• About Us
    • Fact Checking Policy
    • Ownership & funding information
    • Volunteer
  • Subscribe
  • Letter submission
    • Submissions Policy
  • Contact Us
The Online Citizen Asia
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
The Online Citizen Asia
No Result
View All Result

The irony of investing $25 million into cannabis research

by Ghui
13/07/2018
in Opinion, Tech
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0

Photo: Mitch M/Shutterstock/com

As Singapore announces a new $25-million Synthetic Biology Research and Development (R&D) programme to study the sustainable production of medicinal cannabinoids, 6 youths have been arrested for the possession of cannabis. While the new research programme into cannabinoids is hailed as groundbreaking science which will help boost Singapore’s research into synthetic biology, these 6 youths who have been arrested will likely be presumed as drug traffickers and face the death penalty.

I appreciate that while one group is experimenting with cannabis under the guise of science for medicinal purposes, the other is illegally smuggling. There is clearly a difference. That said, is the dividing line between the two scenarios so wide that while the formal is hailed with great fanfare, the latter is potentially greeted by the gallows?

Isn’t it ironic that a country that can appreciate the uses of cannabis and indeed wants a part in the cultivation of it will also send teenagers to the gallows for experimenting with the same drug?

While many countries across the world are legalising Cannabis, Singapore (a proud first world country) persists in the presuming that anyone carrying more than 500 grams of Cannabis is a drug trafficker thereby attracting the death penalty. Given that Singapore clearly recognises the potential medicinal properties of cannabis, is it not high time to update its outdated laws on Cannabis? At the very least, should the presumption of guilt on people who carry more than 500 grams of cannabis be dropped?

That’s what I find the most confusing thing about the Singapore government. On the one hand, it will say that Singapore seeks to be a place which attracts new and divergent ideas. But by the same token, it will punish its citizens for raising ideas that seem to contradict government views. Another example is when it says it wants to protect minority voices in government but proceeds to offer the minorities the most politically powerless position in the land. What about saying that it has no plans to raise the Goods and Services tax before the general election of 2015 and backtracking on this promise recently? Further, while pledging to ensure that no one is left behind, it then proceeds to announce raises in electricity and water.

Seriously guys, what is going on?

They are now doing the exact same thing with cannabis – sending mixed signals. What exactly is the government’s position on issues? It seems that it isn’t possible to get a clear picture. I am still scratching my head.

For just US$7.50 a month, sign up as a subscriber on The Online Citizen Asia (and enjoy ads-free experience on our site) to support our mission to transform TOC into an alternative mainstream press.

Related Posts

258 BTO flats and 168 resale flats returned to HDB due to non-fulfillment of Minimum Occupation Period
Politics

Desmond Lee files Ministerial Motion to affirm commitment on affordable public housing in Singapore

31/01/2023
Keppel O&M’s involvement in Brazil’s massive corruption scandal
Business

Keppel Offshore & Marine paid fines and damages of US$65 million to Brazilian authorities over corruption case

30/01/2023
Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim arrives in Singapore for one-day official visit
Malaysia

Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim arrives in Singapore for one-day official visit

30/01/2023
TikToker alleges being “thrown in airport jail” for going on a 10 hours day trip to Changi Airport
Comments

TikToker alleges being “thrown in airport jail” for going on a 10 hours day trip to Changi Airport

30/01/2023
Workers’ Party Sengkang MPs receives a “mountain of rice pack” from public after donation call for needy families in CNY
Politics

Workers’ Party Sengkang MPs receives a “mountain of rice pack” from public after donation call for needy families in CNY

30/01/2023
Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber
Comments

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

30/01/2023
Subscribe
Connect withD
Login
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Notify of
Connect withD
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Latest posts

258 BTO flats and 168 resale flats returned to HDB due to non-fulfillment of Minimum Occupation Period

Desmond Lee files Ministerial Motion to affirm commitment on affordable public housing in Singapore

31/01/2023
Keppel O&M’s involvement in Brazil’s massive corruption scandal

Keppel Offshore & Marine paid fines and damages of US$65 million to Brazilian authorities over corruption case

30/01/2023
Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim arrives in Singapore for one-day official visit

Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim arrives in Singapore for one-day official visit

30/01/2023
TikToker alleges being “thrown in airport jail” for going on a 10 hours day trip to Changi Airport

TikToker alleges being “thrown in airport jail” for going on a 10 hours day trip to Changi Airport

30/01/2023
Workers’ Party Sengkang MPs receives a “mountain of rice pack” from public after donation call for needy families in CNY

Workers’ Party Sengkang MPs receives a “mountain of rice pack” from public after donation call for needy families in CNY

30/01/2023
Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

30/01/2023
Opposition parties greet Singaporeans during CNY festive season

Opposition parties greet Singaporeans during CNY festive season

30/01/2023
Big C and DHL Supply Chain Thailand deploys electric trucks in joint collaboration to reduce carbon emissions

Big C and DHL Supply Chain Thailand deploys electric trucks in joint collaboration to reduce carbon emissions

30/01/2023

Trending posts

Two Indian nationals paid about S$330 and S$730 respectively for forged certificates submitted in their S-Pass application

MOM found issuing EPs meant for foreign PMETs to PRC waitress and general worker

by Correspondent
26/01/2023
41

...

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

by Yee Loon
30/01/2023
13

...

Earning only S$400 a month, delivery-rider turned hawker threw in the towel after two years of running a rojak stall

Earning only S$400 a month, delivery-rider turned hawker threw in the towel after two years of running a rojak stall

by Yee Loon
26/01/2023
24

...

Ho Ching breaks silence over Temasek’s write down of its US$275 million investment in FTX, says it “can afford to be contrarian”

US regulator questions VCs’ due diligence work prior to investing in FTX; Ho Ching says Temasek can afford to be contrarian

by The Online Citizen
24/01/2023
28

...

Indian rupee falls 60% since signing of CECA while Singapore becomes top investor in India

by Correspondent
25/01/2023
59

...

Temasek and GIC reportedly in talks with Adani Group accused of “brazen” market manipulation and accounting fraud

Temasek and GIC reportedly in talks with Adani Group accused of “brazen” market manipulation and accounting fraud

by The Online Citizen
26/01/2023
49

...

July 2018
M T W T F S S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031  
« Jun   Aug »

The Online Citizen is a regional online publication based in Taiwan and formerly Singapore’s longest-running independent online media platform.

Navigation

  • Editorial
  • Commentaries
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Community

Support

  • Contact Us
  • Letter submission
  • Membership subscription

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Fact Checking Policy
  • Privacy Policy

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia

No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Civil Society
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
  • Politics
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Subscribers login

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia

wpDiscuz