Drug Dealer Sentenced to Death

A 21 year-old British man was sentenced to death in the United Arab Emirates, after he and a Syrian citizen tried to sell 3/4 of an ounce of marijuana to an undercover officer in Abu Dhabi.  The middle east has been well known for being extremely strict about penalties of crimes involving drugs and promiscuity, mainly because most of the legal system there is based on traditional values.  I mean, some recent crimes that resulted in jailed or deported travelers include kissing in public, sending sexual text messages, flipping-off another driver and then two British citizens were sentenced to 3 months in jail for having sex on a beach.  I thought that the United Arab Emirates was supposed to be where people went to play and have fun, but apparently our idea of fun in America and most of the other western countries is greatly frowned upon there.

The Netherlands started the whole tolerance of marijuana in Amsterdam and was the only location to do so for a very long time.  Now, many states in America are following suit and although they are not legalizing the use of the herbal drug, but they are decriminalizing the penalties assessed to the minor offenders.   So, why are countries like the United Arab Emirates inflicting such harsh penalties on people who are convicted of drug charges?  Even here, if you get caught with more than an ounce of marijuana you will see some jail time, but a person would never be sentenced to death for being caught with any amount of marijuana.  

I feel for this young British man who was sentenced to death because for his poor choice in clientele, but I am more enraged that the government of Abu Dhabi sentenced this man to death for a petty drug charge.  I think that their laws need to be re-thought and appropriate penalties given based on the severity of the crime.

-Coach

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