A Ministry of Justice (MOJ) official told lawmakers yesterday that ketamine would probably be upgraded to a class-two drug soon and users would have to undergo treatment at drug rehabilitation centers.
Prosecution Department Director Chu Kun-mao (朱坤茂) made the remarks at a meeting of the legislature’s Judiciary and Organic Laws and Statutes Committee.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Liao Cheng-ching (廖正井) said ketamine abuse has become a serious problem on campuses, with the number of ketamine users having jumped 10-fold from six years ago.
Liao asked why the ministry has been hesitant to upgrade ketamine from a class-three drug to a class-two drug.
KMT Legislator Hsieh Kuo-Liang (謝國樑) said the ministry’s position on ketamine made it “a supporter” of the drug.
Chu said the ministry would likely pass a bill in an inter-ministerial meeting it is hosting at the end of this month to list ketamine as a class-two drug.
By law, people who use first or second-class drugs have to undergo treatment, Chu said, and so the ministry has to get ready to house more drug users. It is also considering allowing students who use ketamine to receive treatment during their summer or winter break.
The law states that individuals arrested for using first-class drugs such as heroin and cocaine, or class-two drugs such as amphetamines and marijuana are required to undergo treatment at drug rehabilitation centers for a maximum of one month.
Those who fail a medical examination after a month of treatment are required to undergo a second period of treatment, which can last up to a maximum of one year.
Individuals who have undergone narcotic treatment but are rearrested for drug use will be charged with a criminal offense.
The Chinese military has built landing bridge ships designed to expand its amphibious options for a potential assault on Taiwan, but their combat effectiveness is limited due to their high vulnerability, a defense expert said in an analysis published on Monday. Shen Ming-shih (沈明室), a research fellow at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said that the deployment of such vessels as part of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s East Sea Fleet signals a strong focus on Taiwan. However, the ships are highly vulnerable to precision strikes, which means they could be destroyed before they achieve their intended
The Taiwan Experience Education Program (TEEP) has funded short-term internships in Taiwan for more than 4,500 young people from more than 40 countries since 2015, with the goal of attracting and retaining international talent, the Ministry of Education said yesterday. Fifty-five colleges launched 514 projects this year, including in fields such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, medicine and biotechnology, green energy, and sustainability, it said. The program provides research and practical internships in Taiwan for two to six months, and offers cultural exchange and networking opportunities, the ministry said. For example, National Formosa University’s Embedded System and Autopilot Laboratory developed two solar-powered drones in
GLOBAL: Although Matsu has limited capacity for large numbers of domestic tourists, it would be a great high-end destination for international travelers, an official said Lienchiang County’s (Matsu) unique landscape and Cold War history give it great potential to be marketed as a destination for international travelers, Tourism Administration Director General Chen Yu-hsiu (陳玉秀) said at the weekend. Tourism officials traveled to the outlying island for the Matsu Biennial, an art festival that started on Friday to celebrate Matsu’s culture, history and landscape. Travelers to Matsu, which lies about 190km northwest of Taipei, must fly or take the state-run New Taima passenger ship. However, flights are often canceled during fog season from April to June. Chen spoke about her vision to promote Matsu as a tourist attraction in
Taipei resident Mu Chu-hua caught some glimpses of China’s mighty military parade on YouTube on Wednesday. As she watched hypersonic missiles roll down Beijing’s Changan Avenue and troops march in lockstep, she did not feel like they posed a threat to Taiwan. Mu, a 69-year-old retiree, said she saw the parade as simply a way for Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) to “say thank you to the troops.” “I thought it was quite normal,” she said. “It was very cool.” China’s military parade commemorating the end of World War II was being watched internationally for insights into Beijing’s military advances and its show
RSS