The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) held a meeting on May 7, 2018 with civil society representatives on the “the use of cannabis for medical and non-medical purposes”.The meeting brought together a number of representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), selected by the Vienna NGO Committee on Drugs (VNGOC), and members of the Board.
After opening remarks by INCB President Viroj Sumyai and VNGOC Chair Jamie Bridge the INCB members heard the views and experiences of the NGO representatives, some in person, others through pre-recorded video messages.
Following the Call for Applications published on April 4 2018 we received 34 applications before the deadline of April 17 2018. The VNGOC board selected 10 civil society representatives to present their work on the topic mentioned above during the two hour meeting. In order to ensure an inclusive, comprehensive and meaningful civil society participation the board took into consideration the following selection criteria:
- expertise,
- topic,
- gender and geographical balance
- and mode of delivery.
The following representatives presented their views at the INCB civil society hearing:
| No. | Organisation | Country | Representative | Title | Statement | Website |
|
1 |
World Federation Against Drugs | Global / Sweden | Linda Nilsson | Consequences of legalization and commercialization of cannabis for vulnerable populations | In person | wfad.se |
|
2 |
Veterans For Medical Cannabis Access (VMCA) | USA | Michael Krawitz | Medicinal Cannabis, Clinical Evidence and Patient Advocates Perspective. | Video message | |
|
3 |
Groupement Romand d’Etudes des Addictions (GREA) | Switzerland | Simon Anderfuhren-Biget | Cannabis politic, policies and policing in Switzerland | In person | grea.ch |
|
4 |
Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) | USA | Kevin Sabet, PhD | Marijuana: A Balanced Approach Is Needed | Video message | learnaboutsam.org |
|
5 |
Students for Sensible Drug Policy Österreich | Austria | Elena Dobrinova Yaneva | Cannabis Sativa – Economics and Sustainability (Use of cannabis for non-medical purposes) | In person | ssdp.org |
|
6 |
Uganda Youth Development Link | Uganda | Kasirye Rogers | The cost of growing and legalisation of cannabis. Case study of Uganda | Video message | uydel.org |
|
7 |
Transnational Institute | Netherlands | Prof. David R Bewley-Taylor | Balancing Treaty Stability and Change: Inter Se modification and the UN drug control conventions to facilitate cannabis regulation | In person | tni.org |
|
8 |
México Unido Contra la Delincuencia (MUCD) | Mexico | Tania Ramírez | Medicinal cannabis policies and practices in Mexico and around the world | Video message | mucd.org |
|
9 |
IOGT International | Sweden (Global) | Esbjörn Hörnberg | Big Tobacco and Big Marijuana | In person | iogt.org |
|
10 |
Youth Council for Anti Narcotics (YOCFAN) | Pakistan | Syed Zulfiqar Hussain | Rehabilitation of Cannabis Drug Users | Video message | yocfan.org |
