[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/singapore\/un-loosens-control-on-cannabis-singapore-expresses-disappointment-at-decision\/#NewsArticle","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/singapore\/un-loosens-control-on-cannabis-singapore-expresses-disappointment-at-decision\/","headline":"UN Loosens Control On Cannabis \u2013 Singapore Expresses Disappointment at Decision","name":"UN Loosens Control On Cannabis \u2013 Singapore Expresses Disappointment at Decision","description":"Commonly known as marijuana, pot, or weed, cannabis comprises a group of three plants that contain psychoactive properties. The flowers of these three plants are picked and dried, forming one of the world\u2019s most popular drugs!\u00a0 What can cannabis be used for? NickyPe\/Pixabay Cannabis contains more than 120 components, otherwise known as cannabinoids. One of […]","datePublished":"2020-12-09","dateModified":"2022-04-15","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/author\/e-lyn-tham\/#Person","name":"E-lyn Tham","url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/author\/e-lyn-tham\/","identifier":66,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/722f685b02ed9cd4b78c8df212ebc1654b73489382b53ce430214c5fa92c0d0c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/722f685b02ed9cd4b78c8df212ebc1654b73489382b53ce430214c5fa92c0d0c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"TheHomeGround Asia","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/photo_2021-07-22-222533.jpeg","url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/photo_2021-07-22-222533.jpeg","width":640,"height":640}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/1607391999277_news_cannabis-un-singapore-disappointed_featured.jpg","url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/1607391999277_news_cannabis-un-singapore-disappointed_featured.jpg","height":1066,"width":1600},"url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/singapore\/un-loosens-control-on-cannabis-singapore-expresses-disappointment-at-decision\/","commentCount":"3","comment":[{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/singapore\/un-loosens-control-on-cannabis-singapore-expresses-disappointment-at-decision\/#Comment1","dateCreated":"2026-05-03 00:06:13","description":"Impressive clarity and structure.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"tv online tv live tv","url":"https:\/\/fr.pinterest.com\/share\/?url=https:\/\/www.oneotv.com\/"}},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/singapore\/un-loosens-control-on-cannabis-singapore-expresses-disappointment-at-decision\/#Comment2","dateCreated":"2026-04-27 22:06:21","description":"This is going to help so many people.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"on cloud mens running shoes","url":"https:\/\/globalshoepalace.com\/product-category\/men\/on-cloud-men-shoes"}},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/singapore\/un-loosens-control-on-cannabis-singapore-expresses-disappointment-at-decision\/#Comment3","dateCreated":"2026-04-24 03:59:03","description":"Thanks for sharing this insightful article.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Salomon brown shoes","url":"https:\/\/globalshoepalace.com\/product-category\/women\/Salomon-Women-Shoes"}}],"about":["Community","Local","Singapore"],"wordCount":773,"articleBody":"Commonly known as marijuana, pot, or weed, cannabis comprises a group of three plants that contain psychoactive properties. The flowers of these three plants are picked and dried, forming one of the world\u2019s most popular drugs!\u00a0What can cannabis be used for?NickyPe\/PixabayCannabis contains more than 120 components, otherwise known as cannabinoids. One of these is the psychoactive tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which does create a \u2018high\u2019 that most drug users seek.Another component is cannabidiol (CBD). This doesn\u2019t have the ability to induce intoxication or euphoria; in other words, consumption will not render you \u2018high\u2019. Instead, it can help with migraines, seizures, anxiety, and nausea. It has proven especially effective for epilepsy, in the form of Epidiolex, a prescription medication that has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).Cannabis products can contain either THC or CBD, or even a combination of both.But, it is important to also note that the consumption of cannabis can cause giddiness, increased appetite, a calming effect, more intense appreciation of the sights and sounds around you, warped perception of time, and more. More seriously, it can also result in nausea, increased heart rate, decreased blood pressure, paranoia and more, which are, naturally, all causes for concern.\u00a0How is cannabis perceived?rkloever\/PixabayCannabis isn\u2019t frowned upon everywhere in the world; instead, it\u2019s legal in a few places! For example, recreational cannabis was legalised in Canada in 2018. In Amsterdam, it\u2019s legal to smoke weed in coffeeshops. However, it\u2019s illegal to grow any in the country. Known for its calming effects, cannabis is also used for various medicinal conditions.\u00a0Here in Singapore, where the penalty for drug consumption is caning and imprisonment, cannabis is an illegal drug substance and widely disapproved of.The UN announces its recent decision to loosen control on cannabisOn 2 December, the United Nations (UN) voted to remove cannabis from the most restricted group of narcotic drugs. This comes closely on the heels of the recommendation by the World Health Organization, in an attempt to boost research of cannabis for medical properties.This recommendation was made in 2019, which posited the use of cannabis at a level which will not cause harm, as well as permit easier access \u2013 and further enhancement! \u2013 of cannabis for medical-related benefits.It\u2019s worth noting that the UN vote was an extremely close one \u2013 27-25, with one abstention. This resulted in the removal of cannabis and cannabis resin from Schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, which governs drug controls on a global scale. Schedule IV contains other substances such as heroin, which can prove to be fatal.\u00a0Singapore reactsJust one day after the announcement, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) declared its disappointment with the outcome. They stated a lack of strong evidence as one of the reasons, along with the mixed signals that such a move could bring.According to the MHA, \u201cthe acceptance of Recommendation 5.1 could send a wrong signal that the CND (Commission on Narcotic Drugs) has softened its stance against cannabis and fuel public misperception, especially among youths, that cannabis is no longer considered to be as harmful as before, despite strong evidence showing otherwise\u201d.\u00a0MHA has emphasised that despite this recent development, Singapore will continue to maintain a strong zero-tolerance stand against drugs. MHA went on to also declare that every individual should have the right to reside in an environment that\u2019s free of drugs.\u00a0Faishal Ibrahim, Minister of State for Home Affairs, expressed his disappointment on Facebook, positioning cannabis to be \u201cextremely harmful and addictive\u201d, posing an \u201cadverse impact on one\u2019s respiratory and cognitive functions\u201d. His statement was met with mixed reactions, with some supporting his stance: However, others disagreed, highlighting the positive effects of cannabis:In addition, K Shanmugam, Minister for Law and Home Affairs, sees UN\u2019s decision as one that\u2019s driven by the \u201cpower of money\u201d, as it will benefit many companies in terms of profits. Shanmugam acknowledged the medicinal properties of cannabis, but hopes that a proper framework can be created, with medical experts \u2013 instead of companies! \u2013 calling the shots. He also claims that no one from the UN has sufficient proof that cannabis isn\u2019t harmful, further emphasising why Singapore is refusing to relax its stance.\u00a0With some arguing that cannabis is less harmful due to its natural origins \u2013 who knows if it\u2019d prove to be more good than bad, or vice versa? Perhaps only time will tell. Till then, Singapore has made its stand clear! Join the conversations on THG’s\u00a0Facebook\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram, and get the latest updates via\u00a0Telegram."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Destinations","item":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Singapore","item":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/\/singapore\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"UN Loosens Control On Cannabis \u2013 Singapore Expresses Disappointment at Decision","item":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/singapore\/un-loosens-control-on-cannabis-singapore-expresses-disappointment-at-decision\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]