Editor's Review

  • The commission had classified Marijuana as a dangerous drug. 
  • Marijuana is still illegal in Kenya. 

Marijuana users have received a significant boost following a vote of confidence from the United Nations. 

This is after a United Nations commission voted to remove Cannabis from a list that categorized it as a dangerous drug.

Before lifting the ban, Cannabis was categorized alongside heroin and other opioids for being highly addictive.

The drugs were also labeled as being particularly harmful and of minimal medical or therapeutic value.

The UN commission vote came after it was determined that Cannabis has a medicinal value. The recommendation came after The World Health Organization finished researching the drug. 

The medicinal value of marijuana is found in cannabidiol, which impacts the brain without. The tetrahydrocannabinol has pain-relieving properties.

The United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and South Africa were among those who voted in favor, while countries including Brazil, China, Russia, and Pakistan voted against.

Members also rejected other four other recommendations from WHO about Cannabis and its derivatives, which included removing extracts and tinctures of Cannabis from Schedule I status and classifying a psychoactive component of cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC.

Kenya is known to have a significant number of marijuana users. However, the drug is still illegal in the country.

Notably, several lawmakers have attempted to push for the legalization of the drug. The last known bill was introduced by the late Kibra MP Ken Okoth.