INCB Annual Report – On use of cannabis seeds for illicit purposes

Use of cannabis seeds for illicit purposes

72. The Commission on Narcotic Drugs, in its resolution 52/5, requested the Board, in cooperation with other competent international bodies, to gather from Member States regulatory information on cannabis seeds, including on the sale of cannabis seeds through the Internet, and to share that information with Member States.

73. In order to collect the requested information, the Board has sent to all Governments a questionnaire on regulations pertaining to cannabis seeds. The questionnaire is to be used to identify whether any provisions in national laws or administrative regulations are aimed at preventing the use of cannabis seeds for the illicit cultivation of cannabis plants and to obtain a detailed description of the various regulations on cannabis seeds that are applied in countries worldwide. Such provisions may include, for instance, regulation of the production of, trade in or use of cannabis seeds in general or of cannabis seeds of certain varieties of the cannabis plant (for example, varieties with a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content above a certain level). Information gathered on other control provisions, including authorizations and licences, may also be useful. The Board trusts that Governments will furnish the requested information in due time. The Board will examine the information

received and report on the results of the analysis.

74. A number of Governments have reported an increase in the illicit cultivation of cannabis plants, particularly cannabis plants cultivated indoors, and an increase in the THC content of some varieties of the cannabis plant. The wide availability of cannabis seeds, which are not controlled under the international drug control treaties, is a factor contributing to that development. The Board is deeply concerned about the wide availability of cannabis seeds sold over the Internet. Internet sites selling cannabis seeds and related advertisements obviously incite the illicit cultivation of cannabis plants. The Board notes that article 3, paragraph 1 (c) (iii), of the 1988 Convention requires States parties to establish as a criminal offence, inter alia, public incitement or inducement of others to engage in the illicit cultivation of the cannabis plant or to use cannabis illicitly. The Board calls upon Governments to implement that provision of the 1988 Convention and to take appropriate measures against the sale of cannabis seeds for illicit purposes.