"The vote to remove cannabis from Schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs is set to spark a rise in research and medical access.A historic vote at the United Nations today finally recognised the medicinal value of cannabis – a plant that has been used therapeutically for thousands of years.After a recommendation from experts at the World Health Organisation, the UN’s Commission for Narcotic Drugs voted to remove cannabis from a list of drugs previously judged to have little medical benefit, which also oddly includes heroin. However, it still remains a banned drug for non-medical use under UN law.The vote to remove cannabis from Schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs was narrowly won by 27 to 25 votes, with the US and UK voting for the change and Russia heading a bloc of countries – including China, Pakistan and Nigeria – which were against the move.The use of cannabis as a medicine has been traced back thousands of years, from a Chinese list of medicines in 15th century BC, to ancient Egypt and ancient Greece.The UN decision will add to a growing drive in many countries to increase access to cannabis-based medicines, and could also spark more scientific research into the drug’s long-known medical properties. It could also act as catalyst for more countries to legalise the drug for medicinal use, which has often led to laws on recreational use being reconsidered. ..."Read the full article by Max Daly at Vice News.