Korea: MP pushes for legalization of medical cannabis

Despite the South Korean government’s official stance on cannabis, Representative Shin Chang-Hyun of the Democratic Party is working on a bill to authorize the medical use of cannabis, noting that some foreign pharmaceutical companies are already developing cannabis-based treatments.

He also added that the draconian cannabis laws have had the opposite effect of what was intended, namely criminalizing people who buy cannabis oil or other products to relieve their symptoms of cancer or other illnesses.

«The law strictly prohibits the sale or purchase of cannabis, which recently led to a mother being arrested and convicted for buying cannabis oil abroad to treat her son, who has brain cancer ,» explains Shin after submitting his bill to the Korean National Assembly in early January.

Shin added that the main ingredient in cannabis oil is cannabidiol (CBD), which has no psychotropic effects and has been tested in the United States, Canada, and Germany, proving its effectiveness in clinical trials for neurological and brain disorders such as brain metastases, autism, and dementia.

According to the South Korean lawmaker, the current law permits the use of highly addictive substances such as opium, morphine, and cocaine, but not cannabis. South Korean companies However, they have already expressed interest through the development of cannabis-based treatments, particularly given the size of the global market. According to Shin’s proposal, the Korean Food and Drug Administration should approve the medical conditions eligible for the medical cannabis program. However, Korean law would need to be amended to allow for its medical use.

Shin has drawn both criticism and support from fellow lawmakers for his efforts to legalize the medical use of cannabis in his country. Although Korea takes a hard line against drug users and prides itself on being a «drug-free» country, several celebrities—such as K-pop star T.O.P.—have been caught red-handed.

Last year, South Korean customs officials also seized the largest amount of drugs they had ever seen—70 kg, including 13.6 kg of cannabis. The majority of the seizures consisted of amphetamines.

«The movement to legalize medical cannabis in several countries in North America and Europe, and the Legalization of cannabis in certain U.S. states, », including California, which has the largest Korean community, leads us to believe that cannabis smuggling from North America and Europe will continue to increase," noted Korean customs officials.

Source : Korea Biomedical Review