Many thanks to the person who shared that you can ask your local Chinese embassy for a copy of „The Governance Of China“.
I reached out to the Chinese embassy in Vienna and got not only a super friendly response, but also an invite to the embassy + 6 copies of the German translation (2x II, III, IV)!
Of course, their laws aren't racist. And their opium crisis was also perpetuated by local traffickers and growers as well. (Warlords would fund personal armies off opium sales, for example)
I get the racism around drug laws in the US, but racist laws aren't the only kind of bad law. It's whatever though. I'm not here on some "China bad" bs. I just don't think anyone should be punished for smoking weed.
I mean, I agree, i want global liberalization of narcotic law, really as a right to bodily autonomy first and foremost. But it's a complicated subject with a fraught history in many countries. Drug criminalization is not just governed by national law but also international treaties at the UN (and LoN, drug laws are old af). And its global criminal status also chokes the supply and transport which makes the drugs trade extremely lucrative and thus lots of shady powerful characters (like the CIA) have a interest in keeping it illegal globally.
It would need to be an international effort negotiated multilaterally like climate change or AI. Until then just leave your blunts at home if you go to Asia, its not associated with fun times and Bob Marley, more like exploitation and suffering unfortunately.
I'm aware of the history and in particular the US DEA role in Asia. It sounds from your comment that we are in agreement around the fundamental ethics of the issue. That's all I'm really saying. I accept that the present is built on the foundations of the past, and that some things change more slowly than others. I haven't smoked weed in over 20 years, but that doesn't mean I think anyone should be punished for it. When I travel I'm more concerned with the quality of the local beer :)