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CHAPTER VI
NARCOTIC DRUGS AND PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCES
18. Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, as amended by the Protocol amending the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961
New York, 8 August 1975
Entry into force
:
8 August 1975, in accordance with article 18 of the Protocol of 25 March 1972.
Registration :
8 August 1975, No. 14152
Status :
Parties : 186. 1
Text : Certified true copy
United Nations,  Treaty Series , vol. 976, p. 105.

C.N.194.2009.TREATIES-2 of 6 April 2009 (Proposal of Amendments by Bolivia to Article 49, paragraphs 1 (c) and 2 (e)); C.N.474.2009.TREATIES-3 of 30 July 2009 (Proposal of Amendments by Bolivia (Plurinational State of) to Article 49, paragraphs 1 (c) and 2 (e); Council Document E/2009/L.31 dated 24 July 2009; C.N.829.2009.TREATIES-4 of 19 November 2009 (Proposal of Amendments by Bolivia (Plurinational State of) to Article 49, paragraphs 1 (c) and 2 (e)); Council Document E/2009/116 dated 9 October 2009; C.N.103.2010.TREATIES-1 of 24 February 2010 (Proposal of Amendments by Bolivia (Plurinational State of) to Article 49, paragraphs 1 (c) and 2 (e)); Council Document E/2010/7 dated 3 February 2010; C.N.3.2011.TREATIES-1 of 18 January 2011 (Proposal of Amendments by the Plurinational State of Bolivia to Article 49, paragraphs 1 (c) and 2 (e); C.N.8.2011.TREATIES-2 of 18 January 2011 (Proposal of Amendments by the Plurinational State of Bolivia to Article 49, paragraphs 1 (c) and 2 (e); C.N.15.2011.TREATIES-3 of 25 February 2011 (Proposal of Amendments by the Plurinational State of Bolivia to Article 49, paragraphs 1 (c) and 2 (e): United States of America) and Council document E/2011/47 of 19 January 2011; C.N.24.2011.TREATIES-4 of 25 February 2011 (Proposal of Amendments by the Plurinational State of Bolivia to Article 49, paragraphs 1 (c) and 2 (e): Sweden) and Council document E/2011/48 of 21 January 2011;  C.N.26.2011.TREATIES-5 of 25 February 2011 (Proposal of Amendments by the Plurinational State of Bolivia to Article 49, paragraphs 1 (c) and 2 (e): United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) and Council document E/2011/49 of 21 January 2011; C.N.33.2011.TREATIES-6 of 25 February 2011 (Proposal of A
Note :
The text of the Convention was established by the Secretary-General in accordance with article 22 of the Protocol.
Participant
 Participation in the Convention by virtue of ratification, accession or succession to the Protocol of 25 March 1972 or to the 1961 Convention after the entry into force of the Protocol
 Accession(a), Succession(d), Ratification
Afghanistan
 19 Feb 2015
 
Albania
   14 Aug 2001 a
Algeria
 26 Feb 2003
 
Andorra
   13 Feb 2007 a
Angola
 26 Oct 2005
 
Antigua and Barbuda
  5 Apr 1993
 
Argentina
 16 Nov 1973
 
Armenia
   13 Sep 1993 a
Australia
 22 Nov 1972
 
Austria
  1 Feb 1978
 
Azerbaijan
 11 Jan 1999
 
Bahamas
 23 Nov 1976
 
Bahrain
    7 Feb 1990 a
Bangladesh
  9 May 1980
 
Barbados
 21 Jun 1976
 
Belarus
 13 Sep 2001
 
Belgium
 13 Jun 1984
 
Belize
   18 Dec 2001 a
Benin
  6 Nov 1973
 
Bhutan
   24 Aug 2005 a
Bolivia (Plurinational State of) 2
  11 Jan 2013 a
Bosnia and Herzegovina 3
   1 Sep 1993 d
Botswana
 27 Dec 1984
 
Brazil
 16 May 1973
 
Brunei Darussalam
 25 Nov 1987
 
Bulgaria
 18 Jul 1996
 
Burkina Faso
    2 Jun 1992 a
Burundi
   18 Feb 1993 a
Cabo Verde
   24 May 1990 a
Cambodia
  7 Jul 2005
 
Cameroon
 30 May 1974
 
Canada
  5 Aug 1976
 
Central African Republic
   15 Oct 2001 a
Chile
 19 Dec 1975
 
China 1, 4
  23 Aug 1985 a
Colombia
  3 Mar 1975
 
Comoros
    1 Mar 2000 a
Congo
  3 Mar 2004
 
Costa Rica
 14 Feb 1973
 
Côte d'Ivoire
 28 Feb 1973
 
Croatia 3
26 Jul 1993
 
Cuba
 14 Dec 1989
 
Cyprus
 30 Nov 1973
 
Czech Republic 5
  30 Dec 1993 d
Democratic People's Republic of Korea
 19 Mar 2007
 
Democratic Republic of the Congo
 15 Jul 1976
 
Denmark
 18 Apr 1975
 
Djibouti
 22 Feb 2001
 
Dominica
 24 Sep 1993
 
Dominican Republic
 21 Sep 1993
 
Ecuador
 25 Jul 1973
 
Egypt
 14 Jan 1974
 
El Salvador
 26 Feb 1998
 
Eritrea
 30 Jan 2002
 
Estonia
    5 Jul 1996 a
Eswatini
   18 Oct 1995 a
Ethiopia
 11 Oct 1994
 
Fiji
 21 Nov 1973
 
Finland
 12 Jan 1973
 
France
  4 Sep 1975
 
Gabon
   14 Oct 1981 a
Gambia
 23 Apr 1996
 
Georgia
   27 Mar 2000 a
Germany 6
20 Feb 1975
 
Ghana
   10 Apr 1990 a
Greece
 12 Jul 1985
 
Grenada
   19 Aug 1998 a
Guatemala
  9 Dec 1975
 
Guinea
   27 Dec 1990 a
Guinea-Bissau
 27 Oct 1995
 
Guyana
 15 Jul 2002
 
Haiti
 29 Jan 1973
 
Holy See
  7 Jan 1976
 
Honduras
  8 Aug 1979
 
Hungary
 12 Nov 1987
 
Iceland
 18 Dec 1974
 
India
 14 Dec 1978
 
Indonesia
  3 Sep 1976
 
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
 18 Dec 2001
 
Iraq
 25 Sep 1978
 
Ireland
 16 Dec 1980
 
Israel
  1 Feb 1974
 
Italy
 14 Apr 1975
 
Jamaica
  6 Oct 1989
 
Japan
 27 Sep 1973
 
Jordan
 28 Feb 1973
 
Kazakhstan
 29 Apr 1997
 
Kenya
  9 Feb 1973
 
Kuwait
  7 Nov 1973
 
Kyrgyzstan
  7 Oct 1994
 
Lao People's Democratic Republic
 16 Mar 2009
 
Latvia
 16 Jul 1993
 
Lebanon
  5 Mar 1997
 
Lesotho
  4 Nov 1974
 
Liberia
   13 Apr 1987
Libya
 27 Sep 1978
 
Liechtenstein
 24 Nov 1999
 
Lithuania
 28 Feb 1994
 
Luxembourg
 13 Oct 1976
 
Madagascar
 20 Jun 1974
 
Malawi
  4 Oct 1973
 
Malaysia
 20 Apr 1978
 
Maldives
    7 Sep 2000 a
Mali
 31 Oct 1995
 
Malta
   22 Feb 1990 a
Marshall Islands
  9 Aug 1991
 
Mauritania
   24 Oct 1989 a
Mauritius
 12 Dec 1994
 
Mexico
 27 Apr 1977
 
Micronesia (Federated States of)
 29 May 1991
 
Monaco
 30 Dec 1975
 
Mongolia
  6 May 1991
 
Montenegro 7
  23 Oct 2006 d
Morocco
 19 Mar 2002
 
Mozambique
  8 Jun 1998
 
Myanmar
 22 Aug 2003
 
Namibia
   31 Mar 1998 a
Nepal
   29 Jun 1987 a
Netherlands (Kingdom of the)
 29 May 1987
 
New Zealand 8
 7 Jun 1990
 
Nicaragua
 15 Feb 2005
 
Niger
 28 Dec 1973
 
Nigeria
   24 Jun 1981 a
North Macedonia
 13 Oct 1993
 
Norway
 12 Nov 1973
 
Oman
 24 Jul 1987
 
Pakistan
  2 Jul 1999
 
Palau
   19 Aug 1998 a
Panama
 19 Oct 1972
 
Papua New Guinea
 28 Oct 1980
 
Paraguay
 20 Jun 1973
 
Peru
 12 Sep 1977
 
Philippines
  7 Jun 1974
 
Poland
  9 Jun 1993
 
Portugal 1
20 Apr 1979
 
Qatar
    3 Oct 1986 a
Republic of Korea
 25 Jan 1973
 
Republic of Moldova
 15 Feb 1995
 
Romania
 14 Jan 1974
 
Russian Federation
  3 Jun 1996
 
Rwanda
   15 Jul 1981 a
San Marino
 10 Oct 2000
 
Sao Tome and Principe
 20 Jun 1996
 
Saudi Arabia
    7 Nov 1997 a
Senegal
 25 Mar 1974
 
Serbia 3
  12 Mar 2001 d
Seychelles
 27 Feb 1992
 
Sierra Leone
    6 Jun 1994 a
Singapore
  9 Jul 1975
 
Slovakia 5
  28 May 1993 d
Slovenia 3
   6 Jul 1992 d
Solomon Islands
 17 Mar 1982
 
Somalia
  9 Jun 1988
 
South Africa
 16 Dec 1975
 
Spain
  4 Jan 1977
 
Sri Lanka
 29 Jun 1981
 
St. Kitts and Nevis
  9 May 1994
 
St. Lucia
  5 Jul 1991
 
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
  3 Dec 2001
 
State of Palestine
   29 Dec 2017 a
Sudan
  5 Jul 1994
 
Suriname
 29 Mar 1990
 
Sweden
  5 Dec 1972
 
Switzerland
 22 Apr 1996
 
Syrian Arab Republic
  1 Feb 1974
 
Tajikistan
   26 Mar 1997 a
Thailand
  9 Jan 1975
 
Togo
 10 Nov 1976
 
Tonga
  5 Sep 1973
 
Trinidad and Tobago
 23 Jul 1979
 
Tunisia
 29 Jun 1976
 
Türkiye
 20 Jul 2001
 
Turkmenistan
 21 Feb 1996
 
Uganda
 15 Apr 1988
 
Ukraine
 27 Sep 2001
 
United Arab Emirates
   17 Feb 1988 a
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 4
20 Jun 1978
 
United Republic of Tanzania
   25 Mar 1999 a
United States of America
  1 Nov 1972
 
Uruguay
 31 Oct 1975
 
Uzbekistan
   24 Aug 1995 a
Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)
  4 Dec 1985
 
Viet Nam
    4 Nov 1997 a
Yemen
   25 Mar 1996 a
Zambia
 13 May 1998
 
Zimbabwe
   30 Jul 1993 a
Declarations and Reservations
(Unless otherwise indicated, the declarations and reservations were made
upon ratification, accession or succession.)
Andorra

Reservation:

       The Principality of Andorra does not consider itself bound by the provisions of paragraph 2 of article 48 which provide for a mandatory referral to the International Court of Justice of any dispute which cannot be resolved according to the terms of paragraph 1. The Government of Andorra takes the position that for any dispute to be referred to the International Court of Justice for decision the agreement of all the parties to the dispute shall be necessary in each individual case.
Bahrain 9

Reservation:

       With regard to article 48, paragraph 2:

       
[See chapter VI.16 for the text of the reservation.]

Declaration:

       
[See chapter VI.16 for the text of the declaration and the objection thereto.]


Bolivia (Plurinational State of)

Reservation:

       The Plurinational State of Bolivia reserves the right to allow in its territory: traditional coca leaf chewing; the consumption and use of the coca leaf in its natural state for cultural and medicinal purposes, such as its use in infusions; and also the cultivation, trade and possession of the coca leaf to the extent necessary for these licit purposes.

       At the same time, the Plurinational State of Bolivia will continue to take all necessary measures to control the cultivation of coca in order to prevent its abuse and the illicit production of the narcotic drugs which may be extracted from the leaf.
China

       
[See chapter VI.16.]


Nepal

       "His Majesty's Government of Nepal in accordance with article 49 paragraph 1 of the said Convention hereby reserves the right to permit temporarily in its territory:

       i. the quasi-medical use of opium;

       ii. The use of cannabis, cannabis resin, extracts and tinctures of cannabis for non-medical purposes; and

       iii. The production and manufacture of and trade in the drugs referred to under (i) and (ii) above."
Saudi Arabia

Reservation:

       The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will not be bound by article 48, paragraph 2, of the Convention.
Viet Nam 10, 11

Reservation:

       “[The Government of Viet Nam declares its reservation to] article 48, paragraph 2 on Dispute settlement of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961.”
[See also text of the declarations and reservations made in respect of the unamended Convention (chapter VI.15) and of the amending Protocol of 25 March 1972 (chapter VI.17).
Objections
(Unless otherwise indicated, the objections were received upon ratification,
accession or succession.)
Austria

16 December 1998

With regard to the reservation made by Viet Nam upon accession:

       “Austria is of the view that the reservation raises doubts as to its compatibility with the object and purpose of the Convention concerned, in particular the fundamental principle that perpetrators of drug-related crime should be brought to justice, regardless of their whereabouts. Non-acceptance of this principle would undermine the effectiveness of the above-mentioned Convention.

       Austria therefore objects to the reservation. This objection does not preclude the entry into force of the above-mentioned Convention between Austria and Viet Nam."
Sweden

14 December 1998

With regard to the reservation made by Viet Nam upon accession:

       “The Government of Sweden is of the view that the reservation made by the Government of Viet Nam regarding article 36, paragraph 2 subparagraph (b) may raise doubts as to the commitment of Viet Nam to the object and purpose of the Convention.

       ...

       It is in the common interest of States that treaties to which they have chosen to become parties are respected as to their object and purpose by all parties, and that States are prepared to undertake any legislative changes necessary to comply with their obligations under the treaties.

       Furthermore, according to the Vienna Convention on the law of Treaties of 23 May 1969, and well-established customary international law, a reservation contrary to the object and purpose of the treaty shall not be permitted.

       The Government of Sweden therefore objects to the aforesaid [reservation] by the Government of Viet Nam.

       [This objection does] not preclude the entry into force of the [Convention] between Viet Nam and Sweden. The [Convention] will thus become operative berween the two States without Viet Nam benefiting from the [reservation].”
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

17 December 1998

With regard to the reservation to article 36 (2)(b)  made by Viet Nam upon accession:

       “The United Kingdom is not in a position to accept [the] reservation."

       The above objection is not however  to constitute an obstacle to the entry into force of the said [Convention] as between Vietnam and the United Kingdom.”
End Note
1On 9 and 15 December 1999, the Secretary-General received communications regarding the status of Macao from China and Portugal (see also note 3 under “China” and note 1 under “Portugal” in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume).  Upon resuming the exercise of sovereignty over Macao, China notified the Secretary-General that the Convention will also apply to the Macao Special Administrative Region.
2 The Government of the Plurinational State of Bolivia originally deposited its instrument of accession to the Convention on 23 September 1976. On 29 June 2011, the Government notified the Secretary-General that it had decided to denounce the Convention. In accordance with article 46 (2), the denunciation took effect on 1 January 2012. Following denunciation, the Plurinational State of Bolivia re-acceded to the Convention with a reservation. See C.N.94.2013.TREATIES-VI.18.
3The former Yugoslavia had ratified the Protocol on 23 June 1978. See also note 1 under "Bosnia and Herzegovina", "Croatia", "former Yugoslavia", "Slovenia", "The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" and "Yugoslavia"  in the "Historical Information" section in the front matter of this volume.
4The Secretary-General received communications regarding the status of Hong Kong from China and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern (see also note 2 under “China” and note 2 under “United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland” in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume).  Upon resuming the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong, China notified the Secretary-General that the Convention and Protocol will also apply to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
In addition, the notification made by China contained the following declaration:
The reservation to paragraph 2, article 48 of the said Convention made by the Government of the People's Republic of China will also apply to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
5Czechoslovakia, by virtue of its accession on 4 June 1991 to the Protocol of 25 March 1972 amending the Single Convention, became as of the date of its accession a participant in the Convention.  See also note 1 under “Czech Republic” and note 1 under “Slovakia” in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume.
6The German Democratic Republic, by virtue of its accession on 4 October 1988 to the Protocol of 25 March 1972 amending the Single Convention, became as of the date of its accession a participant in the Convention. See also note 2 under “Germany” in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume.
7See note 1 under "Montenegro" in the "Historical Information" section in the front matter of this volume.
8Applicable to Niue and Tokelau.  See also note 1 under “New Zealand” regarding Tokelau in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume.
9On 8 July 2021, the Government of Bahrain notified the Secretary-General of its withdrawal of the following declaration made upon accession:

“[T]he accession by the State of Bahrain to the said Convention shall in no way constitute recognition of Israel or be a cause for the establishment of any relations of any kind therewith.”
10In a communication received on 15 January 1999, the Government of Finland notified the Secretary-General of the following:
"The Government of Finland is of the view that [this reservation] raise[s] doubts as to [its] compatibility with the object and purpose of the [Convenion] concerned, in particular the [reservation] to article 32, paragraph 2, subparagraph b) 1). According to the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, and well-established customary international law, a reservation contrary to the object and purpose of the treaty shall not be permitted.
It is in the common interest of States that treaties to which they have chosen to become Parties are respected as to their object and purpose by all Parties, and that States are prepared to undertake any legislative changes necessary to comply with their obligations under the treaties.
The Government of Finland therefore objects to [this reservation] made by the Government of Viet Nam to the [Convention].
This objection does not preclude the entry into force of the [Convention] between Viet Nam and Finland. The [Convention] will thus become operative between the two States without Viet Nam benefitting from [this reservation]."
11On 31 October 2022, the Government of Viet Nam notified the Secretary-General of its decision to withdraw the reservation to article 36, paragraph 2, point b on extradition made upon accession to the above Convention.
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