The European Commission has referred Hungary to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) for voting against the EU position on removing cannabis from Schedule IV of the Convention on Narcotic Drugs.
The Hungarian vote took place at a meeting of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) in December 2020.
The EC contends that decisions on the international scheduling of substances fall under the exclusive competence of the EU and is therefore binding on member states.
The CND voted to remove cannabis from Schedule IV, clearing the way for recognising the medicinal and therapeutic potential of the drug, although keeping its non-medical use illegal.
The commission also noted that Hungary had voted contrary to the EU position twice during the vote on World Health Organisation recommendations on cannabis and cannabis-related substances.
The ECJ can levy financial penalties on countries that have been found to breach its rules.
Sean Hocking
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