Taipei, June 23 (CNA) A man was sentenced to five years and six months in prison for growing marijuana and making cigarettes, cream and chocolate out of the flowering plant listed as a Category II narcotic in Taiwan, according to a court document published on Friday.
Police in Changhua County raided the residence of the man surnamed Tseng (曾) in June last year after they received a tip-off that led them to suspect he might be involved in illegal activities. They requested a district court issue a search warrant, which was granted.
Tseng was found by local prosecutors to have cultivated cannabis at his residence in the county’s Xihu township and to have used marijuana leaves and flowers to make cigarettes, cream, and chocolate, according to the document made public by Changhua District Court.
The court document stated that Tseng purchased 50 marijuana seeds for NT$25,000 (US$805) from a person known as “Tank” on a social media platform and successfully grew 50 marijuana plants after he learned the cultivation skills by watching YouTube videos.
In his defense, Tseng said he has been diagnosed with depressive disorders and that the marijuana produced was made for his personal use, according to the document.
Although there is no evidence to indicate that Tseng grew cannabis to sell and make a profit, a sentence of five years and six months was handed down to him, in accordance with the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act, because the act of manufacturing the drug poses significant risks to the society’s security and the public’s health, the court said.
The ruling can be appealed.
