Man Sentenced to Prison for Selling Synthetic Marijuana

According to a report by South Korean media outlet Naver on December 13th, a 30-year-old man has been sentenced to prison for purchasing synthetic marijuana from acquaintances and selling it in larger quantities after adding e-liquid to it.

According to reports, Mr. A (36 years old) has been charged by the Cheonan Branch of the Daejeon District Court's First Criminal Department with violations of the Drug Control Act (marijuana and synthetic cannabinoids), among other charges. He has been sentenced to three years and six months in prison, and has also been ordered to complete 80 hours of drug addiction rehabilitation education. In addition, a total of 6.61 million Korean won, obtained from marijuana and synthetic marijuana transactions, has been confiscated.

According to the verdict, Mr. A purchased 10 milliliters of JWG-018, also known as "synthetic cannabis," through Telegram Messenger in March of this year. He paid 880,000 Korean won and then added e-liquid, increasing the quantity to 13 milliliters. Subsequently, he sold 5 milliliters to each of two friends, charging them 400,000 and 500,000 Korean won respectively.

He is accused of purchasing or assisting in the purchase of synthetic marijuana on seven occasions between March and May of this year. In February, he also paid 700,000 Korean won to a seller and bought 12 grams of marijuana, which he then sold to two friends for 400,000 and 390,000 Korean won respectively, selling 4 grams to each person. He is being charged with two counts of purchasing and selling marijuana. Mr. A personally consumed the synthetic marijuana and marijuana that he purchased during the three-month period from February to May of this year.

The court stated that the defendant has repeatedly been involved with marijuana for a considerable period of time, both for personal use and for supplying it to acquaintances, profiting from it financially. Despite receiving a suspended sentence for similar offenses in the past, the defendant has once again committed a crime and must face severe punishment.

The court also stated, "We have taken into account the former spouse's plea for leniency on behalf of the defendant, as well as the fact that the defendant has children to support.