Man Faces Death Penalty For Weed Charge in Malaysia

A federal contractor has been sentenced to death in Malaysia for allegedly trafficking dozens of pounds of cannabis.

Dickson Levy Maria George, 29, was handed down his sentence from High Court Judge Datuk Dr Sabirin Ja’afar.

Dickson had been accused of of trafficking 31 pounds (14.49 kilograms) of cannabis on May 9, 2013.

The law under which he was charged—the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1952, Section 39B—carries a mandatory death sentence if the accused is convicted.

Malaysia is known for its strict attitude in regards to drug policy, which stems in part from it being a Muslim nation.

“Generally speaking, Muslim countries and secular authoritarian regimes, especially in Asia, have the heaviest penalties for drug offenses, including long prison sentences for possession and execution for trafficking,” says Reason Magazine Senior Editor Jacob Sullum. “But don’t lose sight of the fact that the United States stands out among liberal democracies for the harshness of its drug policies, which include routine arrests of drug users and rigid, Draconian sentences based on drug weight.”