A civil society group advocating for the decriminalization of cannabis on Saturday held a rally outside the Legislative Yuan in Taipei calling on the government to end its “war” on marijuana.
At the “2025 Green Sensation” event, the Taiwan Weed Safety Education Association urged lawmakers and President William Lai (賴清德) to eliminate discriminatory policies against the use of marijuana, the association’s promotional materials said.
It also called on the government to ease limits on tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), align cannabis policy with international norms and remove marijuana from government anti-drug campaigns.
Photo: CNA
The event featured performances by the jazz band Soul Heist (盜魂) and the rock band Chillsome (秋山), as well as a march.
“There are still many misunderstandings about marijuana among the general public in Taiwan,” a volunteer in his 20s surnamed Wu (吳) said, adding that he hoped the event would encourage more people to pay attention to the issue.
The same day, the Ministry of Justice reiterated that cannabis remains illegal to possess or use, and warned that such offenses would be prosecuted as serious crimes.
Cannabis contains more than 65 chemical compounds, including THC and cannabidiol (CBD), which are classified as Category II narcotics under the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act (毒品危害防制條例), the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau said.
THC affects the central nervous system and can lead to physical dependence and mental illness, although CBD may be legally used for medical purposes under the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act (藥事法), it said.
Any product containing more than 10 parts per million of THC qualifies as a Category II narcotic under the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act and the Controlled Drugs Act (管制藥品管理條例), unless approved for medical or scientific use, Food and Drug Administration Deputy Director-General Wang Der-yuan (王德原) said.
Under the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act, a person convicted of using a Category II narcotics, such as cannabis, may be sentenced to up to three years in prison, while those convicted of possession may be imprisoned for up to two years.
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