Open News on North Korea’s Drug Problem

Open News has a series of interesting reports on the rapid rise of drug use in North Korea, and a very worrisome rise in meth use in Sinuiju in particular. The government has responded with a crackdown, using specially selected Anjeonbu officers who aren’t stationed in the area long enough to “go native” and turn corrupt. North Korea’s idea of rehab is a bit severe, but there are no recidivists before firing squads.

It’s worth remembering that North Koreans learned to manufacture their favorite street drugs from their own government, which still exports them for foreign exchange, though probably not in as much quantity as ten years ago.

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  1. A drug culture getting rooted in North Korea will be one more factor complicating the unification of the two states.

  2. “Marijuana is cultivated along railroad tracks across the nation because it holds the railroads tight, with its deep roots, and contains oils that can be used for industrial purpose. “

    Man, how did the “Yes on 19” (Proposition to legalize Marijuana in California) miss this one?

    [They were really going to print up some flyers about that, but there was, like, this Ren and Stimpy marathon on the Cartoon Network. – Joshua]

  3. [They were really going to print up some flyers about that, but there was, like, this Ren and Stimpy marathon on the Cartoon Network. – Joshua]
    ——————
    Hilarious
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    Varieties of the marihuana plant are very useful.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemp
    —————————————
    But dude, you can’t get high off of hemp!

    “Typically, hemp contains below 0.3% THC, while cultivars of Cannabis grown for marijuana can contain anywhere from 6 to over 20%.”

  4. If you want proof of marijuana’s effects on cognition, look no further than the fact that the potheads couldn’t even organize a campaign that could convince a majority of Californians to vote to legalize the stuff.

  5. This month, I will register to vote in Hawaii, but I’d kept it in California so I could vote on Proposition 19. Drug cartels get some 20% of their money from marijuana, and I thought it would be nice to take a bit out of that.

    While those of us who are American citizens are drawn to OFK because of a common interest in North Korea, there is a drug- and gun-fueled human rights nightmare at our nation’s doorstep.