Scheduling of Dronabinol, methodrone and Ketamine
INCB has provided a report on APAAN and suggested it should be included on table 1 of the schedule of the 1988 convention. The commission needs to decide whether it will do this or take other action.
Mephedrone is up for scheduling also to support member states to take provisional measures.
China has contacted the UNODC about Ketamine. Wants it added to schedule one. Member states have been contacted to provide information about its use and costs. WHO is doing a risk assessement. The commission will make an assessment on whether it will be scheduled.
Secretary general asked member states to provide comments about inclusion of APAAN on schedule one. 42 states have provided comments. Relevant information is E/cn.7/2014/9
The commission needs to decide whether it will place APAAN into scheduled.
Canada
Concerned about trafficking of APAAN and use to manufacture amphetamine stimulants. Supports move to include it.
Move to take a decision
Voting
(no countries opposed, no countries abstaining)
40 votes in favour
APAAN is placed into table 1 of 1988 convention
Dronabinol
Netherlands
In the joint ministerial statement, member states underlined the importance of ensuring drugs can be used for medical and scientific research. WHO concluded dronabinol is medically useful and there is no abuse potential. It is now time to take action after getting this advice. CND needs to reject or accept the advice to reschedule dronabinol.
WHO
An active principle of cannabis. Similar effects. There are 70 different cannabinoids and other chemicals in cannabis. Dronabinol does not equal cannabis. WHO recommended that it be rescheduled to table 2. This was rejected by CND. At 27th meeting in 1990 and WHO suggested some derivates of cannabis be rescheduled to table 2. WHO has recommended on other occassions that there is medical value and low addiction potential.
Chair: Does CND want to take a vote?
Canada. CND’s role in scheduling a crucial one that Canada takes very seriously. Substance has a lengthy history. Evidence is more than a decade old. Gaps in the assessment carried out by Expert Committee.. Should be referred for paras 5 and 6 of Art of 1971 convention. Could not agree on revised text for a decision. If other delegations are willing to entertain a process we have text to suggest. If the will of the room is to proceed to an immediate vote, we will not oppose that.
Australia. Australia highly values role played by expert committeee on WHO. On this occasion we share disappointment in current process. No way to clarify discussions on current evidence based. Focus on a particular form of dronabinol that was abuse resistant. Need to seek clarification to get balance between access and control of diversion.
US. Greatly value role of WHO, which plays an explicit and key role in scheduling process. US is not persuaded that rescheduling is necessary. Data is older and not sufficient. Marinol — trade name. Schedule change recommended in US. Prediction that increased availability would lead to increased use for medical purpose. Where increase availability, demand has declined. Dronabinol as a substance and in preparation form must be distinguished. Risk abused in different preparations. Commission may seek further information from WHO. Rather than voting , US would prefer to amend draft decision and seek more information from WHO. We will not block consensus on taking a vote though. Believe that it is not necessary to change the scheduling of dronabinol. Exemption provisions of Article 3 of 1971 Convention allows more access. Demand has fallen. Data is stale based on studies from 1990s. Would like to make point of information that CND in 2007 meeting did not reject recommendation of WHO but sent matter back to ECCD for further review.
Chair. Does the commission wish to take a decision? No objection?? So we move to a vote with regard to draft decision L6.
2/3 majority of commission will be taken. At least 35 for affirmative vote. In Favor. Austria, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Guatemala, beth, Poland, Spain, Uruguay, Against. Algeria, Angola, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Cuba, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, RF, Thailand, Turkey, US, Zimbabwe.
Abstain. Belgium, Cameroon, Croatia, France, Germany, Hungary, Israel, India, Italy, Mexico, Ukraine, UK
Recommendation is not approved.
international control of methadone. Comments on ketamine.
Canada. Is concerned about significant abuse potential of methadrone. Already regulated as a controlled substance in Canada. Supportive of countries doing temporary control while WHO expert committee completes its review.
UK. Recognition of growing evidence of harms of methodrone. 68 deaths in UK. Domestic controls have helped reduce availability. FIrst time provisional control has been called for under 1971 convention. UK stands ready to work with UNODC, WHO, and other MS and share evidence.
China. Don’t agree with conclusions that not subject to abuse or difficult to manufacture illegally. Cases of diversion have been detected. Ketamine seized in China was illegally manufactured in China. Terrible translation. Chinese govt is of the view that licit use in some countries should not be at the expense of other regions. Chinese govt with 1971 convention has requested inclusion of ketamine in Table 1 of convention. Hope that WHO will reconsider earlier conclusion regarding ketamine. Our delegation will do all it can to cooperate with WHO and CND in assessment.
US. Fully supports UK on methadrone provisional supports. Will provide MS with more information on this subject and allow them to make decisions about domestic controls as 40 countries have done. WHO ECCD plans to take it up in meeting in June 2014. Still leaves until next year’s CND and beyond until formal controls imposed internationally.
Canada. Question — remarks on ketamine…? Chair. On both. Canada is pleased that republic of China has tabled a notification regarding ketamine. Has had a long history of discusssion of CND. Has been regulated as an analog of reno?? Added to schedule one in Canada to make it clear to public and law enforcement that it is a controlled substance. Despite high level of control continues to be trafficked. 25 shipments intercepted per year. Law enforcement continues to see on the illicit market.
latest survey of drug use. 35K students reported using. In high risk drug user survey 40% used ketamine of the past 12 month. Approved and widely used human and veterinary medicine in Canada. It is still, despite a heavy level of control, a drug of illicit interest in Canada. Expert committee tasked with another review so other jurisdictions can continue..
Chair. Not comfortable with term Recreational drug users — reminds me of after school activities.