K. Shanmugam, Minister of Home Affairs, stated that unintentionally using drugs in a foreign country is often not an offence.
He was responding to questions in Parliament on Monday regarding Singaporean tourists purchasing cannabis-containing products in Thailand.
In a written statement, he stated that the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) will conduct an investigation when a drug user is identified.
However, he said that if the ingestion was unintentional or involuntary, no offence would typically have been committed.
Ms. Joan Pereira (Tanjong Pagar GRC) had addressed the minister about Singaporeans who travel to Thailand and unknowingly purchase cannabis-containing products because they cannot understand the Thai ingredient listings.
Mr. Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim (Chua Chu Kang GRC) inquired what efforts are being made to promote awareness about the dangers and usage of popular food products containing cannabis, such as chocolates and sweets that are freely accessible in retail stores abroad.
On June 9, Thailand became the first Asian nation to decriminalize cannabis.
There are now various goods and cuisines that include it, including the classic tom yum soup that is enjoyed by many Singaporeans.
Mr. Shanmugam has earlier stated that Singapore's drug-free policy has been challenged by the legalization of the narcotic.
On Monday, he stated that CNB has been collaborating with various stakeholders, such as educational institutions and national service institutions, to educate students and full-time national servicemen about the dangers of cannabis through preventive drug education programmes such as talks, skits and exhibitions, videos, and informational tools.
He stated that CNB also collaborates with the media to disclose instances in which food products containing cannabis were confiscated from individuals who smuggled the commodities into the country from abroad.
"Furthermore, CNB is aiming to engage travelers at physical touch points, such as checkpoints, to warn them against purchasing these things abroad," he stated.
"We urge persons travelling to countries where food, beverage and other products containing controlled drugs may be sold, to be careful and check if a product contains controlled drugs. If in doubt, do not purchase or consume the product."
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