EUMCA & Clever Leaves policy paper explains why CBD is not a narcotic

by | Dec 1, 2020 | News

EUMCA & Clever Leaves policy paper explains why CBD is not a narcotic

EUMCA & Clever Leaves policy paper explains why CBD is not a narcotic

Professor Trevor Jones CBE FMedSci, says: “CBD is NOT a narcotic.  The uncertainty about the legal status CBD, especially of plant-derived CBD, is a barrier to its medical use.”

Professor Trevor Jones, Chair of the EUMCA urges the Commission to agree to the WHO recommendations, in line with regulators in the USA, Germany, Denmark and the UK – for the explicit removal of pure CBD and CBD preparations from the narcotic list.

European Medicinal Cannabis Association policy paper explains why CBD is not a narcotic.

Authored and prepared by Clever Leaves, adopted by EUMCA General Assembly

Brussels, 30 November 2020: Ahead of the 63rd session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) in Vienna on 2 December 2020, the European Medicinal Cannabis Association (EUMCA) urges the Commission to agree to the WHO recommendations – in line with regulators in the USA, Germany, Denmark and the UK – for the explicit removal of pure CBD and CBD preparations from the narcotic list.

 

The  controversy over the narcotic status of CBD was recently addressed by the WHO which, after a critical review of evidence, recommended that the United Nations CND include a note in the international list of narcotic drugs from the 1961 Single Convention in order to clarify that CBD is not a controlled substance, even if it is extracted from cannabis. Regarding the issue of CBD purity, a limit of 0.2% THC maximum is being proposed by the WHO.

 

Given the ambiguity that stills exists over the legal status of pure CBD in many EU member states, the EUMCA says that if the Commission is unable to adopt the WHO recommendation a UN level, then at the very least, purity standards for CBD preparations should be adopted at a regional or national level.

 

Professor Trevor Jones CBE FMedSci, Chair of the EUMCA, says:

 

“We urge the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs to endorse the WHO recommendations. The uncertainty about the legal status CBD, especially of plant-derived CBD, is a barrier to its medical use.    This does not mean that CBD of every quality and concentration, to be administered by any chosen route, should be openly available to people of all ages.”

 

To enable policymakers and regulators to take a step forward and eliminate barriers of access to pure CBD preparations for medicinal purposes, the EUMCA has prepared a policy paper “CBD is not a Narcotic.“

 

Prof Trevor M Jones CBE FMedSci is former R&D Director of Wellcome and Director General of the ABPI. He is currently Chair of the European Medicinal Cannabis Association: EUMCA.org

 

– Ends –

 

For further information, please contact:

 

European Medicinal Cannabis Association

Penny Lukats, 07775992350, penny.lukats@eumca.org

 

NOTES TO EDITORS 

 

The EUMCA is the first international non-profit association governed by the provisions of the Belgian Code des Sociétés et des Associations.  Its membership is a multi-stakeholder network representing the interests of a wide range of organisations operating in the research and development, production and/or distribution of medical cannabis-based treatments.

 

The EUMCA’s mission is to improve the life and health outcomes of patients across Europe, by promoting the development of national government healthcare policies that advocate i) the ethical prescription of pharmaceutical-grade medicinal cannabis, and ii) advance patient access to treatments. It does this through:

  • Research & Development: Promoting scientific medical research and policy to support the standardised, ethical and sustainable use of medicinal cannabis.
  • Patient Access & Reimbursement: Working with national reimbursement institutions to improve patient access to medical cannabis-based treatments.
  • Medical Education: Providing evidence-based knowledge and learning on medicinal cannabis to healthcare professionals and patients.
  • Legal & Compliance: Consulting with governments where ongoing or urgent action is necessary.
  • Regulatory & Quality: Providing members with counsel and guidance on regulatory affairs.
  • Business Development: Delivering networking opportunities for members focused on building their business through M&A, licensing, partnering and novel in-market strategies.

 

For more information on the EUMCA and membership, please visit www.eumca.org, or contact:

Sita Schubert, General Secretary of the EUMCA on +32 233 90 281, info@eumca.org