I am a French/Algerian independent and interdisciplinary international drug policy research based in Barcelona (Spain).

I focus on the legal, cultural, social, historical, and environmental outcomes of drug control laws and policies (including, but not limited to “prohibition”).

I am interested in the ethical and terminological aspects of drugs, and in sustainable development, fair trade, and human rights.

I specialise in hemp/marijuana (Cannabis L.), and to a lesser extent other plants and fungi termed “drugs.”

Photo credit: © WIPO, 2024.

Kenzi
RIBOULET-ZEMOULI

I am a French/Algerian independent and interdisciplinary international drug policy research based in Barcelona (Spain).

I focus on the legal, cultural, social, historical, and environmental outcomes of drug control laws and policies (including, but not limited to “prohibition”).

I am interested in the ethical and terminological aspects of drugs, and in sustainable development, fair trade, and human rights.

I specialise in hemp/marijuana (Cannabis L.), and to a lesser extent other plants and fungi termed “drugs.”

Photo credit: © WIPO, 2024.

My research is indexed in:

ORCID profile
Google Scholar profile
ResearchGate profile
WoS profile
SSRN profile
Academia.edu profile

NGOs & non-profits I collaborate with:

FAAAT-FDM
CATNPUD
Fields of Green for ALL
NORML
DRCNet Foundations / Stop the Drug War
ENCOD
ENCOD
SCE
OECCC

Cannabis Embassy

The global platform for Cannabis rights advocacy
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All PUBLICATIONS

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BOOKS

TRANSLATIONS

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English · Español/Castellano · Français · Català · Italiano · Čeština

TALKS & LECTURES

67th Commission on Narcotic Drugs – Side event “Cannabis and Biopiracy”

United Nations, Vienna, Austria

21 March 2022

 

Cannabis & Biopiracy: Closing words on international law

Cannabis Embassy Campus Vienna

Vienna, Austria

13 March 2024

 

Cannabis & Biopiracy – Workshop and capacity-building session

Cannabis Europa 2023

Barbican Centre, London

2 May 2023

 

E.U. better believe it!

SPANNABIS CONFERENCES

Barcelona

March 2022

 

Legalización del cannabis en el mundo: ¿justicia o negocio?

Cannabis and psychedelics: the Czech Republic needs change!

Prague, Czechia

14 February 2023

 

Presentation of the study “Treaty Compliance Options for Cannabis Regulations in the EU: Models of decriminalisation and legal regulation compliant with International Law and EU Acquis”

UNCTAD

Palais des Nations, Geneva

18 February 2023

 

UNCTAD WORKSHOP ON INDUSTRIAL HEMP – PANEL DICUSSION

International Narcotics Control Board

Vienna, Austria (video from Geneva)

25 May 2022

 

INCB hearing on trends in the legalization of cannabis for non-medical uses

Fiera Indica-Sativa Trade

Bologna, Italy

9 April 2022

 

Cannabis: la legalizzazione è possibile! Come regolamentare la canapa in accordo con la convenzione unica sugli stupefacenti del 1961

Colloque “Le cannabis en Polynésie : entre Justice, Sant´et Économie, une question de société”

University of French Polynesia – Papeete, Tahiti

18 November 2021

 

L’approche post-prohibitionniste pour une réglementation durable du paka.

Webinaire FPEA “Le cannabis déconfiné” 18 Joint 2021

ONLINE

18 June 2021

 

Le cannabis déconfiné & déclassifié : Recommandations de l’OMS & changement de classification du cannabis par l’ONU

Society of Cannabis Clinicians’ Journal Club

Online

4 June 2021

 

Cannabis Nomenclature & Product Standardization.

2º Congreso Argentino de Cannabis y Salud

Chilecito, Argentina (Online)

30 September 2021

 

Mirada Global de la Regulación, con el Dr. Sergio Sanchez Bustos

Cultivemos Argentina

Online

5 July 2021

 

Entrevista con Diego, fundador de Cultivemos Argentina

Fields of Green for ALL

Johannesburg (Online)

20 April 2021

 

Cannabis in South Africa: The People’s Plant. A Full Spectrum Manifesto for Policy Reform

Centre for Biocultural Diversity

UNIVERSITY OF KENT (ONLINE)

1 April 2021

 

From Menace to Medicine: Cannabis in Transition

I Congreso Científico Internacional Cannabis Sativa L: un enfoque integral

Universidad Autónoma de Madrid

18 February 2021

 

Presentación del Informe Cannabis y Desarrollo Sostenbile, y discusión Cannabis Medicinal tras la reclasificación

Mission d’information « réglementation et impact des différents usages du cannabis »

Assemblée Nationale (France)

17 FEBRUARY 2021

 

AUDITION à l’Assemblée Nationale : Cannabis Social Clubs, Ressources génétiques et connaissances traditionnelles, et Appellations d’Origine

The Cannabis Conversation

Online

16 December 2021

 

Cannabis and International Drug Policy, EPISODE #93

#ActívateConInformación

Confederación FAC (online)

9 December 2020

 

La ONU reclasifica la planta de Cannabis

Live NORML France

ONLINE

6 December 2020

 

Discussion sur la reclassification du Cannabis avec Farid Ghehiouèche et Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli

III Congrés CannabMed

Col·legi Oficial de Farmacèutics de Barcelona

6-7 Octobre 2020

 

Cap a una farmacopea cannàbica / Hacia una farmacopea cannábica

State of Cannabis

ONLINE

1 Octobre 2020

 

Upcoming Cannabis vote inside United Nations – What you need to know

Cannamerica

ONLINE

22 August 2020

 

Cannabis, Políticas Públicas Sostenibles, y la experiencia de Uruguay.

Hemp Barons w/ Joy Beckerman

ONLINE

August 2020 (Series)

 

MOMENTUM IN INTERNATIONAL Cannabis POLICY

European Policy Platform

ONLINE

6 August 2020

 

Cannabis Policy Reforms: European Progress

Radio Free Cannabis w/ Steve DeAngelo

ONLINE

26 JUly 2020

 

Radio Free Cannabis #8 – Cannabis & Sustainable Development

Prohibition Partners Live

ONLINE

22 JUNE 2020

 

Overcoming the UN Deadlock

EUROPEAN INDUSTRIAL HEMP ASSOCIATION 17tH CONFERENCE

COLOGNE, GERMANY

17 JUNE 2020

 

‘Hemp’ products: (p)review of terms and nomenclatures

CannaTalks

ONLINE

10 may 2020

 

Cáñamo y Desarrollo Sostanible

Cultiva HanfKongress

Pyramid, Vienna, Austria

11 October 2019

 

MOMENTUM IN INTERNATIONAL Cannabis POLICY

ParLiament Day on Hemp policies

SEIMAS, VILNIUS, LITHUANIA

9 OCTOBER 2019

 

Statement to the PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA

EUROPEAN INDUSTRIAL HEMP ASSOCIATION 16TH CONFERENCE

COLOGNE, GERMANY

6 JUNE 2019

 

Approaching Hemp and Cannabis Policies Through the Lens of Sustainable Development (w/ Hana Gabrielová)

62nd Commission on Narcotic Drugs

United Nations, Vienna, Austria

14 March 2019

 

Statement to the plenary on item 9(c): International Narcotics Control Board

International Cannabis Policy Conference, Special UN event

United Nations, Vienna, Austria

7 December 2018

 

Cannabis: Next steps for the Commission on Narcotic Drugs.

II Fòrum de Associacions i Clubs de Cànnabis de Catalunya

Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain

23 November 2018

 

Actualitat social, política i legal del fenomen dels CSC: De la política internacional a la realitat catalana

Open Session of the 41st meeting of the Expert Committee on Drug Dependence

World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland

12 November 2018

 

Statement to the Experts of THE 41 ST MEETING OF THE ECDD

Cultiva HanfKongress

Pyramid, Vienna, Austria

12 October 2018

 

Cannabis within the UN treaties: are changes finally coming?

Cannabis Box Forum

Expogrow, Irún, Spain

15 September 2018

 

REGULACIÓN del CANNABIS al INTERNACIONAL

It’s about the future in patient care – how Cannabis will change medical care

Columbia University Global Center, PARIS, FRANCE

12 SEPTEMBER 2018

 

Access issues: rights, policy & regulation

EUROPEAN INDUSTRIAL HEMP ASSOCIATION 15TH CONFERENCE

COLOGNE, GERMANY

13 JUNE 2018

 

Cannabidiol and Cannabis Related Substances: a Brief Update on WHO/UN Review Process

Société Civile et Politiques Cannabis, Drug Policy Encounters

Geneva, Switzerland

9 June 2018

 

Pieces of history and pathways for the future of Cannabis scheduling internationally

European Youth Event 2018

European Parliament, Strasbourg, FRANCE

2 June 2018

 

Debate. Marijuana: Smells like teen spirit – or escape from reality?

II Congrés CannabMed

CCCB, Barcelona, Spain

13 May 2018

 

UN PUENTE ENTRE LA MEDICINA CANNÁBICA Y LOS PACIENTES: Perspectiva Internacional

International symposium on prospects for development and growth in the rural cannabis cultivating areas of the Moroccan central Riff

Mohammed VI center, Chefchaouen, Morocco

30 April 2017

 

Normalisation du Cannabis: l’instrument indispensable pour des politiques de développement socio-économiques inclusives et durables

“Drugs don’t deserve drug policy. To tackle and mitigate drug-related harms, we rather need healthcare, poverty, social, educational, agricultural, geopolitical, security and development policies – that are sensible, and integrate drug-related factors. But we do not need a drug-centred sui generis policy.”

How to regulate recreational cannabis in accordance with the Single Convention on narcotic drugs, 1961? Using its Article 2(9).

High Compliance, a 142-pages legal study, addresses this question under a renewed perspective, although relying on conservative customary means of treaty interpretation.

The international drug control Conventions establish the international legal regime for cannabis, but they are silent on “recreational” or “adult use.” However, they do include broad exemptions in the case of “other than medical and scientific uses in the context of industry.” They are not prohibition treaties, but Framework Conventions on the Control of Some Medicines within the Medical and Pharmaceutical Sectors. Shortcomings in the history of the drug control Conventions, and the current hegemony of one particular interpretation (articulated around prohibition), may have impacted our interpretive frames and discouraged legal scholarship from the study of these exemptions for non-medical uses, purposefully added in the treaty.

Via an applicatory contestation of the Conventions reliant on classical methods of treaty interpretation, this essay underlines the relevance of these exemptions in the context of domestic “cannabis legalization” efforts.

The legal scheme which applies to the Cannabis plant and its derivatives is two-fold: (1) activities related to medical and scientific purposes are under control, (2) and cannabis-related activities for “other than medical and scientific purposes” are exempt from control under article 2(9) and article 28(2) of the Single Convention, provided that two requirements are met: implement effective measures to avoid harms & provide reasonable statistical reporting to the INCB.

This existing, good faith, legitimate international legal regime for adult-use cannabis opens an alternative pathway for decision-makers, appeasing rule tension and rerouting international relations on Cannabis matters onto less conflictual tracks.

How to regulate recreational cannabis in accordance with the Single Convention on narcotic drugs, 1961

Shifting Perspectives on Novel & Traditional Drugs: Rethinking Drug Control E/CN.7/2024/NGO/8 (with ENCOD & Cannabis Embassy)

Shifting Perspectives on Novel & Traditional Drugs: Rethinking Drug Control E/CN.7/2024/NGO/8 (with ENCOD & Cannabis Embassy)

EU Cannabis Policy Brief: Summary

Summary of the EU Presidency’s Policy Brief “Treaty Compliance Options for Cannabis Regulations in the EU – Models of decriminalisation and legal regulation compliant with International Law and EU Acquis” (2023)

HIGH COMPLIANCE, a lex lata legalization for the non-medical cannabis industry

How to regulate recreational cannabis in accordance with the Single Convention on narcotic drugs, 1961.Paris and Washington, DC: FAAAT editions.

Légalisation du cannabis dans l’UE : Le rapport que l’Allemagne voudrait oublier [Club Médiapart]

Le débat sur la légalisation du cannabis récréatif s’intensifie dans l’UE. Un rapport de la présidence de l’Union européenne (période tchèque) rendu public en 2023 propose des solutions innovantes et harmonieuses conciliant légalisation et respect des obligations juridiques européennes et internationales.

High Compliance … UN Treaties “Reviewing The Reviewers”

Answers to the critiques of High Compliance | Cannabis Law Journal

EU Presidency’s Policy Brief: Treaty Compliance Options for Cannabis Regulations in the EU

Models of decriminalisation and legal regulation compliant with International Law and EU Acquis | Prague, 14 February 2023

Nuevos avances en derecho internacional: las Convenciones sobre drogas permiten una regulación del cannabis para usos no-médicos

LasDrogas.info – Discusión de los hallazgos más interesantes del informe “High Compliance”

HIGH COMPLIANCE (executive summary)

Landing page for High Compliance, with access to Executive Summary and the video of the statement delivered at the 65th UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs

Global cannabis prohibition is a house of cards

Answering the critiques of ‘High Compliance. September 2022 – Article originally published in Cannabis Law Journal, under the title “High Compliance .. UN Treaties ‘Reviewing The Reviewers'” in June 2022

In the media

Media Country Date Title Author Excerpt
 Revista Cáñamo Spain 26 March 2024 La Comisión de Estupefacientes de Naciones Unidas aprobó una resolución sobre reducción de daños
Santiago Carrillo
« Para entender qué significa esta resolución aprobada por la CND, Cáñamo se comunicó con Kenzi Riboulet, investigador de políticas internacionales de drogas, fundador de la ONG francesa NORML France, de la Embajada del Cannabis y una de las personas que está presente en las reuniones de Viena hace once años. “El cambio que tiene esta resolución es importante a largo plazo. Pero no pensemos que esto va a cambiar algo de nuestras vidas”, asegura Riboulet, quien celebra la aprobación del pasado viernes, pero también la relativiza. » 
CannaReporter Portugal 16 March 2024 Understanding the UN System & Our Role at CND67 – Midterm Review Collective
« Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli, independent researcher and co-founding member of Cannabis Embassy, has articulated an interpretation of the Single Convention which makes amendments to existing conventions unnecessary to lawfully regulate cannabis. Instead, it leverages the unique ability to interpret the treaties by member states. For years, international institutions like the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) have argued that treaty amendments were required prior to any national legalisation (Lex Ferenda). Reforms based on interpretation, not requiring prior amendment of the treaty (Lex Lata), are applied only in Malta and Switzerland at the moment, but it already highlights the bias and partiality n their attempts to oppose domestic reforms undertaken by member states. »
Krautinvest Germany 11 March 2024 Verstösst Das Cang Gegen Das Völkerrecht? Der INCB Ist Nicht Die UN Medienecho des INCB-Reports muss relativiert werden. Moritz Förster
 …  
 CannaReporter Portugal 6 March 2024 Cannabis Embassy, ​​Get to know the international network impacting global cannabis policy Collective
 « Cannabis Embassy is a global network of grassroots non-profit organisations headed by UN veteran activists, who have proven that knowledge, experience, and resilience can indeed lead to real change. Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli (Barcelona) and Farid Ghehiouèche (Paris) co-founded a FDM-FAAAT in 2015. The organization has enjoyed particular involvement in scheduling changes to cannabis under the Single Convention from 1961 to 2016 and led many key discussions in UN and EU cannabis and hemp policies. Kenzi is a French-Algerian interdisciplinary researcher and advocate for sustainable drug policy reforms, using Action Research (matching scholars and citizens) as a catalyst for legal and social change. Kenzi is notably involved in studying alternative pathways for Cannabis policy reform, linking international law with local grassroots initiatives. He has authored and participated in compiling numerous articles and technical reports related to various aspects of cannabis policy. »
Benzinga USA 25 Jan. 2024 International Cannabis Executives To Watch In 2024 Sara Brittany Somerset
« Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli (Barcelona), Co-Founder of The Cannabis Embassy
For profit-entity, Regennabis used author Riboulet-Zemouli’s nonprofit IP as the origins and basis for its organization. Regennabis isn’t the first entity to be in Riboulet-Zemouli’s debt. As a researcher and author, he published educational books, including The Sustainable Cannabis Policy Toolkit and Cannabis & Sustainable Development: Paving the way for the next decade in cannabis and hemp policies, with a consortium of additional researchers. Both texts elucidate how cannabis and hemp apply to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and are available from the United Nations Library.
Riboulet-Zemouli works thanklessly, often to his detriment, on numerous cannabis and hemp-related research papers to put forth the case of why global governments should legalize cannabis, and he works to prove that despite the typical interpretation, cannabis legalization is not in contradiction of the United Nations 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. While technically an academic rather than an entrepreneur, every cannabis executive worldwide owes evolving regulations to Riboulet-Zemouli’s tireless efforts and published research, which he often shares for free as he works to free global restrictions on the plant. As a co-founder of the Cannabis Embassy, he often monitors the activities (and refutes its findings when necessary) of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs. »
Newsweed France 15 Nov. 2022 Obligations, omissions et règles de l’UE : Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli se confie sur la légalisation du cannabis en Allemagne Peter McCusker
« Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli, l’un des principaux experts européens en matière de politique relative au cannabis, s’est confié à BusinessCann quant au projet de légalisation du cannabis en Allemagne.
Malgré de graves lacunes dans son approche, il est peu probable que la Commission européenne ait le pouvoir d’arrêter l’ambition de l’Allemagne d’établir un marché du cannabis pour adultes, estime cet éminent expert international en politique des drogues.
En annonçant ses projets de législation sur le cannabis, l’Allemagne adopte une approche « interprétative » de ses obligations au titre des conventions internationales sur les drogues, qu’elle présentera à la Commission européenne après des discussions préliminaires.
Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli exprime toutefois sa vive inquiétude à l’égard des propositions allemandes, qu’il juge “insuffisamment travaillées”, “truffées d’erreurs” et “mal conçues”. »
BusinessCann UK 14 Nov. 2022 Germany’s ‘Error-Strewn’ Cannabis Plan Requires Immense Political Will To Succeed Peter McCusker
« Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli, one of Europe’s leading experts on cannabis policy in relation to internal treaty obligations, expressed serious concern with the German proposals which he believes are ‘under-cooked’, ‘error strewn’ and ‘ill-conceived’. »
Yleisradio Oy Finland 16 September 2022 På gränsen till lagligt – vi besökte tre platser i Europa som ser mellan fingrarna med cannabisbruket Miro Johansson
« Cannabis är inte lagligt i Spanien, men privat bruk är inte kriminaliserat. – Cannabis kriminaliserades aldrig av diktatorn Franco och demokratiska regeringar har efter det inte kunnat göra lagstiftningen striktare, förklarar Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli, som jag får tag på via videolänk några dagar efter att jag lämnat Barcelona.
Riboulet-Zemouli är oberoende forskare inom narkotikapolitik, mest känd för att ha gjort rapporter för FN och WHO inom ämnet. Han berättar om cannabisklubbarnas ursprung: i gråzonen bildades föreningar som prövade verksamheten i rätten. Bland annat menade de att om privat bruk är lagligt så behöver de som använder cannabis också få odla den själva.
Numera är privata sociala klubbar för cannabis ett etablerat koncept i Spanien, speciellt i Katalonien. Allra flest klubbar finns det i Barcelona. De kan ses som en sorts konsumentandelslag eller kooperativ. Företag av det här slaget har långa rötter i Spanien. Medlemmarna ger tillstånd till klubben att odla för deras del och man betalar genom donationer för att få ta ut den vara man vill konsumera. Ingen direkt droghandel alltså, även om det väldigt mycket ser ut som det. »
Cannabis & Tech Today USA 5 July 2022 UN Drug Report on Environmental Impact of Cannabis Legalization Sara Brittany Somerset
« According to an independent researcher of cannabis policies, Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli, “The report also grossly ignores the importance of indigenous communities and their traditional knowledge and skills in conservation of ecosystems and protection of the environment. “Elsewhere, impactful policies known to have devastating impacts on the environment and public health are the government-sanctioned mass-spraying of glyphosate used to eradicate illicit crops for decades on several continents. The report includes only one paragraph on this topic, where an appropriate assessment and self-criticism were expected. UNDOC was implicitly supportive of this process and did not oppose it.” […]
Social clubs are part of the Law in Uruguay and Malta, and are part of legal order via jurisprudences in Spain,” points out Riboulet-Zemouli. “Although not ‘legalization’ per se, the experiences of Coffee Shops in the Netherlands and Cannabis Social Clubs in Spain and Uruguay have operated for several years and yielded early results on the prevalence and patterns of use among adults, including access for adults who do not necessarily have a medical marijuana prescription. However, these outcomes are not considered in the report.” »
Cannabis Wealth UK 11 July 2022 Crafting cannabis policy to adhere to European and international regulations Stephanie Price
« Augur Associates’ white paper, which is a result of two years of research from Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli, highlights that: “While the Convention uses terms such as “control” and mostly establishes regulatory requirements related to medical and pharmaceutical uses of drugs, the words “recreational use” are absent, and “prohibition” is very rarely mentioned in the text.”
“Prohibition”, it states, is present in the text as an optional escape clause, “discretionary upon the Member States to apply in a limited set of extreme public health situations.” […]
“Kenzi’s work has been groundbreaking. He has linked cannabis and the SDGs, and it shows that cannabis is linked to nine out of the 13 SDGs,” said Jeanroy.
“He has shown that ultimately, the industrial hemp application plays a big part in that, but we do realise that the way we regulate cannabis – or the way we regulate illicit drugs – is an obstacle to the success of achieving sustainable development goals.
“He highlights this, showing that it is not an anecdotal topic and that it needs to be central to our discussion on sustainability. I think it’s a big leap forward.” […]
Kenzi uses the example of how the chilli pepper is regulated, pointing out that the Chemical Weapons Convention prohibits the use of chilli pepper for purposes of warfare, but that it is also possible to use chilli pepper for “industrial, cosmetic or even food purposes”, as well as to grow chilli pepper in private settings.
“This very same chilli is subject to certain regulations when prepared for use as a medicine (according to monographs 2529 or 2336 of the European Pharmacopoeia 13) and to other types of regulations related to other purposes from it – to make self-defence spray or for policing, for example, military purposes, police purpose, medicinal purposes, food purposes… Chilli pepper is regulated by purposes. Cannabis should as well.”
The paper stipulates that different rules apply to cannabis and its products when they are used for different purposes. »
Krautinvest Germany 26 June 2022 Lex Lata und Cannabis: WELCHE OPTIONEN BIETE DAS INTERNATIONALE RECHT? Hande Savus
« Die Autoren des White Papers sind: Benjamin-Alexandre Jeanroy, ein ehemaliger Berater des Büros der Vereinten Nationen für Drogen- und Verbrechensbekämpfung (UNODC), derzeit CEO von Augur Associates und Vorstandsmitglied von LEAP Europe. Aurélien Bernard, Gründer von Newsweed, dem Referenzmedium in Frankreich für legale und globale Cannabis-Nachrichten in den letzten acht Jahren. Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli, der seit 2019 als interdisziplinärer und internationaler Drogenpolitikforscher arbeitet und NGOs, Regierungen und Verwaltungen berät. »
TelQuel Morocco 24 June 2022 Cannabis médical : Maroc-Espagne, futurs partenaires ou concurrents ? Leïla Chik
« En théorie, “il devrait y avoir un marché pour le cannabis marocain en Espagne, mais tout dépend du choix que l’on fait : soit la qualité, soit la quantité”. En pratique, la quantité est “la voie qui a été choisie par tous les pays qui ont légalisé jusqu’ici”, estime le chercheur Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli »
Soft Secrets Italy 13 June 2022 Legalizzazione della cannabis nel quadro della Convenzione sugli stupefacenti Fabrizio Dentini
« Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli è un ricercatore indipendente affiliato a FAAAT, acronimo di “Favoring Alternative Approaches to Addiction, Think & do tank”. Specializzato in questioni di diritto internazionale e di geopolitica relative al consumo e alla regolamentazione delle droghe, alla fiera Indica Sativa di Bologna dello scorso aprile, ha presentato uno studio relativo alla famosa Convenzione internazionale sugli stupefacenti del 1961, la quale, contro ogni previsione, a suo avviso potrebbe contenere gli strumenti più adatti alla legalizzazione di cannabis. »
Cannabis Industrie Netherlands 11 May 2022 European Medicines Agency presenteert medicinale cannabis lexicon Mauro Picavet
« De publicatie van het document doet ons ook denken aan gepubliceerd onderzoek van de Franse onafhankelijk wetenschapper Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli, waarin hij concludeert dat alle beoordeelde cannabis lexica zwakke, dubbelzinnige of inconsistente termen gebruiken. Zo zou je bijvoorbeeld eigenlijk niet het de bloem roken van de cannabisplant, maar het fruit van de cannabisplant. »
MetziRàdio Spain 26 June 2022 MetziRàdio /
/
Il Manifesto Italy 20 Apr. 2022 Cannabis Day. Quel che resta di un referendum Leonardo Fiorentini & Marco Perduca
« Oggi la Società Civile rifletterà sia sul senso delle convenzioni sulle droghe, a partire da quella del 1961, con la presentazione del lavoro di Kenzi Riboulet Zemouli (vedi la rubrica di Grazia Zuffa il 30 marzo scorso), sia sulle iniziative a livello regionale e nazionale. Così un gruppo di ONG europee sta lavorando per lanciare una Iniziativa dei Cittadini Europei (ICE) volta a intervenire sulle normative quadro a livello dell’Unione Europea, come la decisione quadro 2004/757/GAI e la direttiva 2017/2103 del Consiglio e del Parlamento europeo. L’obiettivo è costruire una cornice che faciliti la regolamentazione legale della cannabis. »
Fuoriluogo su Il Manifesto Italy 30 Mar. 2022 Cannabis, legalizzare si può in accordo con le Convenzioni Grazia Zuffa
« Grazia Zuffa presenta il report High compliance, a lex lata legalization for the non medical cannabis industry per la rubrica di Fuoriluogo su il manifesto del 30 marzo 2022. […] un corposo studio di Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli, della Faaat (Fondazione per un approccio alternativo alla dipendenza da sostanze), che ha approfondito i fondamenti storico-giuridici della flessibilità delle Convenzioni. »
Turun Seudun Kannabisyhdistys Finland 28 Mar. 2022 The Single Convention Ja Kannabiksen Laillistaminen Risto Mikkonen
« Kannabiksen kansainvälistä kieltolakia perustellaan yleisesti kansainvälisillä huumesopimuksilla ja varsinkin vuoden 1961 huumausaineyleissopimuksella, The Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, kuten sen alkuperäinen otsikko kuuluu. Mutta onko tosiaan niin, että käyttäjien rankaiseminen, kannabiskasvien kitkeminen hinnalla millä hyvänsä, ongelmaisten ihmisten hoidon evääminen ja vankeusrangaistuksen käyttö huumepolitiikan kulmakivenä olisi kirjoitettu ko. sopimukseen? »
BusinessCann UK 24 Mar. 2022 How Existing Global Drug Conventions Provide A Pathway To End Cannabis Prohibition Peter McCusker
« With increasing numbers of countries looking to end prohibition and introduce regulated cannabis markets a new paper identifies ways of doing so without contravening international drug laws. In enacting their recreational cannabis market in 2018 the Canadian Government were deemed to have contravened the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. Likewise Uruguay, the first country to follow this path, cited the protection of human rights to enable its perceived breach of the Convention – and it has subsequently been threatened with sanctions by the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB). However, respected cannabis researcher and author Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli, believes there is wriggle room in the Convention to allow countries to pursue a compliant path. »
Cannabis Industrie Netherlands 22 Mar. 2022 Experts: legalisatie kan ook onder het Enkelvoudig Verdrag Grazia Zuffa
« Op dit moment zou het Enkelvoudig Verdrag uit 1961 mogelijke legalisatie in de weg staan, alhoewel experts op dit gebied recentelijk een studie publiceerden waarin ze meenden dat het ook onder het verdrag zou moeten kunnen.
De internationale verdragen inzake drugsbestrijding stellen het internationale wettelijke regime voor cannabis vast, maar ze zwijgen over ‘recreatief’ of ‘gebruik door volwassenen’. Ze bevatten echter wel brede uitzonderingen in het geval van “andere dan medische en wetenschappelijke toepassingen in de context van de industrie”, schrijven ze op hun website. ‘Het zijn geen verbodsverdragen, maar Kaderverdragen inzake de controle op sommige geneesmiddelen binnen de medische en farmaceutische sector. Tekortkomingen in de geschiedenis van de drugsbestrijdingsconventies en de huidige hegemonie van één bepaalde interpretatie (gearticuleerd rond het verbod), kunnen onze interpretatiekaders hebben beïnvloed en de juridische wetenschap ontmoedigd hebben om deze vrijstellingen voor niet-medisch gebruik te bestuderen, die doelbewust zijn toegevoegd in de verdrag.’
Het essay ‘onderstreept de relevantie van deze vrijstellingen in de context van binnenlandse inspanningen voor de legalisering van cannabis. De wettelijke regeling die van toepassing is op de cannabisplant en zijn derivaten is tweeledig: (1) activiteiten met betrekking tot medische en wetenschappelijke doeleinden zijn onder controle, (2) activiteiten voor “andere dan medische en wetenschappelijke doeleinden” zijn vrijgesteld van controle, op voorwaarde dat dat aan twee vereisten wordt voldaan: effectieve maatregelen implementeren om schade te voorkomen en redelijke statistische rapportage aan de INCB verstrekken.’ »
Hemp Today Poland 6 Dec. 2021 Policy toolkit outlines role for hemp in fighting malnutrition, climate change
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« Humanitarian aid policies and programs should rely on locally made hemp seed products in the fight against malnutrition, and cannabis farming should be promoted as a potentially significant contributor in the fight against climate change, according to a policy paper from leading independent cannabis researcher Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli. … »
Público Spain 22 Aug. 2021 ¿Cómo puede contribuir el cannabis a los objetivos del desarrollo sostenible? Santiago Reviejo
« La planta milenaria del cannabis tiene innumerables usos desde que el ser humano la descubrió, más allá del meramente recreativo. Usos en el ámbito de la medicina, la alimentación, la energía o del textil, por poner algunos ejemplos. Por eso, su cultivo y aprovechamiento pueden contribuir a lograr los objetivos de desarrollo sostenible y lucha contra la pobreza establecidos en la Agenda 2030. Así lo entiende el Observatorio Europeo para el Consumo y Cultivo de Cannabis (OECCC) en un informe que ha entregado al Gobierno y que desde Podemos aseguran que están estudiando.
“El cannabis, en sí mismo, no acaba de ser ni un problema ni una emergencia. Simplemente, es una planta en el centro de un millón de problemas y con otro millón de emergencias. Por ello, la Agenda 2030 para el Desarrollo Sostenible y su millón de temáticas constituye una matriz relevante para analizar el cannabis y las políticas públicas al respecto”. Así fundamenta el Observatorio, un grupo español de expertos en esta materia, las razones de la presentación de un informe en el que aseguran haber encontrado un vínculo de la planta Cannabis Sativa L y sus políticas públicas con 64 de las 169 metas de 15 de los 17 Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS) de la Agenda 2030, un plan de acción aprobado por la Asamblea General de la ONU “a favor de las personas, el planeta y la prosperidad”. »
El Español Spain 28 Aug. 2021 Podemos incluye la legalización del hachís y la marihuana en la agenda del Gobierno Diego Peralta
« Responsables del Ministerio de Derechos Sociales y Agenda 2030, que dirige Ione Belarra, se han reunido recientemente con dirigentes del Observatorio Europeo del Consumo y Cultivo de Cannabis (OECCC), asociación que defiende la legalización de esta droga »
CannabisNow UK 12 Aug. 2021 Last Call at Barcelona’s Cannabis Social Clubs? Santiago Reviejo
« there’s the familiar feeling of watching the door and wondering if the next knock is trouble. Will police arrive tomorrow, will the clubs survive until the next Spannabis? Is this it? Nobody can say. “To be honest, nobody really knows what will happen, when, or how,” said Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli, a drug policy researcher based in Barcelona. “Even authorities and the judiciary would be unable to tell you what will happen. There are many layers of government/laws/regulations involved and the enforcement of what has changed will be very complex.” »
BusinessCann UK 10 Aug. 2021 New ‘Cannabis Initiative’ From ‘Secretive’ UN Body May Cause Serious Harm To Global Industry Peter McCusker
« Respected European cannabis researcher and thought-leader Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli highlights the threat to the medical cannabis industry. “They consider cannabis and cannabis resin – the flowers and the raw extract – only as an API, and the only final products that can be supplied to patients. However, this goes against general practice where flowers and extracts are supplied. “If countries were to harmonise on this basis it would conflict with the idea of providing herbal formulations of cannabis.”
[…] Mr Riboulet-Zemouli added: “The INCB are about to release guidelines on areas in which they have no expertise and there is a risk that, although not binding, they will lead to harmonisation and will be hard to escape. “These recommendations will be unrelated to the reality of cannabis which is complex and not well understood by members of the INCB, who lack the necessary expertise.”
[…] However Mr Riboulet-Zemouli said: “The INCB is less transparent than the Security Council of the United Nations, it is the most secretive of all international organisations.” He believes this move is a ‘survival initiative’, which places it at the centre of a topic that is generating debate, money and concern. He went on to say it is essentially a relic from the past that could be replaced by a ‘giant spreadsheet’. “It is essentially a small administrative body that has a limited role of monitoring International trade in licit medication under control.” »
Sativa Media India 7 July 2021 Cannabis: a Medium to Economic Growth by Overcoming Poverty? Pallavi S. Maheshwari
« Let us briefly walk through how researcher Kenzi Riboulet-Zemmouli justified achieving a few of the SGDs with Cannabis. […] The Sustainable Development Goals are interconnected with each other. As quoted by Obama, if poverty is a disease, it is in the form of unemployment and violence. It creates a gap between the rich and poor, increasing inequalities and furthering crime. It is important to ensure the social protection of people, provide them decent work conditions, economic growth, equality of opportunities, fundamental human rights, the right to dignity, and a decent life. Kenzi has very well put recommendations in the form of policy reforms, regulatory compliances, healthcare strategies, and certain guidelines for SGDs that can be put in action for Cannabis and achieve the goals. »
Sativa Media India 27 June 2021 Cannabis: a Medium to Economic Growth by Overcoming Poverty? Pallavi S. Maheshwari
« Researcher Kenzi Riboulet-Zemmouli takes an opportunity to analyze Cannabis, and its policies, using the Sustainable Development Goals as a relevant matrix. He summarizes and highlights the most important intertwining between Cannabis, its policies, and the 2030 Agenda, and the impact of the former on the latter through his toolkit “Sustainable Cannabis Policy Toolkit 2021”. This article is a summary of the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the UN and analyzes how Cannabis and its policies can be explored in policing these goals as discussed in Sustainable Cannabis Policy Toolkit 2021. »
Cannabis Life Network USA 30 June 2021 ONE DOLLAR THC THREATENS THE FUTURE OF THE CANNABIS FARMER — HERE’S WHY Travis Cesarone
« Regulators, and ultimately some processors, have distanced themselves so far from cultural tradition that non-cannabis-derived cannabinoids can enter the market disguised as natural substances — as phytocannabinoids. Now, due to advances in organic chemistry, it will cost less than a dollar a gram to produce THC and other rare and expensive cannabinoids. It is a little more complicated than synthetic and natural in the realm of cannabinoid production and nomenclature.
Many sales reps are promoting irrefutably poesynthetic cannabinoids as rare compounds with bold claims that they’re derived exclusively from the cannabis plant. In reality, it is irrational, economically, to produce certain cannabinoids, such as THCp for example, from cannabis. But, a eubiosynthetic cannabinoid should be exclusively produced by a plant according to a study published in Sage Journals. This research project was conducted by the independent researcher, Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli, co-founder of the FAAAT Think and do tank. »
TelQuel Morocco 11 June 2021 Préserver la variété traditionnelle de cannabis, un enjeu écologique négligé ? Leila Chik and Mehdi Mahmoud
Que va changer cette résolution? « Les variétés traditionnelles sont déjà adaptées à un écosystème et sont capables de se développer sans avoir recours à des ressources démesurées en eau, sinon elles n’auraient pas réussi à exister dans ces environnements-là. »
Revista Cáñamo Spain 10 Mar. 2021 El Spice debería llamarse ‘neocannabinoide’ y no ‘cannabinoide sintético’, dice un investigador Redacción
« El investigador independiente Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli ha criticado el uso del término “cannabinoide sintético” para referirse a estos compuestos de nueva síntesis que no aparecen de forma natural en la planta del cannabis. En un artículo en el que revisa las terminologías utilizadas para hacer referencia a la planta del cannabis, a sus partes y a sus numerosos derivados, el autor indica que en este caso —cuando nos referimos a cannabinoides de nueva síntesis— es más correcto hablar de “neocannabinoides”. »
El País Paraguay 25 Jan. 2021 La marihuana, aún un tabú en el mayor productor de América del Sur Santi Carneri
« Son noticias fenomenales para millones de pacientes en todo el mundo y una victoria histórica de la ciencia sobre la política”, dijo Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli, investigador especializado en el tema, ante el cambio de consideración del cannabis en la ONU. »
El País Latin America edition 25 Jan. 2021 El cambio de criterio de la ONU sobre la marihuana alienta a los países productores tradicionales Santi Carneri
« Son noticias fenomenales para millones de pacientes en todo el mundo y una victoria histórica de la ciencia sobre la política”, dijo Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli, investigador especializado en el tema en un comunicado publicado en la web de su organización (FAAAT think & do tank) el día de la votación. La doctrina que la ONU mantenía para el cannabis era “una reliquia de las leyes internacionales sobre drogas más extremas heredadas de la moral de la década de 1950”, destacó el experto. Estaba relacionada “con el racismo, la intolerancia, la falta de respeto por los pueblos indígenas y las culturas que fueron el sello distintivo de la época colonial”, añadió Zemouli. La medida es aún más importante si se tiene en cuenta que el cannabis se incluyó en la Lista IV “sin haber estado sujeto a ninguna evaluación científica”, expresó »
Revista Cáñamo Spain 5 Jan. 2021 Los cogollos del cannabis no son flores, son frutos partenocárpicos Miguel Castejón
« El investigador independiente Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli acaba de publicar un extenso artículo en el que somete a revisión la variedad de terminologías utilizadas para hacer referencia a la planta del cannabis, a sus partes y a sus numerosos derivados. El artículo es el resultado de una investigación de tres años, y resulta en una crítica a la situación actual de confusión terminológica en torno al cannabis, que tiene consecuencias múltiples y afecta desde la redacción de las leyes hasta la investigación científica o el consumo por parte de los usuarios de la planta. »
FM La Patriada Argentina 13 Dec. 2020 ONU quitó al cannabis de la categoría de droga peligrosa: “Cada país va a actuar según su soberanía” Roxana Poggiolini
« En la columna “Cannabis medicinal, cultivando conciencia” dialogamos con Kenzi, investigador y defensor de reformas sustentables de las políticas de drogas, en torno a la recomendación de la OMS y la decisión de la ONU de quitar el cannabis de las drogas peligrosas: “Va a tener muchos impactos”, afirmó. Y agregó: “Los países están en distintas situaciones en términos legales”. “Cada país va a poder actuar según su soberanía nacional…” »
TelQuel Morocco 11 Dec. 2020 Cannabis médical : “Le Maroc a fait preuve de bon sens” Leila Chik
Que va changer cette résolution? « Ça change tout, parce que ce classement est hautement symbolique. Ce tableau 4 a parfois été surnommé “tableau de la prohibition”, même s’il n’impose pas aux pays une interdiction du cannabis mais les y incite très fortement, en plus de considérer les usages médicaux illégitimes. »
Público Spain 8 Dec. 2020 La decisión de la ONU de permitir el uso medicinal del cannabis aumenta las expectativas de una regulación en España, Santiago F. Reviejo
« Como primer paso, el secretario general de la ONU deberá notificar por escrito al Gobierno de España la resolución aprobada el jueves en el 63 periodo de sesiones de la CND, la recomendación 5.1 de la OMS que suprime el cannabis de la Lista IV de fiscalización internacional de estupefacientes, donde se encuentran las sustancias más peligrosas y con poco o nulo valor terapéutico, con la consideración de artículo prohibido, como la heroína, y lo mantiene en la Lista I, que permite un uso medicinal y científico de la planta, según explica Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli, experto sobre políticas internacionales del cannabis que ha asistido a seis reuniones anuales de la Comisión de Estupefacientes y tiene una web para monitorear las posiciones de todos los países participantes y sus resultados. […]
Esa modificación de las listas de la Convención Única de 1961 debería ser luego ratificada y publicada en el Boletín Oficial del Estado, como ha sucedido en anteriores reformas, ya que, según Kenzi Riboulet, España carece de listas de fiscalización propias como tienen otros países y adopta automáticamente las que apruebe la ONU. Otra cosa ya es la aplicación que quiera hacer el ejecutivo de esa nueva catalogación de la fiscalización del cannabis. »
Hemp Today UK 6 Dec. 2020 Policy toolkit outlines role for hemp in fighting malnutrition, climate change Kehrt Reyer
« Humanitarian aid policies and programs should rely on locally made hemp seed products in the fight against malnutrition, and cannabis farming should be promoted as a potentially significant contributor in the fight against climate change, according to a policy paper from leading independent cannabis researcher Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli. Those are two of the key recommendations in the Sustainable Cannabis Policy Toolkit, which maps out recommendations in the context of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. »
elDiario.es Spain 6 Dec. 2020 La ONU acerca una posible regulación terapéutica del cannabis, aunque España insiste en que no hay evidencia científica Daniel Sánchez Caballero
« “Es una gran victoria, lo veo en clave histórica”, valora Kenzi Riboulet, investigador independiente y especialista en políticas de drogas, uno de los principales artífices del cambio y que llevaba cinco años trabajando para lograrlo. “Es una victoria de la ciencia sobre la política y las maniobras de los años 60 que llevaron a la prohibición internacional”, explica. “Poco a poco se desmantela esto en base a evidencia científica, es muy importante. Supone que las Naciones Unidas admitan un error y esta es la clave para nosotros”, añade. […]
Riboulet explica que “para la mayoría de los países el cambio es muy simbólico. Recibirán una notificación de la ONU explicándoles que han sacado el cannabis de la lista IV y luego cada uno decidirá qué hace”. Muchos de los países que votaron “sí” ya tienen programas de cannabis medicinal, como Holanda, Uruguay o muchos estados de EEUU. El país norteamericano, de hecho, está preparando una regulación a nivel federal para someterla a votación. […]
El caso de España es distinto. La normativa que supone la base legislativa del derecho en cuanto estupefacientes data de 1967 (aunque ha sido modificada con los años), explica Riboulet, pero no incluye listas propias sino que se refiere a las listas internacionales. “En España no será solo una notificación informativa, también tendrá el efecto legal de cambiar el estatus del cannabis en el ordenamiento jurídico español, y esto va a requerir que el Gobierno tenga que hacer algo. Qué van a hacer no lo sé, pero van a tener que tomar alguna decisión”, opina. “Y aquí es donde los movimientos sociales esperan que en vez de hacer una modificación que ignore el cambio de estatus se aproveche la oportunidad para regular”. »
RTVi Русское международное телевидение Russia 3 Dec. 2020 / /
Unarchived live TV interview
Slate France 3 Dec. 2020 L’ONU déclasse le cannabis des drogues les plus dangereuses. Isabella Kwai
« “Cela a été un cirque diplomatique”, confie Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli, chercheur spécialisé dans l’étude des politiques antidrogues, qui a suivi les débats de près. Il explique notamment que certains pays, initialement opposés au déclassement du cannabis, ont depuis changé leur position. Parmi eux, la France. »
Forbes USA 3 Dec. 2020 The United Nations Reclassifies Cannabis Clearing Path For Global Industry Robert Hoban
« The United Nations delivered a pathway. Before I discuss the tenets of this major cannabis policy change, it is critical to recognize that this is the result of numerous years of hard work by so many organizations such as FAAAT, and countless individuals, such as Michael Krawitz, Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli, Farid Ghehioueche, and Hanka Gabrielová (and so many more that I cannot possibly name them all). This new pathway specifically addresses the amending of the classification of “marijuana” from inclusion within the most severe category/classification to a singularly lower profile designation. »
BBC News Україна Ukraine 3 Dec. 2020 Як завдяки Україні ООН виключила канабіс з переліку найнебезпечніших наркотиків, Віталій Червоненко

Público Spain 2 Dec. 2020 La Comisión de Estupefacientes de la ONU aprueba facilitar el uso medicinal del cannabis, Santiago F. Reviejo
« En el 63 periodo de sesiones de la CND también se han sometido a votación otras recomendaciones de la OMS a la ONU, entre ellas dejar de considerar los tintes y extractos del cannabis o el dronabinol, cannabinoide componente de la marihuana utilizado con fines terapéuticos, como drogas incluidas de alguna manera en la Convención Única de Estupefacientes, propuestas que han sido rechazadas, aunque por una escasa mayoría, y cuyo seguimiento se puede consultar en esta página. La votación de las recomendaciones de la OMS se ha llevado a cabo después de dos aplazamientos. »
KIDO Talk Radio USA 2 Dec. 2020 The Global Movement Towards The Weed Kevin Miller
« The New York Times which broke the story spoke to researcher who believes in pot legalization. “This is a huge, historic victory for us, we couldn’t hope for more,” said Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli, an independent researcher for drug policy who has closely monitored the vote and the position of member states. He said that cannabis had been used throughout history for medicinal purposes and that the decision on Wednesday reinstated that status. »
Noticias Telemundo Latin America 2 Dec. 2020 La ONU retira el cannabis de la lista de drogas más peligrosas y le reconoce importantes propiedades medicinales, Redacción
« “Con esta decisión la ONU cierra un periodo de negación de 60 años sobre la planta más antigua en ser cultivada en casa”, indicó el organismo FAAT (Alternative Approaches to Addiction), liderado por el académico franco-español Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli y el veterano estadounidense Michael Krawitz. En un comunicado, FAAT agregó que “la clasificación en Lista IV era una reliquia de las leyes sobre narcóticos internacionales más extremas, heredadas de gente con una moralidad de los años 1950 cuyos sistemas de valor ya han sido desacreditados por sus percepciones sobre el racismo, la intolerancia y faltas de respeto hacia culturas y pueblos indígenas”. »
El Diario de Cuba Cub 2 Dec. 2020 La ONU reconoce las propiedades medicinales del cannabis Redacción
« “Esta es una victoria enorme e histórica para nosotros, no podíamos esperar más”, dijo Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli, un investigador independiente de política de drogas a The New York Times. »
The New York Times USA 2 Dec. 2020 U.N. Reclassifies Cannabis as a Less Dangerous Drug Isabella Kwai
« “It’s been a diplomatic circus,” said Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli, an independent drug policy researcher who has closely monitored the vote and the position of member states. Some countries that were initially opposed to the downgrading, like France, have since changed their position, he added. »
infobae Argentina 2 Dec. 2020 La ONU eliminó al cannabis de la categoría de drogas más peligrosas: qué implicancias tiene la decisión Valeria Chavez
« En consideración de Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli, un investigador independiente de políticas de drogas que siguió de cerca la votación y la posición de los estados miembros, “ha sido un circo diplomático”. “Algunos países que inicialmente se opusieron a la rebaja, como Francia, han cambiado su posición desde entonces’’, agregó. »
MJBiz Daily USA 2 Dec. 2020 United Nations approves WHO recommendation to reschedule cannabis in historic vote Alfredo Pascual
« “While the move doesn’t totally free the plant from treaty control, it’s a giant step toward the normalization of cannabis in medicine above all but also in our societies generally,” independent researcher Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli of CND Monitor told MJBizDaily. “Decades of efforts have been necessary to remove cannabis from Schedule IV, with implications that will slowly but surely be seen over the next decades.” »
Mugglehead Magazine USA 2 Dec. 2020 Are these countries next in line to legalize medical cannabis? Nick Laba
« FAAAT founder and independent researcher Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli has reported extensively on the UN narcotics commission. The final tally closely reflects his previous reporting on the stances of member countries.
The think tank, which supports medical cannabis policy, laments governments’ failure to accept the more advanced WHO proposals which it called “a lost opportunity to make the treaty best fit to purpose.” However, FAAAT added that none of the negative votes will result in any worsening of controls over cannabis.
Some of the additional recommendations, which would have brought plant-based cannabis medicines onto a more level-playing field with their synthetic copies, had a good chance to be adopted, according to FAAAT. But in the last week the Pakistani ambassador, who chaired the UN commission tasked with the vote, applied brute force to the process by inserting a Russian proposal, leading to the vote being held “in deviation from the standard rules of procedure” — which the think tank says is unprecedented in the 75 years of the UN.
A last recommendation on medical CBD did not receive approval, leaving the substance unscheduled and outside of treaty controls. »
Hemp Today UK 17 Aug. 2020 European Commission looks poised for missteps on hemp extracts, Kehrt Reyher
« “Besides their confusion between food and cosmetics, and medicines, another gap in the EC’s interpretation of the Conventions is that it forgets that the whole is different from the sum of its parts. Cannabis tops is a gestalt under control, and CBD, when part of cannabis, is also under control,” said consultant and researcher Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli, who tracks cannabis policy worldwide.
“But when the compounds are separated, only the compounds listed in the Schedules remain under control,” Riboulet-Zemouli said. “Once separated, THC is controlled, but CBD, CBC, CBG, chlorophylle and all other components of cannabis that are not listed in the Schedules, are not under control.” »
Público Spain 1 Mar. 2020 El mundo decide esta semana en Viena si avanza en la regulación del cannabis, Santiago F. Reviejo
« Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli, experto sobre políticas internacionales del cannabis que ha asistido ya a seis reuniones anuales de la Comisión de Estupefacientes, ha abierto una web para monitorear las posiciones de todos los países participantes en la 63 sesión que comienza este lunes, agrupados en cinco bloques geográficos: América Latina y Caribe, África, Asia, Europa del Este y el Occidental, que incluye a la UE, EEUU, Reino Unido, Canadá y Australia. Y hace una semana ya estuvo en Viena para asistir a una reunión preparatoria de la comisión, donde pudo apreciar la dificultad que hay para llegar a un consenso: el encuentro público de los representantes de los países miembros sólo duró 45 minutos para evitar más tensiones en torno a un tema que sigue dividiendo mucho a la comunidad internacional. […]
Las posiciones que adopten finalmente China y Rusia en la Comisión podrían ser, según fuentes consultadas, determinantes para el sentido del voto que acuerden los bloques de África y Asia, donde ambos países ejercen una importante influencia y podrían cercenar vías más aperturistas como la que se espera de estados miembros como Tailandia, India, Nepal o Suráfrica. La incertidumbre también es grande en el bloque de América Latina y el Caribe, al que pertenecen algunos de los países habitualmente más proclives a la desfiscalización del cannabis, una postura que podría verse afectada por los cambios políticos que se han producido en gobiernos como el de Uruguay, Chile o Brasil. La evidencia: ninguno de los estados iberoamericanos con derecho a voto en la Comisión ha hecho público todavía qué postura adoptarán en Viena esta semana, según se aprecia en la web de monitoreo de Kenzi Riboulet. […]
Todo parece, pues, que está aún por acordar, pese a que la decisión de rebajar la fiscalización a la Lista I tendría un valor más simbólico que efectivo desde el punto de vista estrictamente legal, según Kenzi Riboulet, quien también es investigador colaborador del Observatorio Europeo de Consumo y Cultivo de Cannabis. Ese valor simbólico serviría, sin embargo, para reconocer la utilidad medicinal de esta planta y acabar con el ciclo negro que se abrió en 1961, cuando fue clasificada en la lista mundial de las sustancias más peligrosas, negándosele de esa forma la posibilidad de explorar cualquier aprovechamiento en el campo científico y terapéutico del que, pese a todo, ya se benefician millones de personas en todo el mundo. »
MJBiz Daily USA 27 Feb. 2020 In major shift, UN drug chief questions whether control treaties involving cannabis are out of date Alfredo Pascual
« Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli, an independent expert on U.N. drug policy, told Marijuana Business Daily that the INCB “is the most authoritative international institution on drug policy – and also the most conservative in its interpretation of the conventions. “Having the head of the INCB suggesting that the conventions are not fit for the challenges of the 21st century is already breaking a strong taboo.” Riboulet-Zemouli specifically highlighted as “unprecedented and unexpected” the INCB president’s mention of possible “new instruments.” “It is possible and feasible for the international community to update international law,” Riboulet-Zemouli said. “Taboo is the only reason why there has not been any discussion about a new, a different or another drug treaty since 1988. “Now that this taboo has been broken, perspectives will open.” »
British Medical Journal (BMJ) UK 5 Feb. 2019 WHO proposes rescheduling cannabis to allow medical applications Susan Mayor
« In a statement FAAAT explained the implications of the rescheduling: “The very positive outcome clearly acknowledges medical applications of cannabis and cannabinoids, reintegrates them into pharmacopoeias, balances harms and [effectively] repeals the WHO position from 1954 according to which ‘there should be efforts towards the abolition of cannabis from all legitimate medical practice.’” »
LiberARSU Spain 25 Oct. 2018 Entrevista a Kenzi Riboulet, activista i investigador de polítiques sobre el cànnabis Various /
MJBiz Daily USA 7 Dec. 2018 WHO postpones recommendation for rescheduling cannabis at UN summit Alfredo Pascual
« Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli, head of research at FAAAT, an international think tank focused on international drug reform policy, expressed disappointment at the lack of recommendations. “Countries need time to understand and endorse these recommendations before the final (simple majority) vote to accept or reject them, next March,” Riboulet-Zemouli said in a news release on behalf of FAAAT. »
Legalizace Czech republic 19 Jul. 2017 Osobnost Legalizace: Kenzi Riboulet Zemouli Lukáš Hurýsek
« Věk: 25
Zaměstnání: vedoucí výzkumu ve FAAAT (faaat.net)
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English – 198 words

Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli is a French-Algerian independent researcher based in Barcelona, Spain. His work of action-research in the areas of international law and controlled drugs has resulted in several publications, presentations, lectures, and courses. His work encompasses Cannabis, Capsicum, Erythroxylum, Papaver, Psilocybe, and other plants or fungi bridging traditional and contemporary health practices. His research interests include sustainable development, human rights, biopiracy and biodiversity law, ethics, terminology, and transnational drug history.

During the scientific assessments of Cannabis by the WHO (2016–2019) he played a pivotal role in liaising between the organisation, patients, and the health sector.

Since 2017, he has been an accredited observer at the United Nations and its specialised agencies, and from 2015 to 2022, he led research at the Forum Drugs Mediterranean-FAAAT. Currently, Kenzi coordinates the Spanish Sociedad Clínica de Endocannabinología (SCE) and serves as a consultant to local and national governments, as well as intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations around the world. In 2024, he moved to the Cannabis Embassy as a member of the Interim Government. Kenzi is also co-founder of various associations, including NORML France and the Catalan Network of People who Use Drugs (CATNPUD) and contributes to the work of various NGOs.

Español/Castellano – 207 palabras

Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli es un investigador independiente franco-argelino con sede en Barcelona. Su trabajo de investigación-acción en el ámbito del derecho internacional y de las drogas fiscalizadas dió lugar a varias publicaciones, presentaciones, conferencias y cursos. Su labor abarca el estudio de plantas y hongos como el Cannabis, Capsicum, Erythroxylum, Papaver y Psilocybe, vinculando medicina tradicional y salud contemporánea. Sus intereses de investigación incluyen el desarrollo sostenible, los derechos humanos, la biopiratería y el derecho de la biodiversidad, las cuestiones de ética y de terminología, así como la historia transnacional de las drogas.

Durante las evaluaciones científicas del Cannabis por la OMS (2016–2019), jugó un papel clave como enlace entre la organización, los pacientes y el sector de la salud. Desde 2017, es observador acreditado ante las Naciones Unidas y sus agencias especializadas. De 2015 a 2022, dirigió la investigación en el Foro Drogas Mediterráneo-FAAAT. Actualmente, coordina la Sociedad Clínica de Endocannabinología (SCE) en España y actúa como consultor para gobiernos locales, nacionales y organizaciones intergubernamentales y no gubernamentales en todo el mundo. En 2024, se unió a la Embajada del Cannabis como miembro del Gobierno Provisional. También colabora con diversas ONG y es cofundador de NORML Francia y la Red Catalana de Personas que Usan Drogas (CATNPUD).

Français – 209 mots

Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli est un chercheur indépendant franco-algérien basé à Barcelone. Son travail de recherche-action dans le domaine du droit international et des drogues placées sous contrôle a conduit à diverses publications, conférences, et cours. Ses travaux couvrent Cannabis, Capsicum, Erythroxylum, Papaver, et Psilocybes, et autres plantes et champignons à cheval entre la médecine traditionnelle et la santé contemporaine. Ses domaines de recherche incluent le développement durable, les droits humains, la biopiraterie et le droit de la biodiversité, les questions d’éthique et de terminologie, et l’histoire transnationale des drogues.

Lors des évaluations scientifiques du Cannabis par l’OMS (2016–2019), il a joué un rôle clé en tant que lien entre l’organisation, les patients, et le secteur de la santé. Depuis 2017, il est observateur accrédité auprès des Nations Unies et de ses agences spécialisées. De 2015 à 2022, il a dirigé la recherche au Forum Drogues Méditerranée-FAAAT. Actuellement, il coordonne la Société Clinique d’Endocannabinologie (SCE) en Espagne, et conseille des gouvernements locaux et nationaux, ainsi que des organisations intergouvernementales et non-gouvernementales dans le monde entier. En 2024, il a rejoint la Cannabis Embassy comme membre du Gouvernement Provisoire. Il est également cofondateur d’associations telles que NORML France et le Réseau Catalan des Usagers de Drogues (CATNPUD) et collabore avec diverses ONG.

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