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UNITED NATIONS NATIONS UNIES
INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS INCB OICS ORGANE INTERNATIONAL DE
CONTROL BOARD CONTRÔLE DES STUPÉFIANTS
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A : Mr. Lousberg, Chef
Date : 17 january 2001
Adresse : Inspectorate of Health Care
Ministry of Public Health Ref. : INCB-PSY 10/01
Den Haag - The Netherlands File : 141/1 NET
De : Herbert Schaepe, Secretary No. of pages : 1
International Narcotics Control Board
Sujet : International control of the
preparation "ayahuasca"
Vienna international Center P.O. Box 500, A-1400 Vienna, Austria
E-Mail : secretariat@incb.org Internet Address : http://www.incb.org/
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Dear M. Lousberg,
I would like to refer to your facsimile of 20 December 2000
concerning the traditional use of controlled substances, in
particular the use of a preparation called "ayahuasca" by
religious groups in the Netherlands.
The above mentioned issue was consulted by the INCB Secretariat
with the Scientific Section and the Legal Advisory Section of the
United National International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP). It
is our understanding that "ayahuasca" is common name for a liquid
preparation (decoction) for oral use prepared from plants
indigenous to the Amazon basin of South America, essentially the
stern bark of different species of a jungle vine (Banisteriopais
sp.) and the tryptamine-rich plant Psychotria viridis. According
to the scientific literature, ayahuasca commonly contains a number
of psychoactives alkaloids, including DMT wich is a substance
included in Schedule I of the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic
Subtances.
No plants (natural materials) containing DMT are at present
controlled under 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Subtances.
Consequently, preparations (e. g. decoctions) made of these
plants, including ayahuasca are not under international control
and, therefore, not subject to any of the articles of the 1971
Convention.
Yours sincerely,,
Herbert Schaepe
Secretary of the Board.
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