 years..? But it competes with drugs.It is a plant, and the prohibitionists throw the word "drug" around as though it is not only drug, but it is only drug.They seem unaware that it is a plant.They wait for tests that have already appeared.I believe Jesus Christ Himself tested the cannabis / kaneh bosm, and I believe He approved.+remember about 3 years ago, when the U.S. was eliminated from the U.N. Narcotics Control Board? They were being confronted by the fact of shameful overincarceration, and other stuff... and they got blocked, but then after 2 years... they got back in... and You'd think they got smart like Hitler over the experience.The U.S. also lost it seat on the U.N. Human Rights Commission...at the same time. It created quite a stir. FoM, can You post links to those stories? I remember them, here at C-News. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by afterburner on February 25, 2003 at 22:38:32 PT: Cannabis is Not a Narcotic! "What we do not understand is why the legislators cannot wait until this medical research comes up with definite results." says Herbert Schaepe, secretary of the International Narcotics Control Board.Oh, no, the government and its courts should just let people suffer and die for two years while scientific studies verify the medical benefits of a plant that has been used medically for thousands of years. Yeah, right, NOT! Apparently the UN Board does not recognize the concept of compassionate care, any more than they realize that cannabis is Not a narcotic.“Appeal to reform the UN Conventions on Drugs” http://www.radicalparty.org/lia_paa_appeal/index_en.phpego destruction or ego transcendence, that is the question. “Appeal to reform the UN Conventions on Drugs” [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Ron Bennett on February 25, 2003 at 19:12:16 PT Sad, but true... Many folks are not aware that most countries in the world, including the Netherlands and Canada, have ratified and are members of the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971 along with other related U.N. agreements. They are in large part what is standing in the way of real, meaningful drug policy reform.While the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971 and similar gets virtually no press, it's important to realize that until the countries withdraw or greatly revise how such U.N. agreements are enforced, drug policy reform efforts will be limited; even the Netherlands cooperates with U.S. law enforcement - visitors from various other countries, including the United States, should be aware that there can be reprecussions for merely using cannabis while visiting in the Netherlands.In short, the U.N. (basically an extention of the U.S. government quite really) is very much standing in the way of real, meaningful drug policy reform. Sad, but true :(Ron United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by mayan on February 25, 2003 at 18:16:55 PT Priorities? The U.N. should be worried about it's own survival instead of whether people use a plant. Once the U.S. attacks Iraq without the backing of the U.N Security Council, the U.N. will become irrelevant. All U.N. treaties will become null & void. This is the dark before the dawn, my friends. We must endure!!!US war on Iraq may begin on February 27: http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_196820,00130018.htmInfo on Martial Law: http://members.tripod.com/~Sidlinger/ml.htmlCivil disobedience: http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/5257225.htmAnother motive for war: 9/11 coverup? http://onlinejournal.com/Special_Reports/022003Burns/022003burns.htmlKaminski's Best 9/11 Sites - 4th Edition: http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00024The Deception Dollar - 9/11 Fraudulent Event Note: http://www.sf.indymedia.org/news/2003/02/1577813.php [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by pokesmotter on February 25, 2003 at 17:51:33 PT: wow Schaepe said a significant amount of cannabis seized in the United States "is coming from Canada where probably the attitude of the authorities is more liberal than on the other side of the border." How do they know it is coming from Canada? People here grow weed too.Also did it seem to anyone else it sounded like US vs Canada other than UN vs Canada? [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by TroutMask on February 25, 2003 at 17:23:10 PT Alice in Wonderland "An official with the UN drug watchdog questions whether Canada is too hasty in allowing the medical use of marijuana"What the heck!? If it were left to the Canadian government, there would be no legal medical marijuana. It's the Constitution, stupid! Canada's Supreme Court ruled that the Canadian Constitution requires that their citizens be allowed to use medical marijuana.So, to make the quote make sense, it should read:"An official with the UN drug watchdog questions whether Canada is too hasty in abiding by their Constitution"What a bunch of idiots.-TM [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on February 25, 2003 at 17:22:57 PT News Brief from Times Online UK Cannabis Changes Wrong, Says UNFebruary 26, 2003 By Richard Ford, Home Correspondent David Blunkett's decision to relax the law on cannabis is criticised by a UN anti-drugs panel today for sending the wrong signal to the rest of the world. The UN says that the Home Secretary’s move would damage Britain’s health and could increase cannabis supplies on the streets. Introducing the panel’s annual report, Hamid Ghodse also claimed that downgrading the drug from Class B to Class C would undermine efforts to curb cannabis production in Africa and set a bad example to young people in developing countries. Asked if Mr Blunkett’s decision was a bad message to the world, Professor Ghodse, Professor of Addictive Behaviour at St George’s Hospital, London, said: “Indeed, indeed . . . developing countries are very conscious that their people, particularly their youth, follow the sort of statements which pervade this country. “Therefore normalisation of drug use might appear as something to be desired.”http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,635-591651,00.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on February 25, 2003 at 17:16:13 PT Here We Go Again Please stand strong Canada! Please! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment