The online community expressed criticisms towards the Central Narcotics Bureau’s (CNB) recent advisory concerning the consumption of controlled drugs outside Singapore.
“Wow, I didn’t know that CNB can go overseas and catch naughty people,” said a netizen in a comment with nearly 200 likes.
To give some background, the Thai Food and Drug Administration removed marijuana and hemp from the Category 5 narcotics list last month, making it the first Asian country to decriminalise marijuana for industrial and medical purposes.
Following the announcement, CNB issued a warning to remind the public that consuming controlled drugs even outside Singapore is a crime.
“It is an offence for citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents to consume drugs in Singapore and overseas,” said CNB.
“Consumption of a controlled drug (e.g. ‘Ice’, heroin and cannabis) is an offence, and a person will face imprisonment of a minimum of one year and up to 10 years, a fine not exceeding S$20,000, or both.”
“Cannabis can affect concentration and memory, which weakens the abuser’s ability to learn,” notes CNB on its website.
Netizens have since wondered how the authorities would stay informed of travellers’ itineraries. “CNB will be patrolling in Thailand har?” asked Facebook user Adnan Daeng.
Even those who aren’t into narcotics nor condone anyone consuming them found the warning “ridiculous.”
“CNB has jurisdictions over other sovereign countries? Does that also mean if you are found guilty of trafficking in another country, served your time abroad, return to Singapore and get the mandatory death sentence in Singapore? Food for thought,” said Facebook user Han Sandman.
Others wondered if all who enter Singapore would be tested and what would happen to Singapore’s prison capacity.
One Michael Bok asked why a similar advisory wasn’t issued when other countries also legalised cannabis to a certain extent in the past.
Check out the other comments below:
/TISG
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