The 64th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) was held in Vienna from April 12 to 16 via the Internet platform due to the Kovid-19 virus pandemic, which was virtually monitored by delegates from member states and observer states. The delegation of the Republic of Serbia consisted of representatives of the Office for Combating Drugs, who attended both the plenary session and the side events of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND). 115 virtual events (forums and discussions) were held at the session.

Some of the most interesting events attended by representatives of the Office for the Combating Drugs are events on the topics: “Smokescreen: Cannabis Legalization and Public Health Impacts from the Front Lines”, “Education – a gateway to social reintegration”, “Synthetic drugs – why we need to worry”, “European Union Drugs Strategy 2021-2025”, in which lecturers from different parts of the world shared their experiences in these areas.

This year’s session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs was held to mark the 60th anniversary of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961 and the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971, which, together with the Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, form the basis of the international system for the control of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

Regarding the decision of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs on the transfer of cannabis and cannabis-based substances (resin) from control table IV to table I of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, the states that voted against this decision, including the Russian Federation, China and a large number of Asian countries, in their speeches at this year's session, reiterated their position that this decision liberalizes the use of cannabis and cannabis-based substances and will encourage their production, trade and use, while the countries that voted for this decision, including many EU members, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, remained in their position and pointed out that this decision will contribute to the continuation of research projects in the field of medical and therapeutic use of cannabis and cannabis-based products.

After consideration, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs adopted 5 proposed resolutions, of which the adoption of a statement on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the joint obligations of the member states for solving and dealing with the world drug problem was certainly important.