Cannabis in South Korea
Cannabis in South Korea is illegal for use as a recreational drug, but is cultivated as industrial hemp for fabrics.
While cannabis use has arisen in South Korea since the 1970s, it remains far less popular than chemical drugs such at methamphetamine; of 11,916 people arrested for drug crimes in 2015, only 1,100 were for cannabis-based drugs.[1]
Contents
History[edit]
Early history[edit]
Cannabis was an important crop in ancient Korea, with samples of hempen fabric discovered dating back as early as 3000 BCE.[2] The traditional sambe cloth is made from hemp.[1]
Modern history[edit]
In the 1970s, cannabis use around US military bases in South Korea drew attention to a growing problem.[3] Cannabis was banned under the Cannabis Control Act of 1976.[4]
Industrial hemp[edit]
Cannabis has been a source of fabric for Korea since ancient times, and as recently as the 1930s hemp was grown in every province of Korea, particularly in the south where it grew best. In the late 1950s, 9,000 hectares of hemp were cultivated in South Korea.[5]
Economy[edit]
A Korea Times article of 2014 noted that despite risks of a prison sentence of up to five years or a fine of up to 50 million won ($48,000), cannabis could be easily bought in South Korea by contacting dealers on the internet. Its journalist noted that according to dealers, cannabis sold for US$30-50 per gram.[6]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Singh, Emily (2016-10-21). "Drugs in South Korea: A Silent Crisis | KOREA EXPOSÉ". Koreaexpose.com. Retrieved 2016-12-08.
- ^ Chris Duvall (15 November 2014). Cannabis. Reaktion Books. pp. 30–. ISBN 978-1-78023-386-4.
- ^ Graeme R. Newman (19 October 2010). Crime and Punishment around the World [4 volumes]: [Four Volumes]. ABC-CLIO. pp. 2–. ISBN 978-0-313-35134-1.
- ^ Korea News Review. Korea Herald, Incorporated. 1988. p. 44.
- ^ Daniel Tudor; James Pearson (14 April 2015). North Korea Confidential: Private Markets, Fashion Trends, Prison Camps, Dissenters and Defectors. Tuttle Publishing. pp. 81–. ISBN 978-1-4629-1512-5.
- ^ Name *. "Is Korea becoming a pot haven? – The Korea Times". Koreatimesus.com. Retrieved 2016-12-08.
Further reading[edit]
- Strother, Jason (February 19, 2013). "Korea's forgotten high times". Yonhap News. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
- Cho, Byung In (March 2004). Drug Control Policy in Korea. The International Centre for Criminal Law Reform and Criminal Justice Policy.
