The story
President José Ramos-Horta asked Timor-Leste to rethink its treatment of cannabis in September 2022. Addressing Parliament after cannabis investigations in Dili, he argued that cannabis should be distinguished from methamphetamine and heroin and that the costs of punitive prohibition should be reconsidered.[1]
Arrests brought pressure for tougher action
Police and intelligence officers had arrested nine suspects in Dili on 11–12 August. TATOLI reported suspected cannabis and methamphetamine among the substances seized.[2]
The district court placed the suspects under identity-and-residence declarations and periodic reporting. A student movement publicly challenged that decision, demanding a stronger response and threatening a demonstration.[3]
Justice Minister Tiago Amaral Sarmento also asked Parliament for tougher drug penalties and changes to how cases were tried. He criticised the prosecution’s handling of the case while acknowledging that judges decided on the evidence presented to them.[4]
The president questioned the wider policy
Ramos-Horta approached the debate through his earlier work on the Global Commission on Drug Policy. He described punitive drug control as failing to achieve its aims and asked Timor-Leste to consider possible medical and economic uses of cannabis.[1]
He also connected the debate to police procedure. Respect for rights and the presumption of innocence, he argued, strengthened the legitimacy of law enforcement. He referred to the Dili cannabis investigations while declining to enter the judicial proceedings themselves.[1]
Personal users already faced criminal penalties
The law that began in January 2017 punished illicit consumption, possession and growing solely for personal use. The lower quantity band carried up to one year in prison or a fine; above five daily reference quantities the ceiling became two years.[5]
That law also allowed a waiver of punishment for an occasional user in the lower band. People seeking treatment had confidentiality protections, and a person with drug dependence could have prison suspended subject to voluntarily accepted treatment. The statute therefore combined punishment with specified routes to assistance.[5]
He renewed the medical-cannabis call
In his independence-anniversary address on 28 November, Ramos-Horta returned to the issue. He advocated legalising medical cannabis and argued that farmers, public revenue and tourism could benefit. These were arguments for a different policy direction, alongside his broader criticism of the justice system.[6]
The Timor-Leste profile sets out the statutory offences and treatment rules that formed the backdrop to those competing demands for change.[5]
Listed for context. No score change is recorded for Timor-Leste here.
References
- President José Ramos-Horta — Address to the National Parliament, 15 September 2022The First 100 Days and Our Future Challenges, printed pp. 10–12: police procedures and drug policyarchived
- TATOLI — President urges young people to avoid drugs after Dili arrests, 15 August 2022Joint operation on 11–12 August; nine suspects and reported cannabis/methamphetamine seizurearchived
- RTTL — Student movement challenges court supervision of nine drug suspects, 19 August 2022Court ordered identity/residence declaration and periodic reporting; protest announced on Thursday 18 Augustarchived
- TATOLI — Justice minister asks Parliament to amend the drug law, 17 August 2022archived
- Timor-Leste — Law 2/2017, final text in Jornal da República, 25 January 2017Printed pp. 60–82; articles 6–7, 11–17, 22, 26–29 and 50; Annex I and Table I-Carchived
- President José Ramos-Horta — Independence anniversary address, 28 November 2022Address to the Nation, drug-policy and medical-marijuana passagearchived
Checked. The date and the event were compared with a source that was read.