Reading this it seems:
1. The original law had this clause specifically stating cannabis was not a narcotic
2. many other parliament members were against having this clause in the law
3. Clause was removed from law
4. this does not actually change anything currently. As it is already off the schedule 5 list
5. cannabis advocates would have liked to have it in the law, as is greater protection. As is easier to change the drug schedule listing than it is to pass a new law
6. although again this not being in the law changes nothing… just means that if at some point in the future the winds change and a future government wants to make it illegal again, then the process to do so is easier
7. although cannabis advocates are betting on the fact that once the genie is out of the bottle, there is no stuffing it back in again… so they were willing to make the compromise to remove the clause from law in order to get it passed
at least that is my reading of the news…