Taiwanese pro-cannabis activists demonstrate for decriminalization

Last Saturday, activists from Green Sensation, a Taiwanese association for the reform of cannabis laws, called for the decriminalization of cannabis on the island of Taiwan.

A series of entertainment and musical performances were planned in Taipei with non-governmental organizations taking part in the event starting at 4:20pm to march to the legislature.

«Our movement has come under increasing attack this year, and we have faced coordinated efforts to denigrate us, including misinformation and fake news circulated online by conservative religious groups with the help of pan-blue political forces,» said group spokesman Chung Ho-yun.

«In fact, the severe crackdown on cannabis was carried out by Ministry of Justice officials under the administration of the Democratic Progressive Party», the party currently in power, he added.

However, the activists successfully defended their freedom of expression and right to personal belief.

«This shows that Taiwan still needs to work on transitional justice and ease the crackdown on cannabis, as we have to constantly fight against conservative forces,» he added.

This is the fifth year that the event has been held in Taiwan, just a few days before the 420. Last year, a petition brought together more than 14,000 signatures in favor of legalization cannabis in this country of 23 million inhabitants.

«We call on society and legislators to stop the repression of cannabis,» he said. «We urge decriminalization and call on the Ministry of Justice and the courts to end their so-called «war on cannabis» targeting the younger generation.».

Mr. Chung called on the government to authorize products containing 0.3 % THC, in line with the regulations in force in many countries, and to follow the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs, which has decided to remove cannabis from its list of narcotics in 2020.

«The Ministry of Justice and [Taiwanese] legislators should do the same and amend the Drug Risk Prevention Act,» he said.

Cannabis is illegal in Taiwan. It is classified as a Category 2 narcotic under the Narcotics Risk Prevention Act (Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act) in Taiwan. Persons who manufacture, transport or sell Category 2 narcotics are liable to life imprisonment or a fixed-term prison sentence of at least 10 years, as well as a maximum fine of 15 million Taiwan dollars (450,000 euros).