International

East Timor: President calls for new drug policy

Published

2 years ago

September 19, 2022

Antonio João Costa

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Photo: DR

The president of Timor-Leste and former Nobel Peace Prize laureate, José Ramos-Horta, appealed to the National Parliament, last Thursday, for a new drug policy for Timor-Leste, giving Portugal as an example. Horta defended more informed policies and without the prejudices of the past: “It is necessary to differentiate between cannabis and other narcotics”, he said, also warning of the danger of tobacco and betel nut consumption in the country.

“The debate around drug policy in Timor-Leste needs to move forward. It has been misinformed and relies on prejudices inherited from the past. It is out of step with the situation in many other countries”, stated José Ramos-Horta in the National Parliament. “When reviewing our drug policies, it is necessary to differentiate between cannabis and other narcotics. Cannabis can no longer be lumped together with dangerous drugs such as methamphetamine and heroin.”

Ramos Horta is also a member of the Global Commission on Drug Policy, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) made up of former political leaders, which advocates for fairer policies.

The head of state used the case of recent police operations that led to the arrest of alleged cannabis traffickers and users in Timor-Leste to criticize the way the police acted and the country's drug policy. “Reconsidering the way we deal with drugs could lay the groundwork for locally produced alternative solutions. The punitive ban denies Timor-Leste many benefits: medical cannabis, income for farmers, taxes, hemp products, and tourism,” he emphasized.

With regard to drug policy, Ramos-Horta gave examples of “enlightening policies” such as those of Portugal and the “enlightened policies” of countries such as Thailand and Malaysia, regarding the medical use of cannabis.

“In Europe, Australia and the US, the medical use of cannabis has had a positive effect on crime prevention, health and the economy. Some US states now rely on taxes from medical cannabis to fund their savings,” he said. “The US legal cannabis industry is projected to soon result in $128,8 billion in tax revenue and an estimated 1,6 million new jobs. The East Asia Forum estimates that the market value of medical cannabis in Thailand will be between US$660 million and US$2,5 billion by 2024”, he emphasized.

Alcohol, tobacco and betel nut abuse

Ramos Horta insisted that Timor-Leste “is not a drug-free society”, noting that “alcohol and tobacco are in constant use and abuse”. “We have to be open and frank and accept that the biggest and possibly the most dangerous narcotic currently used in Timor-Leste is betel nut. We have to understand its positive and negative effects”.

The boat nut, also called areca nut, comes from the areca palm, which can grow up to 15 meters in height. In Southeast Asia, East Asia and India, chewing this areca nut has been sought after for centuries, due to its stimulating, slightly euphoric effects. Chewing the nut for a long time creates a red paste, which gives the same color to the saliva. With continued use, the teeth will also be colored red. Long-term use of areca nut is associated with several health risks, including addiction, cancer, and disturbances of the oral flora. Chewing in combination with alcohol or smoking cigarettes increases the risk of complications, but their use is deeply rooted and considered a tradition.

The head of state also referred to the current medication policies, which, he considered, “are having negative effects on people's right to health care”, referring that access to certain analgesics “has become more restricted, affecting those who live daily with pain”.

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[Disclaimer: Please note that this text was originally written in Portuguese and is translated into English and other languages using an automatic translator. Some words may differ from the original and typos or errors may occur in other languages.]

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