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Drug policy in South Korea

Example of a temple what is an important part to the country

In the Korean context, a re-evaluation for listed drugs is a practical policy instrument that can make a major contribution to the rationalization of drug spending. In addition, the impact would be significant as it would affect the list and prices of new drugs, as the listed drugs could become the comparators for new drugs in the economic evaluation. Furthermore, in South Korea, "People don't know the effects of cannabis, because they have never experienced it." There is an enormous stigma surrounding drugs. This has to do with the cultural context of South Korea. The country is enormously influenced by the consequences of the opium war between Great Britain and China. Since then, there has been a huge taboo on all kinds of drugs in Korea.

Definition of drugs

Drugs are chemicals that stimulate a person in the brain, physical and mentally. People use drugs for pleasure, it's a stimulant to feel better or to get into a trance. Some drugs come from plants, like cannabises and weed. However, some drugs are created, which means made in the laboratorium, like cocaine, ecstasy , MDMA and more. Drugs have different effects, some can be relaxing or harmful, or both, it depends on how much a person took; relaxing, narcotic like heroin and other opiates but also alcohol and sleeping pills. These drugs give the feeling of being more alert or having more energy like cocaine and amphetamine but also tobacco and coffee. Change of perception: the user sees and experiences the world differently. For example: LSD, has and weed, mushrooms and other trapping drugs. Some drugs such as hash and weed and XTC have multiple effects. Furthermore, a psychoactive drug is a drug what influence the person's mental health, like the mood, perception, cognition, and behavior.

New Anti-rebate legislation

Seven years ago, in 2013, the government of South Korea had announced to reform in the drug anti-rebate law. In this way, pharmaceutical marketing could not rebate their practices. The main purpose of this law is to have the ability to bring criminal charges against doctors and pharmacists, who are receiving illegal drugs.

Previously, the provision of illegal income by pharmaceutical companies led only to judicial penalties, leaving doctors and pharmacists unpunished as recipients. Hereby, with the new law, it reforms criminal punishment for illegal rebates is extended to those receiving illegal kickbacks.

Example of male and female protesting against the new laws

Gender differences

Gender differences are generally rather small. According to the ESPAD report (Hibell et al. 2009) it shows that the male to female ratio is quite smaller for cannabis use and tie for any other illicit drug use. Nevertheless, significantly higher proportions of males and females report illicit drug use in developing countries such as South Africa. The study from (Perkonigg et al. 1998) found that in various countries, like South Korea, approximately twice as many adult men as women reported illicit drug use.

Drug abuse

Number of drug addicts over the past five years.

Starting from 2013, the numbers of drug abuse has become increasingly high. Not only people who are using drugs, but also drug addicts. In 2013 the article from KoreaBioMed, has shown that drug addicts reaching 15.000 a year and 77.000 people received treatment over the last five years. Hereby, the number of patients with drug addiction problem has risen with the need for a new measure to controle the problem.

However, there are still drug crimes in South Korea. The majority of drug-related crimes are mostly in Gangnam and Yongsan districts. Drugs are usually distributed through clubs, in Gangnam, foreign students and club operators tend to be involved in drug trafficking, which is a easy way to make money. The most common drug that is used and selled is 'Crystal Meth', this is accountable for most drug-related arrests. Moreover, other drugs known are ecstasy (xtc) and cannabis. These continue to grow in popularity among students. However, methamphetamine remains the drug of choice for Koreans.

Region	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	Total	Five-year change rate
Seoul	2775	2404	2616	2406	3154	13355	13.7
Busan	1232	1065	1067	1070	1274	5708	3.4
Incheon	1078	1040	1134	938	1279	5469	18.6
Daegu	939	828	936	899	960	4562	2.2
Gwangju	330	309	327	347	459	1772	39.1
Daejon	441	502	506	717	793	2959	79.8
Ulsan	365	324	261	235	230	1415	-37.0
Gyeonnggi Province	4150	3528	3504	3403	3907	18492	-5.9
Gangwon Province	640	562	511	482	482	2677	-24.7
North Chungcheong Province	500	435	419	372	314	2040	-37.2
North Jeolla Province	627	458	398	363	444	2990	-29.2
South Jeolla Province	584	589	564	493	463	2693	-20.7
North Gyeongsang Province	991	829	892	803	768	4283	-22.5
South Gyeongsang Province	933	874	752	680	737	3976	-21.0

Koreans abroad using drugs in a country where it is legal

According to the Korean law it is strictly forbidden for Korean citizens who live abroad to use drugs, even though some drugs are legal in the country where they'd live. For example, the Netherlands. The Netherlands has a law which states that using soft drugs, like weed and cannabis are legal to use, but hard drugs like ecstasy, MDMA, and crystal meth are strictly forbidden. Therefore, people are allowed to use softdrugs but the Korean government introduced a new law to forbid every Korean citizen who are living abroad to use drugs. With this law, Koreans are prohibited from smoking weed, even if they are in a country where cannabis use has been legalized or tolerated. Smoking a joint of using a different kind of legal drugs are punishable and could lead to five years in prison, when the citizen is returning to South Korea. Growing, transporting or owning cannabis is also illegal under South Korean law, no matter in which country you are.

"Ciara (24), in South Korea, people don't know the fun side of cannabis, because there is a huge stigma around drugs, I think this has to do with the cultural context of South Korea, and not necessary of the side effects of the drugs."

Legal medical marijuana in South Korea

South Korea became since 2020, the first country in Asia to make the use of marijuana as a medical use legal. Korea has always been against the use of drugs but however, with this step toward legalizing marijuana for medical use, it might be possible that marijuana will be totally legal at some point in Korea. To do this, CBD (hemp oil or cannabidiol) has to be legalized to proceed the legalization of marijuana. Furthermore, the use of hemp oil or cannabidiol is now legal for medical use. In addition, CBD has no side effects. Test results came forward, and it has shown that there are many benefits to the human body. The drug got tested for neurological and brain diseases. The laws in Korea will stay strict even though CBD is allowed. Hereby is THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) still prohibited. Not all cannabis plants are created equal, for example Hemp. It has verily little THC but a large amount of CBD. Scientist are still trying to figure out how CBD could exactly effect the body.

The upcoming CBD market in South Korea

CBD will be controlled by the Korean government. Therefore, for Korean startups, they can make a plan to start a CBD oil business. This is because if history has anything to say, CBD products will soon be legalized to the public. However, it does not mean that you can bring CBD oils or products in Seoul, it is only available in hospitals, where doctors are treating their patients with it. Korean citizens need to get a letter of approval from their doctor, which states that they are allowed to use CBD of medical issues, due to their health condition. Furthermore, the letter then needs to be taken to the "Korean Orphan Drug Center" for final approval or disapproval. The three main industries that will be looking for CBD to incorporate into their existing products will be:

• Korean Food Industry: Baked food, candies, drinks, and snacks etc. That corporate with CBD will be able to find a niche audience in the beginning.
• Vaping Industry
• K-Beauty Industry: K-Beauty products such as gels, creams, and sprays with CBD will be able to be applied directly to the skin.

See also

• Drug liberalization
• Legality of cannabis
• Arguments for and agains drug prohibition
• Drug policy
• War on drugs

External link

Category:Drug policy of South Korea