Trending 
The European Union’s top court ruled on Tuesday that Hungary violated bloc principles by voting against a unified EU stance on cannabis classification during a United Nations summit.
The dispute stems from a 2020 UN meeting where Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government rejected a proposal to remove cannabis from a high-risk category alongside opioids, citing a “zero tolerance” drug policy.
The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) found that drug classification falls under the “exclusive competence” of the EU, meaning member states must adhere to the majority’s decision.
By breaking ranks, the court stated that Hungary breached the “principle of sincere cooperation,” which requires member states to support the bloc’s common goals and abstain from actions that undermine them.
In a defiant response, the Hungarian government condemned what it called “dangerous drug liberalisation efforts.”
Despite the legal defeat, Budapest maintains it will not yield to pressure from Brussels, insisting that its national drug policy remains a sovereign matter.
This ruling adds another layer of friction to the ongoing tension between Orban’s administration and EU leadership over the rule of law and policy autonomy.
