Legislator Ku Li-hsiung Proposes "Medical Pre-treatment for Drug Use" Amendment, Sparking Heated Debate over Drug Decriminalization

On August 3, 2016, Ku Li-hsiung, then a legislator-at-large of the Democratic Progressive Party of the Republic of China, issued a public statement on his personal social media page to clarify and firmly deny allegations that his legislative initiatives aimed to decriminalize or legalize Category 1 and 2 illicit drugs. Earlier in July 2016, Ku had hosted a public hearing at the Legislative Yuan regarding the proposed "Expansion of Medical Pre-treatment for the Crime of Drug Use" amendment. The core of his proposal was to allow individuals who only consumed Category 1 and 2 drugs to undergo professional medical rehabilitation and addiction treatment prior to entering the criminal justice system (such as observation, rehabilitation, or compulsory treatment). Under this framework, if an addicted individual successfully completed the medical program, they could bypass incarceration, thereby preserving their connection to their education, work, and family. However, those who failed to complete the treatment would still face standard criminal prosecution. The initiative drew fierce criticism from conservative commentators, grassroot police officers, and media outlets, who alleged that the proposal was a disguised attempt to decriminalize drug offenses and would lead to rampant drug abuse in schools and communities. The controversy sparked a national debate in the Republic of China on whether drug control should focus on punitive incarceration or rehabilitative medical intervention, shaping the country's subsequent anti-drug and addiction-treatment policies.