Permissive attitude towards cannabis likely due to misinformation: Minister

Misinformation on cannabis is pervasive, along with all kinds of claims about the drug, amid a bleak global drug situation.

- Andrew Wong

This likely contributed to a more permissive attitude towards cannabis among young people, according to surveys, said Second Minister for Home Affairs Josephine Teo.

"There are all kinds of ridiculous claims. For example, cannabis is natural, so it must be safe... or cannabis is not very different from alcohol and tobacco," she said.

Despite the nation's strong drug control regime, she added, the cost of drug crime to Singapore was $1.2 billion in 2015, according to a Nanyang Technological University study.

Mrs Teo, who is also Minister for Digital Development and Information, was speaking to more than 900 participants at the Drug-FreeSG Champions Conference at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre on March 10.

The conference recognises the champions, such as educators, student leaders, counsellors and youth workers, who spread drug-free messages in their communities.

"These assertions, however, cannot be further from the truth. The science on cannabis is very clear, and it is compelling. Cannabis is addictive, with far-reaching and irreversible health effects," she said.

She pointed out that physical ailments arising from cannabis consumption include headache and nausea, as well as more severe effects such as psychosis, memory issues and mood swings.

Mrs Teo said it is unfortunate that other jurisdictions are experimenting with cannabis for recreational use despite having access to the same research findings.

"This is dangerous and irresponsible because they are essentially experimenting with the lives of their people. And the experiments have invariably failed," she said.