These treaties, which the United States, Canada, Mexico, and most of Europe have signed, requires these countries to establish criminal offenses for the production, cultivation, extraction, possession, and sale of marijuana. The required criminal offences carry with them harsh penalties that often lead to the imprisonment of individuals or groups that violate the terms of the treaties.

If the UN addresses marijuana legislation in these terms, this may be the very lynch pin in the United States for reclassification of marijuana, removing it from its current status as a schedule one drug like heroin and LSD. In 1988, the UN held discussions on this topic that resulted in no significant changes. However, many things have changed since 1988, particularly in terms of marijuana, and not just in the United States; Canada, Portugal and Uruguay have all made history (and headlines) with legislative changes on a national level, all in violation of the U.N. Treaties.

So now, in 2016, we have our chance to change these international treaties, and begin to reform how countries enforce drug laws, which in turn, will pave the way for the United States to start considering change on a federal level. The only way for medical marijuana to be accepted nationally is with a well-regulated marketplace.

History has taught us that the more regulated an industry, the more voters and politicians will support the change to allow its legal and regulated commerce. Look at tobacco and alcohol. These are well-regulated industries that generate jobs and taxes for the country, whether we approve of them or not. We need to stand up to the anti-legalization lobby, namely the pharmaceutical and alcohol lobby. We cannot let politics get in the way of patients getting their medicine.