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Comment by amarant | Hacker News Reader

You're probably right that it's the case in most countries, but an interesting counterexample is Sweden, where testing positive on a drug test is a criminal offence. Police can arrest you for appearing to be under the influence of drugs, and if they find any traces in a urine test, they'll fine you for it.

I hope that legalization in Germany will lead to more sane laws in Sweden, but honestly, I'm not holding my breath for it

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I saw a man get hassled by Swedish police on a train just after crossing the Øresund Bridge. "The dog is very interested in your bag", they said. The man admitted that maybe he had smoked marijuana in Copenhagen and they left him alone.

I'm sure selective enforcement is at play, but at least in my experience they didn't care.

Prosecution in Sweden for an act committed in another country is generally only possible if it is punishable in both jurisdictions. Internationally it's a relatively common rule in criminal law. Courts have smacked the cops and prosecutors over this so they don't waste time on such cases anymore.

That is not the norm. You won't get charged for smoking in Copenhagen, but it will put you in a high risk category for smuggling so their typical response here is to search you. They were probably under a high workload and had to prioritize heavily.

I have been searched twice crossing Øresundsbroen into Sweden, and both times I was the only one in the carriage to be searched. I have never seen them search anyone else.

They will always be under time pressure as the train needs to depart promptly.

(This is Swedish customs, nothing to do with identity checks. I don't use cannabis or socialise with people that do.)

I heard cannabis is no longer openly sold in Copenhagen.

Up until about a week ago it was, even though they announced otherwise.

However, there was suppressed to be a further push to end it. I haven't walked by Pusher Street since then.

News yesterday (Danish) https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/den-her-gang-er-det-anderl...

Is there any jurisdiction where selective enforcement is not how drug laws are enforced? I'm guessing maybe somewhere like Japan, but I'm sure the vast majority of states do not enforce drug laws very consistently.

Even more wild is Singapore's law that it is illegal for citizens and permanent residents to consume illegal substances, even if that consumption occurred in another country where it is legal.[1]

So you have Singaporeans testing positive for cannabis upon arrival at the airport after a trip to Thailand, who are not in possession of cannabis, have not consumed it in Singapore (or another country where it is illegal) and they are charged with a crime.

[1] https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/cannabis-drug-laws...

And if you were behind the wheel, you will be sentenced for driving under influence. Even if it has been days since you smoked a joint.

How about the other Scandinavian countries?

That is insane.

Sweden is (in)famous in Europe for taking probably the continent's hardest line on drugs. Cannabis is in the same category as heroin and treated accordingly, there's no tolerance for medical use etc.

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