In this blog post, we will discuss the harms of cannabis and see if Korean society is ready to accept its legalization.
The discussion on the legalization of cannabis in Korea
“South Korea is a conservative country.” Some people who consider themselves to be progressive are often dissatisfied with the social system in South Korea. They are generally seeking reform and progressive change, and they take a strong stance that South Korea should not fall behind the global trend. However, this stance often runs the risk of overgeneralizing on various issues. For example, the same is true of the discussion on cannabis. Some argue that “cannabis has already been legalized in other developed countries, so we should follow suit,” but such arguments do not take into account the social background and historical context of each country.
Cannabis has been a constant social issue in recent decades. Whenever a famous celebrity or writer was accused of smoking cannabis, there were calls everywhere to legalize cannabis. I, too, think that the past atmosphere of treating people who smoked cannabis like criminals is problematic, but I have some questions about the claim that cannabis should be legalized.
Before presenting the reasons for my opposition to the legalization of cannabis in South Korea, I would like to make it clear that I will not be addressing the philosophical issues related to cannabis. The philosophical issues here are the discussions about whether it is ethically wrong to artificially manipulate the brain and the chemical reactions that occur in the body, which have been shown to be responsible for most of the emotions that humans feel. Some argue that it is not a big deal to regulate hormones through drugs to enhance personal happiness, but this is a very abstract discussion that can lead to different conclusions depending on one’s values. Therefore, this discussion will not be covered in this article.
Cannabis in terms of public health
Cannabis is a hallucinogenic substance that adversely affects the central nervous system and is known to cause symptoms such as lethargy, cognitive impairment, and paranoia. Proponents of cannabis legalization argue that cannabis should be legalized because alcohol and tobacco are also legal substances despite causing these side effects. They argue that cannabis is less addictive than alcohol and tobacco, and that treating it as a drug is excessive. However, chronic cannabis users show mental dependence, and cannabis is actually more addictive than other drugs (alcohol, tobacco). Whether it is less harmful to health is still a matter of debate. For example, some studies have shown that smoking cannabis without a filter can have a more serious impact on the lungs. In this situation, it is premature to legalize cannabis simply because it is relatively less harmful.
In particular, the lack of consistent research results on the health effects of cannabis is a problem, as people are not fully aware of the risks of cannabis. People are well aware of the adverse effects of alcohol and cigarettes on the body, but they are not aware of the side effects or risks of cannabis. This means that if cannabis is legalized, more people will be exposed to it, and the most at risk will be the physically and mentally vulnerable youth.
The Problem of Cannabis and Youth
The possibility of youth being exposed to cannabis is a serious problem. Youth are more vulnerable to drugs than adults because they are not yet fully mature physically and mentally. Smoking and drinking in adolescence can lead to alcoholism or nicotine dependence in the long term, and cannabis can also lead to serious dependence through the same route. Moreover, since adolescents are heavily influenced by their peer groups, the greater the accessibility to cannabis, the lower the psychological barriers to its use.
If cannabis is legalized in Korea, where the problem of youth smoking and drinking is not yet resolved, the damage will be even more serious. Although cannabis has side effects for adults, it is even more deadly for adolescents. It is a very irresponsible approach to discuss the legalization of cannabis while overlooking these risks.
Legalization of cannabis and lack of social preparation
Even if studies show that cannabis is less harmful than other drugs, the discussion on legalizing cannabis should still be handled with caution. In particular, there are many difficulties in applying this to South Korea as there is an increasing number of countries, including the United States, following the trend of legalizing cannabis. In the United States, 10% of the population aged 15 and over smoke cannabis, and the social perception of cannabis smokers is relatively positive. However, in South Korea, the perception of cannabis is still negative, and no opinion polls have been conducted on the subject.
If cannabis is legalized, it is essential to not only legal and institutional reforms but also a public discussion process to change the public’s perception. Legalizing cannabis simply to follow global trends, ignoring the social costs and disruption that will occur in the process, can pose a major risk. Unlike other countries, South Korea has a very small population that consumes cannabis, and it is an excessive measure to change the entire society to guarantee their rights.
Conclusion – The need for social consensus
Legalizing cannabis is not just a legal issue. It is also a matter of public health, safety, and social values. Our society still lacks clear research results on cannabis, and the public’s perception is often negative. Therefore, before discussing the legalization of cannabis, it is more important than ever to conduct sufficient research and build a social consensus. There needs to be a serious discussion about whether cannabis is truly less harmful than other drugs and whether our society is ready to accept cannabis. It would be the right direction to make a decision on the legalization of cannabis only after building a consensus across society.
