What are the harmful effects of cannabis? Is cannabis a narcotic substance? Is the act of growing cannabis subject to criminal liability in Vietnam?
Vietnam: Is cannabis a narcotic substances?
Cannabis is defined by the World Health Organization as a narcotic substances derived from the hemp plant called Cannabis Sativa.
According to the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic narcotic substancess, signed in New York on March 30, 1961, and amended by the 1972 Protocol, cannabis is classified as a Schedule I narcotic substances - substances dangerous to public health and its value in medicine have not been clearly demonstrated.
In List I issued with Decree 57/2022/ND-CP, there are regulations on narcotics absolutely banned from use in medicine and social life; The use of these substances in research, testing, assessment, and criminal investigation according to special regulations of specific competent authorities:
Thus, according to the above regulations, cannabis and cannabis products such as cannabis resin, cannabis leaves, roots, stems... are considered narcotics absolutely prohibited for use in medicine and health care.
What are the harmful effects of cannabis? Is cannabis a narcotic substance? Is the act of growing cannabis subject to criminal liability? (Image from the Internet)
Vietnam: What are the harmful effects of cannabis?
According to information posted on the website of the National Committee for AIDS, narcotic substances and prostitution prevention and control about the harmful effects of cannabis. Accordingly, the harmful effects of cannabis are expressed both physically and mentally of the user.
Specifically:
According to a study by the PSD Center, cannabis has the ability to cause addiction (habit of regular use and increasing use). A decrease in dosage or cessation of use by a daily cannabis user may result in the symptoms listed above: Irritability, anxiety, loss of pleasure, headaches, discomfort, difficulty sleep and desire to use cannabis again (within 1 to 6 weeks after stopping use). This can be considered cannabis withdrawal syndrome.
Cannabis abuse will cause many harmful effects to society, family and the user themselves.Cannabis affects the central nervous system causing very dangerous hallucinations, the user will not be able to control their behavior, thereby leading to acts such as killing others, cutting themselves or committing suicide. Because cannabis has strong stimulant properties, when used, people do not feel pain and fall into a dreamy state, but when the effect wears off, they become weak, tired, and mentally weak. Menstruation, malnutrition, etc.Along with that, cannabis is highly addictive, the addictive nature of cannabis is similar to heroin, users increasingly want to increase the dose.
In the book "Cannabis and Medicine (1998), author Christian Ratsch, wrote that cannabis negatively affects memory:“One of the main effects of cannabis on humans is causing short-term memory disorders. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) causes temporary damage to the brain.”According to research, the substance tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in cannabis causes activities in the hippocampus region of the brain to stagnate, slowing down memory activity. When the ability to store memories slows down, the brain will store less information being received...
Along with that, THC makes the dopamine system in the human body active, which gives the body a feeling of excitement and restlessness...This excitement causes the user's body to experience disorders in reaction time, coordination between mechanical activities and visual emotions. Distortions in the concept of time, in vision (seeing strange distorted images) and in hearing (hearing unusual noises) can occur in cannabis users.
Not only does it cause users to lose behavioral control (due to hallucinations after using cannabis), or short-term memory disorders, Cannabis also reduces users' immunity, increasing the risk of respiratory diseases. Vietnam Institute of Medicinal Materials analyzed: "Synthesized from many studies, scientists confirm that people who smoke cannabis every day often have pain somewhere in their body and minor illnesses. Cannabis destroys T-cells (main cells to fight infections), leading to decreased immunity. When used long-term, cannabis causes major adverse effects such as increased risk of respiratory diseases related to smoking, including cancer, and reduced ability to learn and work.
Like tobacco, cannabis affects the lungs. Some studies show that cannabis has 50-60% more carcinogens than cigarettes. Along with that, cannabis does not have a filter, and smokers often inhale more strongly, keeping the smoke longer in their lungs. Unpleasant effects of cannabis on the bronchus and lungs have been well documented in cannabis smokers.
Although short-term cannabis smoking causes increased lung compliance and reduced bronchial constriction in people with asthma, long-term cannabis smoking causes lung function disorders. Regular use of cannabis can cause pulmonary obstructive diseases such as pulmonary intercellular fibrosis. In addition, when researching the chemical composition of cannabis , comparing cannabis smoke with cigarette smoke, Scientists have found that the proportion of ammonia in cannabis smoke is 20 times higher, while the proportion of hydrogen cyanide, nitrogen oxides and certain aromatic amines is also 3-5 times higher than in cigarette smoke.
Thus, the harmful effects of cannabis are determined according to the above content.
Source: https://tiengchuong.chinhphu.vn/can-sa-va-nhung-tac-hai-cua-can-sa-11322414.htm
Is the act of growing cannabis subject to criminal liability in Vietnam?
Because cannabis and cannabis products are all classified as narcotics, compared with the regulations in the Law on Prevention and Control of Narcotic Substances 2021, any act of growing cannabis plants or instructions on growing cannabis plants will be prohibited behavior.
Accordingly, based on Article 247 of the 2015 Criminal Code, a number of provisions are supplemented by Point n, Clause 1, Article 2 of the Law on amendments to the Criminal Code 2017 as follows:
Growing opium poppy plants, coca plants, cannabis plants or other plants containing narcotic substances
1. Any person who grows opium poppy plants, coca plants, cannabis plants or other plants containing narcotic substances specified by the Government in any of the following circumstances shall face a penalty of 06 - 36 months' imprisonment:
a) The offender has been reprimanded twice and enabled to earn decent living;
b) The offender has incurred an administrative penalty or has an unspent conviction for the same offence ;
c) The offence involves a quantity of from 500 to under 3,000 plants.
2. This offence committed in any of the following circumstances carries a penalty of 03 - 07 years' imprisonment:
a) The offence is committed by an organized group;
b) The offence involves a quantity of ≥ 3,000 plants;
c) Dangerous recidivism.
3. The offender might also be liable to a fine of from VND 5,000,000 to VND 50,000,000.
4. The person who commits the offence specified in Clause 1 of this Article but voluntarily destroys the plants or submit them to a competent authority before harvesting might be exempt from criminal responsibility.
Accordingly, person who grows cannabis plants or other plants, has been reprimanded twice and enabled to earn decent living or has incurred an administrative penalty or has an unspent conviction for the same offence or involves a quantity of from 500 to under 3,000 plants shall face penalties according to the above regulations.
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