To: His Excellency Ambassador Hiroshi Nakajima

Director of the World Health Organisation

New York, February 24, 1998

Esteemed Ambassador,

The February 21, 1998, issue of the British magazine New Scientist reports that WHO officials in Geneva have suppressed the publication of a politically sensitive analysis that would confirm that marijuana is safer than alcohol or tobacco.

According to the New Scientist: "The comparison was due to appear in a report on the harmful effects of cannabis published last December by the WHO. But it was ditched at the last minute following a lost and intense dispute [...] It is understood that advisers from the US National institute on Drug Abuse and the UN International Drug Control Programme warned the WHO that it would play into the hands of groups campaigning to legalise marijuana".

You would agree with us that, if what is reported from the New Scientist is the truth, the seriousness and respectability of your honorable organization, as well as the US Administration and the UNDCP, would be seriously questioned. If, on the other hand, the allegations are untrue, it would be very unfortunate that they circulate without any kind of official denial or comment from your offices.

Our organization has drafted some parliamentary interrogation that will be submitted in the next few days in Europe, in the meantime, we take the liberty to encourage you to give a public official version of the facts.

Hoping to establish a relationship based on transparency and scientific facts with your offices we send you our best regards.

Respectfully,

Olivier Dupuis Marco Cappato

MEP, General Secretary UN Representative

Cc:

UNSG, Kofi Annan

Director of the UNDCP, Pino Arlacchi

WHO Representative in New York, Andrew J. Joseph

New Scientist, David Concar

Director of National Institute on Drug Abuse, Alan I. Leshner