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Interview: Legalization of cannabis worrying: UN anti-drug expert

Xinhua, June 27, 2015 Adjust font size:

A senior UN anti-drug official has said that the legalization of cannabis is against international convention, praising China for its commitment to combating drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

"This new policies (of the legalization of cannabis) are against international convention, and the convention is an agreement among all the countries to say we all agree to criminalize the production and trafficking of (illicit) drugs," Angela Me, the Chief of Research and Trend Analysis Branch of UNODC told Xinhua in a recent interview.

She said that she opposes the policy and is worried by the problem, but she presumed it's still too early to conclude the impact of the "reform" as it has been implemented not for long.

Currently, the use of both recreational and medicinal marijuana has been entirely legalized in some states of the U.S., also in some south American country. Uruguay has become the first country to legalise the production, distribution, sale and consumption of cannabis for recreational purposes.

Many people are worried that the legalization of cannabis for recreational purposes would cause a series of problems therefore could not find a solution to the drug issue.

"The legalization of the cannabis would not probably improve the health of the people where the marijuana has been legalized," Me said.

Though the drug use is stable around the world, there are still many challenges the international community should face with in the world drug control.

According to the 2015 World Drug Report from UNODC, it is estimated that a total of 246 million people - slightly over 5 per cent of those aged 15 to 64 years worldwide - used an illicit drug in 2013. Some 27 million people are problem drug users.

In regard to the anti-drug abuse in China, Me said China continues to be committed to fighting against drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

"We have seen also an increase of contribution of China to our organization (UNODC)," saying China's contribution to UNODC links to the initiative of the Greater Mekong Subregion.

Me said China put resources, along with the other countries in the region, to support the initiative in the region to combating the drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

"China has also made efforts to put substances under control that affects other countries in that region," she said.

The illicit drug trafficking is a transnational problem which could not resolve by a single nation, but needs international cooperation, she stressed.

"This is a sign of the commitment to be part of this cooperation, so to help other countries to stop the transnational trafficking," Me told Xinhua.

Me said UNODC is collaborating with China on combating drug abuse in terms of both supply and prevention, which remain the two key points of the drug issue. Endit