Is Cannabis Prohibition a violation of Human Rights? The “Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights” and the UN’s “International Narcotics Control Board” think so:
“On March 16th, 2018, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) central legislative UN body in charge of drug-related matters, failed for the first time in 72 years to reach the consensus needed to go ahead normally with its work. Just 5 days later, as if taking advantage of this situation, the HRC adopted also as a premiere (and with a large majority), a resolution that seriously increases its role and involvement on the areas of drug policy, that mandates its Commissioner for a proactive attitude in defense of human rights, and that clearly calls for an appraisal of the prohibitionist era.
[…]
They confirmed what we exposed last year in a conference held during the 2017 CND: hierarchy of norms often puts Human right obligations over and above drug control conventions, and bind countries to take steps that mitigate the impact of drug laws on Human Rights” and should “adopt drug policies that respect the rule of law, the principle of proportionality and human rights.
[…]
Now, the “world drug problem” finally concerns and commits the whole UN family. Now, the global drug policy discussions will finally incorporate the broad diversity of disciplines and mindsets that its complexity calls for.“
A major shift in international drug policies happened last month: in an unexpected move, the central UN body on drugs (CND) self-disqualified, leaving room for the UN Human Rights organs to make steps ahead, and increase their role in the discussions on drug policies internationally.
My 2 cents:
1) the harms of enforcement of marijuana laws far exceed even the potential harms of the plant;
2) patients need access to the safe, efficacious medicine of their choice;
3) opiates and other prescription drugs pose a far higher danger than marijuana, even in states where marijuana is not regulated;
4) the drug is not actually banned as it is actually allowed for friends of the government, a monopoly. Marijuana is grown by the US government, and it allows those with DEA permits to engage in the research and distribution of it;
5) human rights and public health are deteriorated when research into a natural plant is reduced by unreasonable and unnecessary government interference;
6) the plant has over 12,000 years of safe, efficacious use, around the world, and is a part of many folk remedies and religious ceremonies; and
7) the “safe, efficacious Cannabis medicine in a consumer package recommended and dispensed by licensed pharmacists” pre-dates the US FDA by 100 years.