Development of the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971
Unpublished document 1989
The 196l Single Convention did not include so-called "psychotropic substances" such as amphetamines and barbiturates among the drugs controlled. The discussions on the scope of control were focused on plant-based drugs, such as cannabis, poppy cultivation, poppy straw, coca bush and coca leaves This document describes the development of an international instrument for the control of psychotropic substances.
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The author, Professor Bayer, was an eyewitness of the events: he was UN officer (staff member of the Division of Narcotic Drugs) between 1967 and 1973, author of a number of documents of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs and the Plenipotentiary Conference, he was also joint secretary of the Technical Committee of the Plenipotentiary Conference. See also: The abuse of psychotropic drugs, Bulletin on Narcotic Drugs, 1973.
