Hungary violated the rules when it voted against the EU joint position on medical cannabis at the Commission on Narcotic Drugs last year.
The EU Commission decided today to open an infringement procedure by sending a letter of formal notice to Hungary for failure to follow the Union position when voting on the World Health Organisation recommendations on cannabis and cannabis-related substances at the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs in December 2020.
The Commission says the Union position on medical cannabis – adopted by the Council in November 2020 – is binding on EU Member States, who have to vote accordingly in the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, in line with Article 218(9) TFEU. Hungary voted contrary to the Union position twice during the vote on the WHO recommendations.
The Hungarian statement can be viewed below.
The WHO recommendations aimed to ensure that cannabis and cannabis-related substances are subject to the most relevant international control reflecting current scientific and medical knowledge. Hungary now has two months to reply to the arguments raised by the Commission. Otherwise, the Commission may decide to send a reasoned opinion.
Peter Sarosi
Photo: Aleksi Hupli
