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12 June 2013
The INCB criticizes cannabis legalisation in US states

The INCB criticizes cannabis legalisation in US states

The INCB condemned the results of recent referenda in two states in the United States of America, Colorado and Washington, and in some cities in Michigan and Vermont, allowing the non-medical use of cannabis. INCB President Raymond Yans stated that “these developments are in violation of the international drug control treaties, and pose a great threat to public health and the well-being of society far beyond those states”. He requested the US Government to take the necessary measures to ensure full compliance with its obligations under the United Nations drug control conventions. Read more about the INCB’s reaction.
12 June 2013
Obituary on Professor Hamid Ghodse

Obituary on Professor Hamid Ghodse

On 2 January 2012, the President of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) announced that Professor Hamid Ghodse had passed away on 27 December 2012 after a short illness. Professor Ghodse has served as member of the INCB for over 20 years since 1992, and as its President during the periods 1993-1994, 1997-1998, 2000-2001, 2004-2005, 2008, and 2010-2011. He is remembered for his work on preventing drug use, promoting treatment, rehabilitation and social integration of people dependent on drugs, and encouraging States to ensure the adequate availability of drugs for medical use. The current President of the INCB, Raymond Yans, said that the “international community has lost a true champion of the basic principle of preventing the damage that drug abuse does to our young people and our societies, by always upholding the ideal of promoting the health and welfare of mankind, as enshrined in the international drug control conventions.” Read his full statement for further details. Professor Ghodse presented himself as a 'civilising influence' on the more extreme elements on the INCB over the last two decades, and there is no doubt that this was at times the case. Coming from a background in the treatment of drug dependence, he always had a more sophisticated grasp of health issues - such as essential medicines and harm reduction - than most of his colleagues. We have of course often disagreed with Professor Ghodse on policy and procedural issues, and had been concerned at his long tenure on what is meant to be a constantly evolving Board, but he has always been gracious and charming in his dealings with us. We therefore join others in passing our condolences and best wishes to his family.
12 June 2013
Selecting a replacement for Professor Hamid Ghodse on the INCB Board

Selecting a replacement for Professor Hamid Ghodse on the INCB Board

The recent death of Prof. Hamid Ghodse gives rise to the need to replace his position on the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB). The composition of the INCB is determined by procedures laid out in the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (as amended by the 1972 Protocol). Article 9 of the Convention states that the Board shall comprise 13 members elected by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC or Council); the parent body of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs. Of these members, three are selected from a list supplied by the WHO. The vacancy on the Board left by Prof. Hamid Ghodse, himself elected as a WHO nominee, therefore involves both that organization and ECOSOC. According to procedure, the WHO must propose candidates for the vacancy. The Single Convention doesn’t state how many candidates it should propose in the event of a vacancy, but in the spirit of the treaty it seems that the WHO can’t nominate less than two. This would deprive the Council of its right of choice regarding the membership of the Board. In putting together its list, the attention of the WHO is drawn to the desirability that its nominees should not only enjoy a reputation in the medical, pharmacological and pharmaceutical world as required by article 6, paragraph 1, subparagraph (a) of the Single Convention, but should also have a sound knowledge of international and national narcotics administration. The WHO sends its list of nominees to the UN Secretary-General who then transmits this to ECOSOC. The Council subsequently sets up a Committee of Candidature charged with the task of selecting from the nominees those persons considered particularly qualified. (Under normal circumstances the Committee would establish two panels of recommended persons, one containing government nominated persons and the other WHO nominees). The Committee presents the panel to Council and election to the Board is decided by secret ballot under the Council’s rules of procedure. Interestingly, ECOSOC is not bound to choose from the panel established by the Committee on Candidatures. It can, however, elect only persons nominated by the WHO, and in the case of the normal election process, by Members of the UN or non-members that are Parties to the Single Convention. If possible the election process must take place and the vacancy filled at the ECOSOC session following the appearance of the vacancy. The next ECOSOC substantive session will be held in Geneva, 01-26 July 2013. See: Commentary on the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961(United Nations, New York, 1973) & Commentary on the Protocol Amending the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961 (United Nations, New York, 1976)
12 June 2013
WHO recommends against international scheduling of Ketamine

WHO recommends against international scheduling of Ketamine

As a response to rising levels of use, particularly in South East Asia, the CND has passed resolutions urging member states to employ national control systems to restrict the use of ketamine to medical and scientific purposes within their own jurisdictions, but INCB fails to account for the broader health implications of its proposal.