Cannabis use among students is on the rise and it has become the second-most used illicit drug after ketamine, experts yesterday told a forum on cannabis use among young people.
The Ministry of Education hosted the Forum on the Prevention of Cannabis, which was attended by officials, representatives of civil groups and academics.
Young Taiwanese see calls around the world for the legalization of cannabis-related material, leading them to “ignore the addictive and harmful nature of cannabis,” the groups said in a news release.
Photo: Lin Hsiao-yun, Taipei Times
In 2021, marijuana was the fifth-most used illicit drug among students, with 7.71 percent of those who reported drug use listing cannabis, Department of Student Affairs and Special Education Director-General Chang Hui-wen (張惠雯) said.
However, in the first four months of this year, it had risen to No. 2 at 14.29 percent, just behind ketamine, Chang said.
Thailand has legalized cannabis, making it more accessible for people traveling there, she said.
The increase might also be due to more instances of public figures being seen smoking marijuana, as well as the availability of articles online advocating for legalization, she said.
As students begin summer vacation, the ministry is disseminating educational material to inform them and their parents about cannabis use, it said.
After the academic year begins, institutes would also conduct random testing, the ministry said.
Cannabis only remains in the body for a short time and there are products that speed up metabolism, which makes reducing availability of the drug even more important, Chang said.
Legalizing narcotics to mitigate their harm is a “historical mistake,” National Chung Cheng University professor of criminology Yang Shu-lung (楊士隆) said.
Authorities should wait for more definitive research and study how situations similar to those in other countries might play out in Taiwan to avoid the risks of hasty legalization, Yang said.
About 90 percent of Taiwanese do not support legalizing cannabis, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology associate professor of nursing Chao Kuo-yu (趙國玉) said, citing a study by the Taiwan Common Good Promotion Association.
The government should improve its guidance of public attitudes toward cannabis, clarify medical facts and “reveal the true state of cannabis use abroad,” Chao added.
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