The President of the INCB, Raymond Yans, accused Uruguay of acting as a "pirate" after having approved the autocultivation and legal trade of cannabis. However, Uruguay does not only have international obligations with regards to drugs, but also with regards to human rights.
There are clear signs that the global consensus on drugs is becoming increasingly fractured, writes Ann Fordham, who says the last 18 months have seen several exciting watershed moments on the long road towards a rational and less damaging approach to the control of drugs.
The “developments” to which Yans refers involved the elimination of certain criminal penalties by ballot initiative, which he says the U.S. government should not allow.
INCB reiterates its position highlighted in its Annual Report for 2003 which stated that “Capital punishment is neither encouraged nor prohibited by the international drug control conventions”.
The INCB annual report focuses on increased prevention and treatment to combat drug use worldwide and highlights the emergence of new synthetic derivatives.
Six new INCB members will be elected on 23-25 April 2014. The list and bios of the candidates is now available below (including candidates nominated by governments, and those nominated by the World Health Organization).