Taiwan Proposes License Revocation for Returning Travelers Who Used Cannabis Abroad; Scholars Say It Won't Deter Tourists

(Central News Agency, Taipei, June 3) Following frequent incidents of drug-impaired driving, Taiwan's Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) is pushing for stricter penalties through a legal amendment. Cannabis is classified as a Schedule II narcotic. Under the proposed amendment, if a person tests positive for cannabis use after returning from abroad, and the police confirm the use and report it, their driver's license can be revoked. Scholars have generally endorsed the approach, stating it will not affect Taiwanese travelers' willingness to travel abroad.

The MOTC's key amendments for stricter drug-driving penalties include: increasing the penalty for driving under the influence of drugs from a current 1-2 year license suspension to a license revocation with a 3-year ban on reapplication; revoking the licenses of users of Schedule I and II narcotics even if they are not driving, and restricting reapplication; suspending the licenses of users of Schedule III and IV narcotics; increasing fines for first-time and repeat drug-driving offenders; and introducing penalties for passengers aged 18 and over who knowingly ride with a drug-impaired driver.

Regarding the different regulations for cannabis abroad, and how to determine use given cannabis's longer retention time in the body compared to other drugs, Chao Chin-wei, a Specialist at the MOTC's Department of Public Transportation and Supervision, told the media, "Many behaviors are legal abroad, but if they are illegal domestically, you basically have to abide by Taiwan's laws."

On whether the law would affect travelers' choice of destination, Li Chi-yueh, an Assistant Professor at Taipei City University of Science and Technology, expressed support for the amendment, analyzing that it would not affect travel willingness as there are other activities to enjoy. Liu Hsi-lin, a professor at the Graduate Institute of Tourism Management at National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism, believes it will not affect travelers' willingness to go abroad, as cannabis is not the main reason for visiting a destination, and people should bear the consequences of their actions. He added that stricter regulations would not stop people who want to go abroad specifically for cannabis.

Li Ko-tsung, convener of the Consumers' Foundation's Transportation Committee, agreed with the MOTC's stricter direction but suggested that license revocation or suspension should be paired with correction and counseling mechanisms. He recommended that the MOTC make the amendment's supporting measures more specific and comprehensive. (Editor: Lin Shu-hui) 1150603