UN Barely Reclassifies Pot, Still Considers Harmful
recommendations provided by the United Nations (UN) World Health Organization (WHO), voted 27 to 25 (with one abstaining) in favor of acknowledging the therapeutic and medicinal properties of cannabis and ending its 59 year run on the Schedule IV list. The catch? Marijuana will remain illegal for non-medical or scientific purposes and is now considered a Schedule I drug.
Unnamed Officials appointed to the UN behind closed doors were allowed to make statements on behalf of their nations after they voted. The United States, having voted in favor of removing marijuana from Schedule IV but retaining its place on Schedule I, stated “consistent with the science demonstrating that while a safe and effective cannabis-derived therapeutic has been developed, cannabis itself continues to pose significant risks to public health and should continue to be controlled under the international drug control conventions.”
Both Chile and Japan, among others, voted against while citing tried and true arguments from yesterday.
As expressed on the UN news site news.un.org, “According to news reports, the decision could drive additional scientific research into the plant’s medicinal properties.”
Canadian Gov Aims At Retail, and Home Grows
2019, seven noncompliant inspection ratings were handed out, among about 300 inspections.
The report notes around 100 major and seven critical observations. Major issues include things that result in a risk to public safety, involve fraud, or increase the risk of diversion to the illicit market or prevent the detection of diversion to the illicit market or health risk, while critical observations are described as issues that increase the immediate risk of diversion to the illicit market or prevent the detection of diversion, or present an imminent health risk.
Two of the companies handed citations were among Canada’s largest, Aphria and Canopy Growth, both having violated multiple compliance laws.
Providing false or misleading statements to an inspector was common among the many violations, as well as inventory noncompliance. One company had its inventory seized and license suspended over “the conduct of unauthorized activities with cannabis”, and another was issued a warning letter, then also had its license suspended and inventory confiscated as a result of “possession, distribution and selling of product that was purchased from an unlicensed source and was not compliant with Good Production Practices.” Other citations were issued over destruction, security measures, and record keeping noncompliance.
The Health Canada report also indicates that measures were taken over the course of the year to empower government oversight when it comes to individuals who grow for themselves. The list includes taking a closer look at, and sharing information on, practitioners who authorized high amounts of medical cannabis cultivation, and better collaboration with law enforcement and municipalities. Over the course of the report nine individual home grow inspections had been conducted.
International Patent Rights Battle Begins
British company, in U.S. courts accusing them of using a patented method of CBD extraction involving carbon dioxide.
U.S. Patent No. 10,870,632 was acquired by Canopy when they purchased the German company Cannabinoid Compound Co. for over $250 million. Canopy alleges that despite offering a licensing deal (which they claim was declined), GW Pharma has willfully chosen to steal and use in England the U.S. patented method of extraction that Canopy bought from a German company.
Used primarily to make Epidiolex, an anti-seizure medication that accounts for 87% of Canopy Growths total revenue, the company claims the suit is not about limiting patient access, but about seeking justice for the use of their intellectual property. Meanwhile in the first three quarters of 2020 Canopy reported a total revenue of $378.6 million, bringing Epidiolex’s share to $329,382,000.
A GW Pharmaceuticals representative stated that their company will be fighting the case, and feel confident in their position.
