Russia Responds to UN Decision to Change Cannabis Status

The Russian representative to the United Nations has commented on the recent decision by a UN commission to remove cannabis from Schedule IV.

Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna, responded to the UN commission’s decision to exclude cannabis from the list of the most dangerous drugs. According to Ulyanov, this decision has become a “symbol for drug liberals” and a hope that cannabis will eventually be fully legalized worldwide.

“In practical terms, nothing has changed. The same control measures should remain at the national level,” he said.

Ulyanov also stated that the removal of cannabis from Schedule IV supposedly makes its medical use easier. However, he concluded that no one has been able to prove that this is actually the case.

On December 2, the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs voted to remove cannabis from Schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs—a list of substances subject to the strictest control. Twenty-seven commission members voted in favor of the decision, 25 were against, and one abstained. The commission in question is the main UN body responsible for laws regarding psychoactive substances.