South Korea has sent a warning to its citizens not to consume cannabis—even in countries that have legalized it. It seems the South Korean cannabis ban will extend overseas.
South Koreans who use marijuana while in Canada could face criminal charges upon returning home to their country.
South Korean Cannabis Ban
South Korea's narcotics unit made the announcement earlier this week and highlighted the severity of marijuana-use as a criminal offense. Those who break the law could face up to five years in prison.
Marijuana is as serious a crime as using heroin or cocaine.
An official from the unit warned the following:
"Weed smokers will be punished according to the Korean law, even if they did so in countries where smoking marijuana is legal. There won’t be an exception."
The South Korean Embassy in Canada also spread the message. On Twitter, it asked its citizens to "please take care not to commit an illegal act and be punished."
And further, there will be briefing sessions held in Canada and Uruguay (two countries where adult-use is fully legal) to explain the risks of smoking marijuana to Koreans.
South Korean Law Makers
South Korea can make it an offense for its citizens no matter where in the world they may be as "there are issues of sovereignty there," according to Harrison Jordan, a Toronto-based cannabis lawyer.
Other countries have a similar blanket ban on marijuana; Japan has stated that its ban on cannabis extends overseas to foreign lands and it is illegal for Saudi Arabians to have THC in their system no matter where they may be.
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How Can They Check?
But how can the country check that every citizen hasn't violated the South Korean cannabis ban? Well, it can’t screen everyone who visited a foreign country, but, the police have a blacklist it will be monitoring. This can lead to an individual being heavily supervised.
In fear of the drug entering the country, South Korea could be trying to scare its citizens with such imposing laws.
It still remains that approximately 286,000 South Koreans visit Canada annually. Will all travelers abide by the rule?
Featured Image: Depositphotos/© Wavebreakmedia
