It's still illegal to possess and travel with cannabis in most of the world. Two recent cases in point:
• Singapore Death Penalty for Pot
In February, Omar Bamadhaj received a death sentence for smuggling two pounds of pot from Malaysia to Singapore in 2018. On October 12, his appeal was denied. He claims three "bundles wrapped in newspapers" containing the cannabis were unknowingly placed in his car by two acquaintances. Bamadhaj's accounts to police about what happened at the Woodlands Checkpoint varied. "I was not at the right state of mind," he said. "I was feeling high from the stick I had smoked with Din. High to me is like being semi-conscious." Bamadhaj will be hung unless something is done to prevent it.
• UAE 25-Year Sentence for CBD Oil
In January, British soccer coach Billy Hood was arrested for possessing CBD oil and a vape pen in Dubai. He's since received a 25-year sentence. Hood says the cannabis was left in his car by a friend he drove to the airport two weeks earlier. A friend of Hood's says he's been beaten in prison. "Dubai police’s handling of drug cases has resulted in numerous unfair detentions of foreign nationals," says Radha Stirling, chief executive of Detained in Dubai.
In April, we reported about Peter Clark of Las Vegas being held in Dubai over a hash-possession charge. "The United States needs to ensure that citizens who visit the Emirates are safe from legal abuse," Stirling said at the time. Rather than file charges against Clark, the UAE deported him.
• Malaysia Stacks Up Death Penalties for Drugs
Nigerian born Ikenna Chukwudulu, charged nine years ago with possession of 99 capsules containing meth lodged in his stomach, is facing the death penalty after his appeal was denied.
Malaysian native Hairun Jalmani, who has nine children, was caught with a quarter pound of meth in 2018. She has also received a death sentence. "Her case is an example of how Malaysia's death penalty punishes the poor with particular discriminations against women," Amnesty International tweeted.
RELATED: Where Not to Go in Mexico: The 16 Most Dangerous States
• Countries with the Harshest Penalties for Illegal Drugs
According to Wikipedia, China "ranks first in the world by numbers of executions related to drug trafficking." Iran and Saudi Arabia rank second and third. Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore are the next countries on the list. Harm Reduction International says, "There are at least 33 countries and territories that prescribe the death penalty for drug offenses in law."
