In this blog post, we will examine the dangers and addictiveness of cannabis and the background behind its legalization in the Netherlands, and discuss the need for debate on this issue in South Korean society.
The issue of celebrities smoking cannabis has long been a subject of heated debate in South Korea, sparking public interest in the drug. Due to negative portrayals of cannabis in the media and the law, most people naturally accept that cannabis is a “social evil” without question. However, some people argue for the legalization of cannabis smoking based on medical evidence. I, too, believe that the legalization of cannabis is justified.
So why is marijuana classified as a narcotic under Korean law and subject to legal control? Marijuana, also known as cannabis, is an annual plant native to Central Asia. Surprisingly, hemp has been used as a raw material for hemp clothing in Korea since ancient times. The cannabis we know refers to the flowers, leaves, and spikes of the plant that are dried and smoked. Cannabis contains a substance called THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is a powerful psychoactive substance. When absorbed in small amounts, it has a mild stimulant effect, and when absorbed in large amounts, it causes various hallucinogenic phenomena such as a feeling of floating in the air, euphoria, and auditory and visual hallucinations. In addition, it contains cannabinoids, which have various other effects, and cannabis is classified as a narcotic in South Korea and many other countries.
How does cannabis, which is classified as a narcotic, compare to tobacco and alcohol, which are classified as stimulants? The book “A Defense of Cannabis” states the following.
“According to the definitions of the World Health Organization and the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs, drugs are substances that cause a strong desire to continue using them, require increasing amounts to achieve the same effect, and lead to dependence and harm to individuals and society when used continuously. Substances that are similar to drugs but are not classified as drugs are classified separately as psychotropic substances. Ultimately, “addictiveness,” “dependence,” and “sociality” are the criteria for distinguishing drugs. Unfortunately, tobacco and alcohol are excluded from the selected drugs. Nicotine is a substance that is more addictive and dependent than any other drug.”
The author explains that it is wrong to classify cannabis as a narcotic, comparing it to alcohol and tobacco. A report by Philip Hilts of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) published in the New York Times in 1994 compares six drugs: nicotine, heroin, cocaine, alcohol, caffeine, and cannabis. According to this report, cannabis has significantly lower dependence, withdrawal symptoms, and tolerance than alcohol and nicotine, and its toxicity is higher than nicotine but lower than alcohol. Many cannabis advocates argue for the legalization of cannabis based on this data.
According to Philip Hilts’ report, cannabis is less harmful than nicotine and alcohol, which are currently legal in South Korea. So when did cannabis become illegal? The persecution of cannabis began in the United States. In fact, until the early 20th century, cannabis was actively cultivated in the United States, and related businesses were thriving. However, with the advent of various fiber fuels in the 20th century, cannabis as a fiber fuel faced a crisis, and political intervention in the form of the Marijuana Tax Act in the United States marked the beginning of persecution. After that, with the emergence of Henry Anslinger’s “gateway theory,” cannabis began to be treated as a drug in the state of Boston. Thus, cannabis was classified as a drug and is still viewed negatively around the world today.
However, there are countries where cannabis, classified as a drug, is legal. That country is the Netherlands. The Netherlands is so tolerant of cannabis that it is sold in coffee shops. In addition, a cannabis festival is held in the capital city of Amsterdam. Contrary to expectations, statistics on heavy drug users in European countries show that the Netherlands has the lowest number of addicts. Due to the Netherlands’ success, neighboring European countries are becoming more tolerant of cannabis. In the US, several states, including Washington and Vermont, have legalized cannabis.
So, should South Korea follow the Netherlands’ example and legalize cannabis? First of all, I don’t think it’s reasonable that cannabis, which is medically safer than alcohol and nicotine, is classified as a drug and illegal when those two substances are legal. We need to conduct sufficient scientific research before coming to an emotional conclusion about marijuana.
“In Korea, where systematic research on the characteristics and problems of cannabis users has not yet been conducted, there is an urgent need for careful and professional discussion on ‘institutional discrimination’ surrounding these minority groups.”
However, even though these experts believe that the legalization of cannabis is justified, they argue that a cautious decision must be made because not everything is known yet. Considering the views of these experts, we believe that rather than advocating the legalization of cannabis based solely on medical grounds, we must gather opinions while also taking into account the social impact it will have.
