TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s Ministry of Justice repeated that it does not support the decriminalization of marijuana at a cross-party meeting of legislators on Friday (Sept. 13).
Deputy Minister of Justice Hsu Hsi-hsiang (徐錫祥) said the ministry is “absolutely opposed” to the decriminalization of the drug, per CNA. Hsiang spoke at a meeting where legislators, local representatives, and experts discussed measures to put an end to a “flood of cannabis” they said is affecting Taiwan.
The meeting was chaired by Kuomintang (KMT) Legislator Lai Shyh-bao (賴士葆), who said he is concerned the international trend of decriminalizing marijuana may cause more people to use the drug in Taiwan. Lai said that drug laws should be amended to increase prison sentences and fines for marijuana related offenses, and that schools should increase anti-drug education.
Deputy Education Minister Yeh Ping-cheng (葉丙成) said anti-drug education is important. The ministry bears the responsibility of informing students that drugs harm the body and mind, he said.
Representatives of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan, a Taipei City councilor, and a Tainan family-focused NGO also voiced support for increasing public education about drugs at the meeting. Pastor and professor at Taichung’s Tunghai University Chen Hsiang-jen (陳尚仁) said that he is concerned that positive information about the drug posted online is reaching the public instead of medical information.
According to a March justice ministry release, marijuana seizures made by police between 2014 and 2023 more than tripled from 403 cases to 1,477. In the release, the ministry said it opposes the legalization of marijuana because of health concerns, and the impact the drug may have on the development of the country.
A small number of civil society groups advocate for the legalization of marijuana in Taiwan, though according to one survey the vast majority of the public oppose it. The survey was conducted in 2023 by groups who oppose decriminalization of the drug, and found nearly 93% of respondents were against legalizing marijuana, per PTS.
Those found guilty of manufacturing, transporting, or selling marijuana can be sentenced to life imprisonment and fined up to NT$15 million (US$469,373) under Taiwan law. The law places marijuana in the same class as fentanyl and methamphetamine.
