The WHOs Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (ECDD) has introduced a uniquely comprehensive database for all drug dependence technical reports and materials, which is a valuable tool for policymakers, specialists in drug policy, and health professionals.

 It contains approximately 450 drugs and is the only available online database of data and reports on novel psychoactive substances and medications.

An impartial team of professionals with knowledge of psychoactive drugs and medicine makes up the WHO ECDD. It evaluates the benefits and risks of using psychoactive substances for health based on a predetermined set of standards.

The UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) receives recommendations from the WHO ECDD regarding whether or not psychoactive substances should be placed under international control after the WHO ECDD evaluates their health hazards and benefits. 

Cannabis was recently reclassified to account for its potential for recognized therapeutic uses as a result of the WHO ECDDs advice to the CND regarding the international control status of the drug. The repository contains all of these technical materials.

(Source: https://www.who.int/news/item/01-06-2023-who-launches-a-single-source-repository-on-drug-dependence-information)