Why S’pore is Disappointed at UN’s Decision About Cannabis Simplified for You

In case you missed it, the United Nations (UN) has removed cannabis from Schedule IV of the 1961 Convention.

The 1961 Convention on Narcotics Drugs is a global text that helps govern drug controls around the world and Schedule IV is the group of drugs that have to be most tightly controlled.

Drugs within Schedule IV includes dangerous and, most of the time, deadly drugs like heroin, fentanyl analogues and other opioids.

Removal Of Cannabis From Schedule IV

On 2 Dec 2020, at the annual UN Commission on Narcotics Drugs (CND), cannabis and cannabis resin was voted off Schedule IV following a recommendation by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

WHO wants to make it easier to research into cannabis’s medical properties.

It recommends that the drug be taken out of the tightly-controlled category and placed into a category which can help prevent harm from cannabis use and yet, not “act as a barrier” to access and research.

The vote was very close with 27 member states voting for, while 25 member states voted against, the proposal.

One member state has abstained from the vote.

Singapore’s Response

Singapore is well-known for its strong anti-drug stance.

And when it was made known that cannabis will no longer be in Schedule IV? Singapore wasn’t too happy.

On 3 Dec 2020, Singapore made known its disappointment with the United Nation’s decision.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a statement saying that there is “no strong evidence” to support the recommendations, including Recommendation 5.1, which is the WHO’s recommendation.

Singapore did not accept any of WHO’s six recommendations made by the WHO’s Expert Committee on Drug Dependence last year.

“The scientific evidence presented on the safety and efficacy of cannabis for medical purposes was neither adequate nor robust.”

It was also added that there is no need for the drug to be rescheduled as the current drug convention already allows “adequate access” to cannabis for medical and research purposes.

Sending The Wrong Signal

One thing that Singapore is concerned about, is how removing cannabis could send the wrong signal to people around the world.

Think of it this way.

Vaping and e-cigarettes are banned in Singapore, partly because they’re more dangerous than regular smoking.

However, because several other countries around the world still allow e-cigarettes, somewhere within your mind, you’ll still think: Aiya, if it’s really that dangerous, it would be banned everywhere, not just in Singapore, please.

Same thing.

The move to remove cannabis from the most dangerous category, MHA says, could lead to people thinking that the CND has “softened” its stand against cannabis.

What more, it could lead youths (and potential substance abusers) into thinking that cannabis isn’t as harmful.

“The deletion of cannabis and cannabis resin carries a high signature and will perpetuate the societal misperception that global authorities like the WHO and CND no longer assess cannabis to be as harmful as it was once thought to be.

“This would encourage more abuse, especially among the youths, and create social and safety problems.”

Singapore stresses that the “acceptance of Recommendation 5.1” shouldn’t be seen as the world organisations approving it for recreational use, or to further relax rules on the substance.

S’pore Not Changing Its Stance

As for whether the development in the UN will impact Singapore’s notorious anti-drug laws, the answer is no, according to MHA.

The international drug control conventions allow nations to adopt even stricter drug control measures if they want to.

MHA is of the opinion that our current anti-drug laws have managed to protect Singaporeans well even as the global situation deteriorates, and they believe that this is the best way to protect Singaporeans, including the control on cannabis.

By the way, did you know that CNB recently came up with their own version of Breaking Bad: How People Tried To Get Drugs Into Singapore?

Featured Image: Rattiya Thongdumhyu / Shutterstock.com