Questioning Shen Boyang’s stance on drugs, the Kuomintang: Don’t let Taipei “marijuana go smoothly”

KMT Chairman Zheng Liwen. (Provided by the Kuomintang)

Regarding the Democratic Progressive Party Taipei mayoral candidate Shen Boyang's claim that "I do not advocate the decriminalization of drugs," Chen Yixin, chairman of the KMT's Cultural Communication Committee, questioned today (7th) that Shen Boyang's 2014 article clearly listed "drug decriminalization" as an "assistance line" for Policy B, but now he said that he "has never advocated the decriminalization of drugs." He asked Shen Boyang, is this a hairpin position, or does the past article not count?

Chen Yixin bluntly said that Shen Boyang publicly wrote in 2014: "The real problem behind marijuana actually needs to be solved through legalization." However, Shen Boyang has now changed his mind that "Taiwan is not suitable for decriminalizing marijuana." Chen pointed out that "decriminalization" and "legalization" are two different concepts. He asked Shen Boyang to stop asking A and B and to go straight to the point: "Are you opposed to the legalization of marijuana now? Yes or No?"

Please read on...

Chen Yixin said that Shen Boyang is electing the mayor of Taipei, and drug policy also involves campus safety, youth health and urban security. He sarcastically said that Shen Boyang shouted "Taipei will be in line," but citizens have the right to know where his drug policy is going. "Don't end up with Taipei not getting in line, but becoming 'marijuana in line'!"

Finally, Chen Yixin also asked other DPP county mayor candidates to publicly state their stance: "Do you support the legalization of marijuana?" In particular, the six city mayoral candidates such as New Taipei Su Qiaohui, Taichung He Xinchun, Tainan Chen Tingfei, Kaohsiung Lai Ruilong, etc., should make their stance clear to voters. Anti-drugs have no geographical distinction, and drug policies cannot be formulated by one person. "Shen Boyang is not the only one who should answer. All DPP county and mayor candidates should give the people a clear answer!"