Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs

Historical Background and Ratification:

• The Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs was adopted in 1961, with subsequent amendments in 1972.
• It has been ratified by 186 states, with some countries like Chad remaining party to the original 1961 Convention.
• The process of consolidating drug control treaties began in 1948, culminating in the United Nations Conference on Narcotic Drugs in 1961.

Groups Involved in Negotiations:

• Organic States Group: Includes countries like India, Turkey, and Indonesia, favoring weaker controls and seeking development aid.
• Manufacturing States Group: Comprising Western industrialized nations advocating stringent controls on production and trafficking.
• Strict Control Group: Involving countries like France and Sweden, opposed to drug use except for medical and scientific purposes.
• Weak Control Group: Led by the Soviet Union, considering drug control an internal issue with minimal interest in drug trade.
• Neutral Group: Diverse countries ensuring access to drug supplies and supporting compromise for broad agreement.

Treaty Provisions and Purposes:

• The Single Convention emphasizes the medical use of controlled substances.
• It condemns drug abuse and addiction, requiring nations to limit drug use to medicinal and scientific purposes.
• The treaty aims to discontinue non-medical and non-scientific drug uses, with 234 substances controlled as of 2013.

Legal and Enforcement Aspects:

• Penal Provisions: The treaty’s penal provisions are considered soft and vague, with measures against drug-related offenses and extradition of offenders.
• Amendments and Expansion: Amendments were made in 1972, and mechanisms for enforcement were expanded in 1990. The UN Convention Against Illicit Traffic complements the Single Convention.
• Loopholes and Ambiguity: The treaty allows for treatment and rehabilitation instead of criminal penalties, with varying interpretations on drug possession for personal use.

Global Impact and Policy Perspectives:

• Drug Enforcement Variations: Different nations have varying drug enforcement policies, from leniency in some European countries to severe penalties in Asian nations.
• Impact of Drug Policies: Drug policies have significant implications for individuals and society, with debates on the costs and consequences of drug prohibition, especially regarding cannabis possession.

Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs Data Sources