South Korea will begin importing medical marijuana early next year, the first East Asian country to do so. It was legalized to expand medical treatment options despite the government's conservative position against pot.
Bruce Harrison reports from Seoul.
IN: " Patients with epilepsy..."
OUT: SOC
DUR: 0:30 sec.
Patients with epilepsy and other rare diseases will be among the few able to obtain medical marijuana.
After receiving a doctor's prescription, use will be granted on a case-by-case basis by the government.
South Korea has tough rules against cannabis consumption and possession.
People have been sentenced to multiple years in prison for smoking it here.
And after Canada legalized recreational pot this year, Seoul issued a statement warning citizens abroad they could still be punished under Korean law for using marijuana.
SOC