5.4 Chapter Summary
Key Summary Points
- The history of international drug control conventions has been a story of ever-increasing prohibition controls on the non-medicinal/illicit use of certain psychoactive drugs.
- The Single Convention (1961) consolidates numerous previous drug treaties.
- The three international drug control conventions currently in force are: the Single Convention, 1961; the Convention on Psychotropic drugs, 1971; and the Convention Against the Illicit Traffic in Narcotics Drugs and Psychoactive Substances, 1988.
- Although some recent changes within the international community demonstrate support for the implementation of alternative drug policy options and a loosing of the three international treaties, several powerful Member States continue to support the status quo.
Additional Resources
Additional Viewings
Green Leaves. (January 15, 2021). Drug trafficking, politics and power Part 1 [Video]. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tL6pJITOGwY
RC. (April 21, 2018). Martin Jelsma: Opening statement, treaties, coca leaf & cannabis prohibitions & other points [Video]. YouTube.
https://youtu.be/khGZXmVFQbU
Additional Readings
Canada’s approach to the treaty-making process. (2021). Parliament of Canada.
https://lop.parl.ca/sites/PublicWebsite/default/en_CA/ResearchPublications/200845E
