The High Price of Compassion: A Young Women's Cannabis Journey Through Singapore's Harsh Drug Laws**

In Singapore, which upholds some of the world's most severe drug laws, Kim's life spirals downward after she is charged with drug trafficking for supplying cannabis to friends. The article examines the legal framework, rehabilitation processes, and contrasting treatment offered to drug users versus traffickers in this high-stakes environment.**

A puff on a joint - then six months of forced rehab in a concrete cell.

Kim*, a young professional in Singapore, shares her story of beginning cannabis usage amidst personal turmoil. While her family life stabilized, her association with a pot-smoking social circle led to her becoming a supplier for friends, purely to help them acquire what they all consumed. “I never marked up the price at all; it was truly out of friendship,” she recalls.

However, Singapore’s strict drug laws classify this action as drug trafficking. Under these laws, any distribution of narcotics can lead to harsh penalties, including presumption of trafficking based on possession of certain amounts, emphasizing Singapore’s zero-tolerance policy. Kim's troubles began when one friend was apprehended, subsequently exposing her involvement and leading to her arrest.

Charged with drug trafficking, Kim grappled with feelings of dread about her future. The harsh consequences of Singapore's drug laws starkly contrast with the growing acceptance of cannabis elsewhere, including in parts of the United States, where its recreational use is legal.

In Singapore, possession of 15g of cannabis triggers trafficking assumptions; with larger quantities, the stakes rise, as seen in cases punished with execution. Kim's case, however, has yet to reach that outcome - she faces a minimum of five years if convicted and up to 20 in extreme cases.

While she awaits her trial, friends she assisted are treated as casual users and sent to a compulsory Drug Rehabilitation Centre (DRC) for six months. In stark summary, if someone is detained for drug use in Singapore, their risk assessment determines their course of action: higher-risk individuals go straight to incarceration, while low-risk offenders may remain home.

The DRC resembles a prison more than a rehabilitation center. Barbed wire, surveillance cameras, and guards create an oppressive atmosphere where inmates, dressed identically, endure a rigorous regimen that emphasizes discipline. Each cell holds eight men without beds, everyone sleeps on the floor, and after a minimum of six months, they emerge to face the challenges of reintegration.

Some inmates, like Jon*, recount their struggles with drug use and attempts to reclaim their lives after obligatory rehabilitation. While the courses focused on psychological support are designed to promote stability post-release, concerns linger about efficacy without voluntary commitment.

Several critics highlight how the system still heavily leans towards punishment rather than support, with organisations advocating for a shift in perception. Drug user treatment is framed more as a social issue now, acknowledging that underlying issues foster addiction – yet the repercussions for trafficking remain severe and unquestioned.

Kim’s thoughts drift to the future and a bleak possibility of incarceration. Official data reflect a stark reality, with a significant proportion of Singapore's convicted prisoners, around half, serving sentences due to drug-related offenses. As Kim mentally navigates what her life may become during this awaiting period, the tensions of waiting remain along with an understanding of the potential loss.

Even as discussions around drug policies evolve globally, Singapore remains steadfast in its enforcement, leaving its citizens in a tightly controlled judicial environment where an attempt to act on compassion can lead to dire consequences.

(*All names in this article have been changed.)