The WHO made its recommendation to the UN nearly two years ago, agreeing that cannabis can have negative effects and cause dependence but it does not carry a significant risk of death, as with other drugs on the Schedule IV list, and has been found to have a number of medical benefits.

The Vienna-based UN agency said in a statement that its 53 member states had voted 27-25, with one abstention, to follow the World Health Organisation’s recommendation to remove cannabis and cannabis resin from Schedule IV of the 1961 Convention on Narcotic Drugs.

Russia was a vocal opponent of the reclassification, calling marijuana ‘the most abused drug globally.’

China, Nigeria, Egypt and Pakistan were also among those in opposition, while Ukraine abstained.

Canada and Uruguay have already legalised the sale and use of cannabis for recreational purposes and Mexico and Luxembourg appear set to follow suit.

Many other countries around the world have decriminalized marijuana possession.

While the reclassification will not prompt immediate changes in drug regulation – which is decided at a national level – it could have an impact in the long-term as many countries look to international conventions for guidance.

The drugs that are on Schedule IV are a subset of those on Schedule I of the convention, which already requires the highest levels of international control.

Dangerous and highly addictive drugs that feature on that list include heroin and several other opioids.

Despite removing cannabis and  cannabis resin from the Schedule IV list, the agency voted to leave the substances on the list of Schedules for a I drugs.