Patients in Vienna are demanding fair access to the medical use of cannabis

The IACM Patient Council is advocating for fair and equitable access to medical cannabis treatment at the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs this week. Together with other non-profit organizations, the Patient Council represents the rights of cannabis patients worldwide who are seeking legal and fair access to the medical use of cannabis at the nine-day event in Vienna from March 14 to 22, 2024.

Franziska Quadri
March 13, 2024

First participation of cannabis patients in the CND

At the 67th meeting of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) in Vienna, the work of the international coalition of patients reached a significant milestone. This is the first time that members of the Council will take part in the CND. Six representatives attend the meeting and make written and oral statements in the CND plenary session and negotiating forums to help shape the debate and influence policy outcomes. The impressive statement, supported by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), takes a critical look at existing guidelines on the medical use of cannabis. The appeal is: “It is time to rethink the policy on cannabis in medicine to promote access and appropriate availability.”

Compliance with human rights is required

The IACM Patient Council statement emphasizes the urgency of ensuring that patients using the medical use of cannabis maintain the quality of life necessary for their health. The Commission is called upon to respect human rights and eliminate discrimination. We also highlight that the victims of the “war on drugs” are often patients who are denied life-saving treatments, particularly the medical use of cannabis. The lack of access to cannabis, for example for patients with uncontrollable epilepsy, is denounced as potentially life-threatening. Alternative therapy methods such as cannabis are often replaced by pharmaceutical medications, which are ineffective or even harmful for many patients. Read the full statement here.

Historic moment for cannabis activism

The International Coalition of Patients described this participation as a “historic moment for cannabis activism” because the presence of cannabis patients at high-level political events like this is necessary to ensure fair and equitable legislation for sick people across the globe to move the world forward. The obstacles faced by those affected are often imposed and maintained by the contracts over which the CND is responsible. Although over 20 members of the European Union have now legalized cannabis for medical use in some form, access varies greatly from country to country.

The IACM Patient Council is committed to improving access to the medical use of cannabis and protecting the human rights of all patients. MEDCAN is an active part of this international coalition.

UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs

The UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) is an Association of Nations commission responsible for developing and monitoring international drug control policy. It was founded in 1946 and is based in Vienna, Austria. The CND plays a central role in defining global strategies for the control of illicit drugs and psychotropic substances. The main tasks of the CND include reviewing drug control measures, setting priorities and policy guidelines, and promoting international cooperation in the field of drug control. The Commission brings together governments, experts and non-governmental organizations to make decisions that impact global drug policy based on scientific evidence and policy considerations. The CND's work helps implement international agreements such as the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961 and the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971 and ensures that drug control policies meet the changing challenges associated with illicit drugs.