Uploaded December 2020 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
On 2 December, the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs voted to adopt recommendation 5.1 of the WHO. However, as stated by Vicki Hanson of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Cannabis Research:
"We the people of Jamaica and CARICOM’s Civil Society groups remain very disappointed that the review of the International Drug Control Treaties didn’t go further in regards to the recognition of cultural and traditional rights to use certain plants, such as cannabis. It is our strong belief that the recognition of cultural rights, is a critical element of any sustainable development approach in our region.
In regions such as the Caribbean the use of cannabis has been historical, as there have been a number of traditional communities and groups such as the Maroons, Indians and Rastafarians who have grown up using the plant as a traditional remedy for various ailments.
It should have also been taken into consideration that most contemporary medicines originated from these traditional medicine and practices, as such it is critical that international treaties recognise role of cultural medicines and practices.
Finally, it is also critical to make the point that when these Drug Control Treaties were first introduced they were established on the premise of discrimination and prejudices towards certain cultures and people, and their colonial nature. We the people of the Caribbean do hope that at some point in the future the CND and our world leaders will seek to correct those mistakes, and accept that there are various cultures that use so called “drug plants” culturally, as medicines, food and sacrament."
Learn more: iccresearch.org
On 2 December, the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs voted to adopt recommendation 5.1 of the WHO. However, as stated by Vicki Hanson of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Cannabis Research:
"We the people of Jamaica and CARICOM’s Civil Society groups remain very disappointed that the review of the International Drug Control Treaties didn’t go further in regards to the recognition of cultural and traditional rights to use certain plants, such as cannabis. It is our strong belief that the recognition of cultural rights, is a critical element of any sustainable development approach in our region.
In regions such as the Caribbean the use of cannabis has been historical, as there have been a number of traditional communities and groups such as the Maroons, Indians and Rastafarians who have grown up using the plant as a traditional remedy for various ailments.
It should have also been taken into consideration that most contemporary medicines originated from these traditional medicine and practices, as such it is critical that international treaties recognise role of cultural medicines and practices.
Finally, it is also critical to make the point that when these Drug Control Treaties were first introduced they were established on the premise of discrimination and prejudices towards certain cultures and people, and their colonial nature. We the people of the Caribbean do hope that at some point in the future the CND and our world leaders will seek to correct those mistakes, and accept that there are various cultures that use so called “drug plants” culturally, as medicines, food and sacrament."
Learn more: iccresearch.org
