While many places in the world are moving towards marijuana decriminalization, Singapore is taking a strong stand against cannabis. The country hangs citizens for marijuana trafficking. A citizen was hanged for selling weed last week, making the second in three weeks. Read on to find out more about the bizarre and severe punishment system in the country.
Singapore Hangs Citizens for Marijuana Trafficking
The latest case of Singapore hangs citizens for marijuana trafficking involves a 37-year-old man, who wished to remain unnamed. He had been imprisoned for seven years for trafficking around 3.3 pounds of cannabis. He was convicted in 2019.
He put in several bids to reopen his case based on DNA evidence and fingerprints that might prove he was dealing smaller amounts of marijuana which he admitted to possessing. But the court rejected his requests.
Under current law, Singapore hangs citizens for marijuana trafficking more than 1.1 pounds of cannabis.
Singapore Hangs Citizens for Marijuana Trafficking: Pleads to Stop
Singapore hangs citizens for marijuana trafficking laws have been questioned countless times. Advocates have requested that the country put a halt to their ruthless measures.
One of the more vocal activists is Kokila Annamalai of the Transformative Justice Collective. The organization advocates abolishing the death penalty for marijuana trafficking.
“If we don’t come together to stop it, we fear that this killing spree will continue in the weeks and months to come,” she said.
Human rights groups, the United Nations, and British business mogul Richard Branson have also come forward to speak against Singapore hangs citizens for marijuana trafficking. In addition to being excessive, they have also pointed out that the punishment does little to deter drug sales in the country.
Officials have responded by saying that Singapore hangs citizens for marijuana trafficking is “part of Singapore’s comprehensive harm prevention strategy which targets both drug demand and supply.”
Singapore Hangs Citizens for Marijuana Trafficking History
In addition to Singapore hangs citizens for marijuana trafficking, the country has a long history of executing people for drug-related offenses. Officials executed 11 people for drug convictions last year after taking a 2-year hiatus due to the pandemic.
One of the people that was hanged was a Malaysian person believed to be mentally disabled. The situation caused an international outcry and brought the country’s capital punishment mandates under a magnifying glass.
The other person Singapore hangs citizens for drug trafficking in the last few weeks was 46-year-old Tangaraju Suppiah. He was executed for trafficking 2.2 pounds of cannabis although he was not caught with the drugs in his possession. Prosecutors stated phone records identified him as the person responsible for coordinating the drug delivery, although he denies that was the case.
Other Countries with Severe Punishments for Marijuana Use and Sales
Singapore hangs citizens for marijuana trafficking. But they are not alone. Several countries also impose severe punishments for drug sales. It’s even possible to be executed for selling drugs in the United States!
Here’s a review of marijuana trafficking laws in various countries.
United States
Even though cannabis is legal in many United States, it is still possible to face the death penalty for trafficking large quantities of drugs, including cannabis, in the country. However, there is no record of anyone being executed for a drug offense in America.
Saudi Arabia
It is illegal to use and possess marijuana in Saudi Arabia. Doing so could get you six months in prison and corporal punishment. Cannabis trafficking can be sentenced to 2 to 10 years in prison. Illegally selling large quantities can be punished by the death penalty although it’s rare for people to be executed for cannabis-related crimes.
Egypt
Cannabis is illegal in Egypt although it is widely consumed by its citizens. If you are caught with weed in your possession, you may be looking at one year in prison and a fine. Trafficking weed can get you the death penalty. 74-year-old British citizen Charles Raymond Ferndale was executed in the country for drug trafficking in 2013.
Malaysia
Malaysia has legalized medical marijuana, but until recently, the country punished drug traffickers with execution. Anyone found with over 200 grams in their possession could be guilty of drug trafficking. People found carrying less than 50 grams of weed could be facing up to 10 years in prison. Several cases of the death penalty for marijuana-related crimes had been reported in the country over the last few years. Fortunately, the law has since been repealed.
China
It is unclear whether drug trafficking is punishable by death in China. Information on the death penalty in the country is classified as a state secret. However, cannabis is illegal under Chinese law.
Iran
A 2018 NGO Harm Reduction International report revealed that 3975 people had been executed for drug-related crimes in Iran. However, it did not specify how many of those convictions were related to marijuana.
Indonesia
Indonesia’s harsh punishments for drug-related offenses have been questioned countless times. According to Amnesty International, the country has carried out 112 drug-related executions by firing squad after a 2016 hiatus. Former Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri announced the country’s intentions to initiate a fierce war on drugs in 2002. Her successor, Suslio Bambang Yudhoyono has taken a similar stance.
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates is known for its strong stance against cannabis and other drugs. 24-year-old British football coach Billy Hood was given a 25-year sentence after UAE officials found CBD in his car. The sentence was later reduced to 10 years.
An Arab woman was given the death sentence after being found guilty of possessing and dealing 149 grams of hashish. The sentence was later appealed.
A 23-year-old British man was sentenced to death for attempting to sell 20 grams of weed to an undercover cop. His punishment was later commuted to four years in prison.
Philippines
The Philippines once imposed the death penalty for possession of over 500 grams of marijuana as well as other drugs, but the law was abolished in 2006.
Singapore hangs citizens for marijuana trafficking is a sad situation. Hopefully, the country will relax its harsh sentencing in time.
