Weed Legalization Fails Its Objective, Leads To Higher Use & Negative Health Effects, UN-Related Body Says

The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) warned Thursday about the dangers of the ongoing recreational cannabis legalization trend during the presentation of its 2022 Annual Report.

The board highlighted that the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs classified marijuana as very addictive and liable to abuse and that any non-medical use of cannabis contravenes the Convention. The INCB is the independent and quasi-judicial monitoring body for the implementation of the United Nations international drug control conventions.

The report states that the legalization trend leads to an increase in the number of users, negative health consequences and psychotic disorders. Other cannabis-related issues pointed out in the document include concerns about marijuana advertising that often targets young people, by minimizing the perception of risks involved with consumption;

“The expanding cannabis industry is marketing cannabis-related products to appeal to young people and this is a major cause for concern as is the way the harms associated with using high-potency cannabis products are being played down,” INCB president Jagjit Pavadia said.

The report further notes that there have been recorded higher medical emergencies and traffic accidents and more cannabis-related health problems in states where weed consumption has been legalized. Statistical data from Colorado, for example, reveals that fatal traffic accidents with drivers under the influence of marijuana almost doubled from 2013 to 2020.

“Between 2000 and 2018, global medical admissions related to cannabis dependence and withdrawal increased eight-fold. Admissions for cannabis-related psychotic disorders have quadrupled worldwide,” INCB stated in a press release. 

Missing The Goal Of Legalization 

INCB also claimed that most of the governments, which legalized cannabis didn’t achieve their main objective with this move - reduction of criminal activities, and improvement of public health and safety. 

“Evidence suggests that cannabis legalization has not been successful in dissuading young people from using cannabis, and illicit markets persist,” Pavadia said. 

Assessing the overall impact of cannabis legalization is difficult due to the different approaches, rules, and regulations from country to country and state to state. INCB reminds the alternative way to take care of marijuana offenses such as decriminalization and depenalization. 

“The convention-based system offers significant flexibility for States to protect young people, improve public health, avoid unnecessary incarceration and address illicit markets and related crime,” Pavadia, said. 

The report also tackles problems related to others substances such as illegal cocaine production and trafficking, synthetic opioids and the opioid overdose epidemic.

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