ABSTRACT
This chapter shows that the international drug control system is a system of rules and obligations based on a normative core – the limitation of drugs to medical and scientific purposes. Opponents of the international drug control system have labelled the international drug control system as 'prohibitionist' and defenders of the system have argued that the true objective of international drug control is the preservation of mankind's health and welfare. The fundamental importance of the limitation of drugs to medical and scientific purposes for the entire international drug control system can be deduced simply from the UN Drug Conventions, as well as related soft law instruments. The international drug control system limits the entire drug supply chain to medical and scientific needs. The obligation to limit drug-related activities to medical and scientific purposes entails the requirement to suppress non-medical and non-scientific drug manufacture, traffic and use.
