South Korea’s Suicide Crisis: Can Medical Cannabis Be the Solution?

 

South Korea’s Suicide Rate Ranks #1: Can Medical Cannabis Reform Change This?

Venezuela, a country where money has become virtually worthless, currently has a suicide rate of 3.9 per 100,000 people. This suggests that economic hardship alone cannot fully explain suicide rates.
Lithuania, once the world leader in suicide rates, has cut its rate in half in recent years. This raises an important question: What did Lithuania do differently? This curiosity led to the exploration of this topic.
In 2018, Lithuania legalized medical cannabis and in 2023, decriminalized its use. Additionally, a nationwide campaign successfully changed public perception of cannabis.
Venezuela, on the other hand, has such a relaxed stance on cannabis that it is even smuggled into prisons. This stark contrast in perception highlights the fundamental differences in how cannabis is viewed between nations.
While medical tobacco does not exist, medical cannabis does. This raises the question: If cannabis has clear medical value, why is it not being utilized where it is needed most?
 

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South Korea’s Suicide Epidemic and Depression

In South Korea, suicides outnumbered COVID-19 deaths. Over 80% of suicides are attributed to depression.
🔗 Medical Cannabis and Depression – Video (Korean Subtitles)
Internationally, medical cannabis is widely recognized as effective for treating:
✅ Depression
✅ Insomnia
✅ Dementia
✅ Epilepsy
✅ Cancer
Despite the availability of a wide range of psychiatric medications, Korea’s suicide rate remains alarmingly high.
Many developed nations are far ahead in cannabis research, developing specialized low-side-effect strains specifically for depression treatment.
Examples of medical cannabis brands include:

• ACDC (developed by Dr. William Courtney’s team)
• Charlotte's Web
• Harlequin
• Cannatonic

Unlike South Korea, most advanced nations classify cannabis not as a narcotic but as a natural anxiolytic or antidepressant.
However, South Korea criminalized cannabis in the 1970s due to U.S. racial policies, which led to deeply ingrained misconceptions. Ironically, the U.S. has since legalized cannabis in most states, while South Korea still maintains its outdated stance.

 

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OECD Suicide Rates vs. Cannabis Regulation

A study comparing suicide rates and cannabis regulations across OECD countries reveals shocking trends:
CountrySuicide Rate (per 100,000)Cannabis Regulation

South Korea	22.6	Strict prohibition, only FDA-approved foreign medical products allowed
Lithuania	18.5	Medical use legalized (2018), decriminalized (2023) → Suicide rate halved
Slovenia	15.7	Illegal, but cultivation for food & industry allowed, medical use under discussion
Japan	15.4	Illegal, but CBD beverages widely available (except to Korean tourists)
United States	14.1	Legalization varies by state, general trend towards full legalization
France	12.3	Decriminalized (200€ fine)
Austria	11.0	Not fully legal, but permitted
Switzerland	10.6	Medical cannabis legal, recreational legalization under discussion
Germany	9.7	Fully legal
Slovakia	6.6	No regulations (fully legal)
Colombia	5.6	Fully legal
Greece	3.9	Medical cannabis legal, effectively decriminalized
Türkiye	OECD’s lowest suicide rate	Illegal, but second-highest cannabis consumption after alcohol & tobacco (80% of population uses cannabis due to a 400-year-old tradition)

🔗 Inside a Turkish Village Where Cannabis Use is Tolerated
This data is astonishing and deeply unsettling. It reveals a direct correlation between cannabis regulation and suicide rates.
Historically, South Korea had a long tradition of cannabis use. The recent criminalization of cannabis may be contributing to the nation’s suicide crisis.
Just as bee extinction signals environmental collapse, the absence of cannabis in Korean society could be a warning of societal decline.
The greatest barrier to reform is the public’s ignorance and deep-rooted misconceptions, which continue to distort discussions around cannabis policy.

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A Realistic Proposal for South Korea

The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially recommended that countries ease restrictions on CBD. This means that CBD’s safety has already been confirmed.
Yet, South Korean law still bans all compounds derived from cannabis leaves and resin.
At a minimum, South Korea should follow Japan’s model and allow CBD-infused beverages and health supplements.
This simple change could save lives by providing a safer alternative to harmful pharmaceuticals.
There is no greater tragedy than suicide. CBD is not just a matter of choice—it is a matter of survival.