The UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs Convenes Its 69th Session

Vienna, Austria, 12 March 2026. The Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) has wrapped up a pivotal 69th session in Vienna. Sharp debate defined the week, covering the future of international drug control and the formal launch of a new Expert Panel. That Panel will shape the landmark 2029 global drug policy review.

The CND is the United Nations’ principal policymaking body on drug-related matters. It draws together national delegations and advocacy organisations each year. This session, however, felt notably charged. Voices from across the political spectrum offered starkly different visions for what comes next.

Expert Panel Established for the 2029 Global Drug Policy Review

The Commission confirmed all 19 members of the independent Expert Panel created under Resolution 68/6. This is one of the most consequential structural decisions the body has made in years. The Panel spans Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas and the Pacific. Its task is to produce a clear and actionable set of recommendations to strengthen the three International Drug Control Conventions ahead of the 2029 review.

H.E. Ambassador Andranik Hovhannisyan of Armenia, Chair of the Commission, welcomed the Panel’s formation. He expressed confidence that the depth of expertise assembled would lead to “informed and constructive reflections” in support of the Commission’s work.

Allan Rock of Canada and Natalie Yu-Lin Morris-Sharma of Singapore serve as Co-Chairs. The Commission selected ten members. Additionally, the UN Secretary-General chose five, the International Narcotics Control Board appointed three, and the World Health Organisation nominated one.

Prevention First: Sabet’s Case for International Drug Control Reform

Kevin Sabet, Chief Executive of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), was among the most prominent voices at this year’s session. He attended alongside SAM’s Executive Vice-President Luke Niforatos. At a side event, Sabet made the case for placing prevention at the heart of any credible global drug policy review.

Sabet argued that the evidence from countries and US states that pursued commercialisation is now unambiguous. “The idea that we can safely regulate these substances has been an outright failure,” he told attendees. Furthermore, he pointed to rising public opposition to cannabis legalisation in the United States, policy reversals in Thailand and Germany, and the rejection of decriminalisation experiments in Oregon and British Columbia.

He stressed that the goal is not criminalisation of people struggling with addiction. Instead, he called for a comprehensive model built on prevention, treatment and recovery. “Harm reduction can be part of a strategy, too, but it must be part of a strategy to get people into recovery, not to sustain their drug use.”

A Shifting Public Mood

Citizen sentiment is turning against liberalisation. Sabet cited a range of data points to support this. In the United States, repeal efforts are gathering pace in Massachusetts, Maine, Arizona and Montana. Notably, even the New York Times has recently acknowledged what it called America’s cannabis problem, a publication long seen as sympathetic to reform.

US overdose deaths remain at catastrophic levels, with over 100,000 Americans dying each year from drug-related causes. Supporters of a stricter public health framework argue these numbers reflect the real cost of policies that prioritise commercial access over protective safeguards.

Where Other Nations Stand on International Drug Control

Not every speaker shared that analysis. Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro drew considerable attention for challenging the track record of supply reduction efforts. He reportedly told the Commission that “the kingpins of kingpins are untouched” after decades of enforcement. Moreover, his remarks reflect a persistent view among some member states that the current approach to international drug control has failed to deliver on its promises.

Sara Carter, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, took a more enforcement-focused line. She pointed to Operation South Spear and the apprehension of Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro as evidence of effective multilateral action. She called on nations to “band together and combat not only narcotics, but criminal enterprises and their funding mechanisms.”

Side Events and the Global Drug Policy Review Ahead

Beyond the formal floor, dozens of side events offered a window into where the debate is heading. SAM hosted a session titled “Lessons Learned from Marijuana Commercialisation.” Meanwhile, the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse convened one on municipal responses to synthetic opioids. These gatherings largely avoid media attention, yet they serve as testing grounds for ideas that find their way into formal policy years later.

Consequently, the 69th session made clear that the international drug control debate is entering a new phase. The 2029 global drug policy review is now on the clock. Therefore, the coming years will prove critical in determining whether the international community doubles down on commercialisation or pivots toward stricter public health frameworks.

The question is no longer purely academic. From Vienna to Oregon, from British Columbia to Bangkok, communities around the world are feeling the consequences. And with the Expert Panel now in place, the next chapter of global drug policy has formally begun.

The Expert Panel is supported by the UNODC Secretariat to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs. Its recommendations are expected to feed into the formal review process beginning in 2029.

Source: dbrecoveryresources