**Description**
**Title**
**Title**
Caught in Singapore's Drug Law Web: A Young Woman's Cannabis Charges
A young professional faces severe penalties in Singapore's strict drug policies after facilitating cannabis purchases for friends, revealing the harsh realities of addiction and rehabilitation in the state.
**Summary**
The story of Kim, a professional facing drug trafficking charges after buying cannabis for friends, highlights Singapore's stringent drug laws, including mandatory rehabilitation and the threat of lengthy imprisonment. As she navigates the repercussions of her actions, her experiences illustrate a broader conversation about Singapore's zero-tolerance policy and evolving perceptions of drug addiction treatment.
A puff on a joint – then six months of forced rehab in a concrete cell.
Kim*, a professional in Singapore, began using cannabis during a tumultuous family life, eventually falling into a tight-knit circle of fellow users. When friends asked her to procure cannabis for them, Kim felt it was a harmless act of friendship. “I never marked up the price in any way,” she explains. However, Singapore's drug laws are some of the strictest globally, and her life took a grim turn when authorities arrested a friend for possessing cannabis, leading to Kim's identification as the supplier.
Realizing she was now facing drug trafficking charges and the consequent dread, Kim recalls, “I felt complete and utter fear of what was going to pan out for me.” While numerous countries have decriminalized or legalized recreational cannabis use, Singapore maintains harsh penalties. Possession of just 15 grams of drugs—like cannabis—can lead to assumptions of trafficking, with even more severe penalties for larger quantities, including the death penalty for certain narcotics.
Although Kim is not facing execution, she anticipates a minimum sentence of five years and as much as 20 years in prison. In contrast, her friends, classified as drug users rather than traffickers, were sent to the state-run Drug Rehabilitation Centre (DRC), a place that bears a striking resemblance to prison.
The DRC is heavily secured with barbed wire, CCTV, and patrolling guards. As of December 2023, nearly 4,000 individuals were detained, with a significant portion being women. The center accommodates inmates in cramped cells, with minimal facilities, where they must spend a minimum of six months. The approach focuses more on deterrence than rehabilitation, as officials strive not to make conditions too comfortable.
“We want to motivate inmates to want to stay away from drugs,” explains Lau Kuan Mei, Deputy Director for the Correctional Rehabilitation Service. However, the experience remains a bleak one, as inmates attend psychoeducation sessions during the day but have no respite from their austere environment.
One inmate, Jon*, facing his own struggles with meth, finds comfort in the lessons on managing triggers, but worries about reintegrating into a world filled with temptations. “It’s exciting leaving,” he acknowledges, “but I’m also nervous... In here you’re locked up and not faced with drugs.”
Experts have noted improvements in treatment methodologies for drug users in Singapore, yet criticisms remain regarding the prison-like conditions of the DRC. The Transformative Justice Collective labels it as a form of "mandatory detention" that fails to address the underlying issues of drug dependence, focusing instead on punitive measures that inflict significant trauma.
As Kim awaits the outcome of her case, the psychological toll is evident. “I took some time to mourn almost for the period of my life I would lose,” she shares. In December 2023, around half of the country’s prison population consisted of drug offenders. As Singapore continues to grapple with its strict drug policies, the stories of individuals like Kim highlight the need for a balanced approach to drug use, rehabilitation, and the societal implications of an unwavering zero-tolerance culture.
**Summary**
The story of Kim, a professional facing drug trafficking charges after buying cannabis for friends, highlights Singapore's stringent drug laws, including mandatory rehabilitation and the threat of lengthy imprisonment. As she navigates the repercussions of her actions, her experiences illustrate a broader conversation about Singapore's zero-tolerance policy and evolving perceptions of drug addiction treatment.
A puff on a joint – then six months of forced rehab in a concrete cell.
Kim*, a professional in Singapore, began using cannabis during a tumultuous family life, eventually falling into a tight-knit circle of fellow users. When friends asked her to procure cannabis for them, Kim felt it was a harmless act of friendship. “I never marked up the price in any way,” she explains. However, Singapore's drug laws are some of the strictest globally, and her life took a grim turn when authorities arrested a friend for possessing cannabis, leading to Kim's identification as the supplier.
Realizing she was now facing drug trafficking charges and the consequent dread, Kim recalls, “I felt complete and utter fear of what was going to pan out for me.” While numerous countries have decriminalized or legalized recreational cannabis use, Singapore maintains harsh penalties. Possession of just 15 grams of drugs—like cannabis—can lead to assumptions of trafficking, with even more severe penalties for larger quantities, including the death penalty for certain narcotics.
Although Kim is not facing execution, she anticipates a minimum sentence of five years and as much as 20 years in prison. In contrast, her friends, classified as drug users rather than traffickers, were sent to the state-run Drug Rehabilitation Centre (DRC), a place that bears a striking resemblance to prison.
The DRC is heavily secured with barbed wire, CCTV, and patrolling guards. As of December 2023, nearly 4,000 individuals were detained, with a significant portion being women. The center accommodates inmates in cramped cells, with minimal facilities, where they must spend a minimum of six months. The approach focuses more on deterrence than rehabilitation, as officials strive not to make conditions too comfortable.
“We want to motivate inmates to want to stay away from drugs,” explains Lau Kuan Mei, Deputy Director for the Correctional Rehabilitation Service. However, the experience remains a bleak one, as inmates attend psychoeducation sessions during the day but have no respite from their austere environment.
One inmate, Jon*, facing his own struggles with meth, finds comfort in the lessons on managing triggers, but worries about reintegrating into a world filled with temptations. “It’s exciting leaving,” he acknowledges, “but I’m also nervous... In here you’re locked up and not faced with drugs.”
Experts have noted improvements in treatment methodologies for drug users in Singapore, yet criticisms remain regarding the prison-like conditions of the DRC. The Transformative Justice Collective labels it as a form of "mandatory detention" that fails to address the underlying issues of drug dependence, focusing instead on punitive measures that inflict significant trauma.
As Kim awaits the outcome of her case, the psychological toll is evident. “I took some time to mourn almost for the period of my life I would lose,” she shares. In December 2023, around half of the country’s prison population consisted of drug offenders. As Singapore continues to grapple with its strict drug policies, the stories of individuals like Kim highlight the need for a balanced approach to drug use, rehabilitation, and the societal implications of an unwavering zero-tolerance culture.
