The Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Health and Welfare on Wednesday dismissed an e-petition that urged that cannabis be downgraded to a Category 3 drug and its use in medical treatment be legalized, sparking a vigorous debate among netizens yesterday.
The e-petition was on the Public Policy Network Participation Platform of the National Development Council’s Web site and garnered more than 5,000 signatures since July, exceeding the threshold needed for the proposal to receive consideration by the government.
Some netizens blasted ministry officials for what they called a “paternalistic, conservative mindset,” adding that Taiwan has not kept up with more progressive nations on the issue of decriminalization.
They called on the government to hold public forums to discuss the issue of allowing medical marijuana.
Several netizens said that possession of cannabis for medical use has been legalized in Canada, Australia, and many EU countries, as well as 25 states in the US, as well as Washington.
They also said that the legalization of medical or recreational marijuana is on the ballot in nine US states, including California, Arizona, Florida, Nevada and North Dakota.
However, some netizens opposed the decriminalization of cannabis, saying it is a “gateway drug” and would lead to habitual use and addiction that would result in surging crime rates.
As well as advocating the legal use of cannabis for medical use, the petition urged that it be downgraded from being a Category 2 narcotic drug under Taiwan’s Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act (毒品危害防制條例) to a Category 3 drug.
Along with opium, coca, amphetamine, and their derivative products, cannabis is considered a Category 2 drug.
If it was downgraded to a Category 3 drug — a group which includes ketamine — it would carry a lighter punishment, and in many cases users would receive a fine of less than NT$50,000 and a warning.
Deputy Minister of Justice Chen Ming-tang (陳明堂) said that his ministry had held a meeting on the decriminalization of cannabis, at which officials had used as a reference the nation’s ketamine problem.
Officials said that the use of the drug is rampant among young people, and as users are not prosecuted for consuming the drug, there is no effective deterrent.
Officials and academics said cannabis is addictive and its decriminalization would exacerbate the nation’s existing drug problem, so they did not accept the proposal of the e-petition, Chen said.
Ministry of Health and Welfare officials presented information from the UN, which said that there was insufficient evidence to support the wide use of cannabis for medical purposes, and said that no country in Asia allows cannabis or cannabis products for medicinal use, and neither should Taiwan.
US President Donald Trump said "it’s up to" Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) what China does on Taiwan, but that he would be "very unhappy" with a change in the "status quo," the New York Times said in an interview published yesterday. Xi "considers it to be a part of China, and that’s up to him what he’s going to be doing," Trump told the newspaper on Wednesday. "But I’ve expressed to him that I would be very unhappy if he did that, and I don’t think he’ll do that," he added. "I hope he doesn’t do that." Trump made the comments in
NOT AN OPENING: Trump’s violation of international law does not affect China’s consideration in attacking Taiwan; Beijing lacks capability, not precedent, an official said Taiwanese officials see the US’ capture of the president of Venezuela as a powerful deterrent to Beijing’s aggression and a timely reminder of the US’ ability to defeat militaries equipped with Chinese-made weapons. The strikes that toppled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro signaled to authoritarian leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), US President Donald Trump’s willingness to use military might for international affairs core to US interests, one senior official in Taipei’s security circle said. That reassured Taiwan, the person said. Taipei has also dismissed the idea that Trump’s apparent violation of international law could embolden Beijing, said the official, who was not
A cold surge advisory was today issued for 18 cities and counties across Taiwan, with temperatures of below 10°C forecast during the day and into tonight, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. New Taipei City, Taipei, Taoyuan and Hsinchu, Miaoli and Yilan counties are expected to experience sustained temperatures of 10°C or lower, the CWA said. Temperatures are likely to temporarily drop below 10°C in most other areas, except Taitung, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang (Matsu) counties, CWA data showed. The cold weather is being caused by a strong continental cold air mass, combined with radiative cooling, a process in which heat escapes from
Snow this morning fell on Alishan for the first time in seven years, as a strong continental cold air mass sent temperatures plunging across Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The Alishan weather station, located at an elevation of about 2,200m in central Taiwan, recorded snowfall from 8:55am to 9:15am, when the temperature dropped to about 1°C, the CWA said. With increased moisture and low temperatures in the high-altitude Alishan area, the conditions were favorable for snow, CWA forecaster Tsai Yi-chi (蔡伊其) said. The last time snow fell at the Alishan weather station was on Jan. 10, 2018, while graupel fell there
RSS