What was the International Opium Convention?
Q: What was the International Opium Convention?
A: The International Opium Convention was the first drug control treaty or agreement. It was signed at The Hague in The Netherlands on January 23, 1912.
Q: Who organised the International Opium Commission?
A: The United States organised a conference between 13 countries called the International Opium Commission in 1909 in Shanghai, China.
Q: What did the Convention say about morphine and cocaine?
A: The Convention said that "The contracting Powers shall use their best endeavours to control, or to cause to be controlled, all persons manufacturing, importing, selling, distributing, and exporting morphine, cocaine, and their respective salts, as well as the buildings in which these persons carry such an industry or trade."
Q: When did it go into force around the world?
A: The Convention went into force around the world in 1919 when it became part of the Treaty of Versailles.
Q: What did Egypt recommend be added to the Convention?
A: Egypt recommended that a ban on hashish be added to the Convention. India and other countries did not agree due to social and religious customs and wild-growing cannabis plants being available in many places making enforcement difficult so this never made it into the final treaty.
Q: What compromise was made regarding Indian hemp? A: A compromise was made that banned the export of Indian hemp to countries that have banned its use while also requiring importing countries to issue certificates approving import stating shipments were required "exclusively for medical or scientific purposes" with Parties having an obligation to exercise effective control over illicit international traffic of Indian hemp and resin. These restrictions still allowed production, internal trade and recreational use of cannabis by countries.
