Some nations have quite the strict view on issues like marijuana – and it’s a known fact that the Chinese authorities don’t take the drug lightly. Recently, the son of Jackie Chan, Jaycee Chan, had to face this fact first hand, as he was tried and subsequently sentenced to six months in Chinese prison for possession of marijuana. His charges also included “providing a venue for marijuana” use, and he has to pay a fine on top of serving his sentence, although it’s been reported that the fine is actually not that harsh in financial terms.
The sentence came as an unpleasant surprise to his father Jackie Chan, who is a well-known public opponent of drugs of all kinds. Jackie Chan was actually appointed as a spokesperson for an antinarcotics campaign by the Chinese police about five years ago, further adding to the embarrassment of his situation. The actor has not made a comment on the situation so far.
Jaycee Chan was arrested several months ago, when he was caught together with Ko Chen-tung in August. The two immediately admitted to smoking marijuana, giving a start to their trial which ended only recently. Jaycee has spoken publicly about his arrest, stating that he understands the problems he has caused and the wrongness of his actions, and promises that he won’t repeat the same mistakes in the future, when he’s released from prison.
Chan has actually admitted to a lot more than just his recent offense, as in statements to the police, he’s revealed that he’s been using marijuana for the last eight years. It’s not known if this had any effect on his sentencing, although it’s possible it could have made his situation worse, given the Chinese government’s traditionally harsh stance on marijuana.
Recently, the Chinese government has been getting increasingly harsh in their conviction of drug-related offenders, focusing especially on marijuana and other popular substances. Jaycee Chan’s arrest was not the only high-profile one in recent times, and it’s expected that the government is going to put even more effort in cracking down on illegal drug use in the coming months. Some have been calling the sentence Jaycee Chan was given “harsh”, while others were more agreeing with the situation, stating that the actor knew the risks of his actions and should be punished accordingly.
It’s not known if Jaycee will have to go through his complete sentence, or if there are any circumstances that could give him a decreased term, although at this point it’s looking very likely that the actor will have to spend a full six months in prison, and subsequently pay the full fine that has been imposed on him (nearly $400 USD).