South China Morning Post
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Thailand was the first Southeast Asian country to legalise cannabis for medical use. Photo: AFP
Opinion
Editorial
by SCMP Editorial
Editorial
by SCMP Editorial

Keep an open mind on medicinal marijuana

  • A multibillion-dollar industry is taking shape and governments and societies have a duty to be willing to change if research shows more pros than cons
SCMP Editorial
SCMP Editorial
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Possession of marijuana is a serious crime in Hong Kong on a par with heroin, cocaine, crystal meth and other drugs deemed by local law to be dangerous. Four boys aged between 12 and 16 accused by police of bringing cannabis buds with an estimated street value of HK$700,000 into the city by post are now aware of how grave their alleged crime is. Trafficking can land offenders in jail for life and even having a small amount can lead to a seven-year sentence or HK$1 million fine. The approach is not unusual in Asia, but with an increasing number of countries elsewhere scrapping what are being seen as outdated practices in favour of legalisation for medical or recreational use, there is bound to be confusion, tensions between nations and frustration for researchers and patients.

A decision last month by a United Nations commission to remove cannabis for medicinal purposes from a category of the most dangerous drugs is likely to further uncertainty. While hailed by advocates of legalisation as being an important step in efforts to widen research into marijuana and its medical use, the 27 to 25 vote proved how divided the world is, with the United States and European countries voting for, and China and Singapore being among those opposed. China’s delegate said the move would not alter his country’s stance that marijuana had to be strictly controlled to protect against “harm and abuse”.

Why is Asia divided on a green light for medical marijuana?

Hong Kong’s government greeted the decision with a fresh campaign against cannabis. The position would seemingly be at odds with Chinese culture, which for thousands of years has used the cannabis plant in traditional medicine. Growing numbers of doctors agree that there are benefits for alleviating pain without the addictive qualities of opioids, relieving anxiety, insomnia, muscle spasms and nausea, and treating some cancers, mental disorders and problems with immunity.

Laws have prevented research, though, and that was the basis for the UN decision. It is up to individual countries whether to adopt the recommendation; in Asia, only South Korea and Thailand have so far opened the door to medical marijuana. But a multibillion-dollar industry is taking shape and governments and societies have a duty to keep open minds and be willing to change.
This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Keep an open mind on medicinal marijuana
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