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Dispatch → Factbook → Legislation
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The Most Serene Republic of San Medici.
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The legality of Cannabis, Cannibalism, and other controversial laws in San Medici
Controversial laws of The Most Serene Republic
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As a nation founded under the belief of personal freedom and that strives to honour the principles under which it was founded, San Medici grants its people a wealth of freedoms and rights, some more noteworthy than others. The Most Serene Republic's lack of drug laws and a penal system are things that have been received with skepticism internationally, while its firm stance on the legality of cannibalism and euthanasia have come close to costing it its sacred ties to other nations in The Pacific. The following factbook looks to explain the how's, why's and when's of these unique laws and clear up any misconceptions that may linger.
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The legality of Cannabis and other controlled substances
Citizens in San Medici are allowed to purchase and consume Cannabis and a number of other narcotics such as Methamphetamine, Heroin, Crack Cocaine, amongst others, for recreational purposes, provided it is not done in excess and the individual does not exhibit violent or otherwise detrimental behavior while under the effects of these substances, in which case it will be considered an addiction and the individual will be sent to a rehabilitation center. Upon their releases the individual will no longer be allowed to purchase from government licenses dispensaries, effectively being cut off to avoid relapses. Exceptions exist, as is the case with medicinal marijuana; As it is recognized that, if prescribed, the substance may provide genuine stress or pain relief to the individual, it is considered their right to acquire more, and any negative behavior that may arise because of this should be treated as a side effect and treated immediately for the sake of the individual's well-being. Furthermore;
1. Both Cannabis and other Narcotics may only be distributed by licensed vendors, and should prioritize customers who offer a prescription over customers who only wish to purchase it for recreational use. Unlicensed distribution of either drug is considered a crime and can be punished with up to 5 years in a rehabilitation center. (Prisons are not employed in San Medici)
2. In the unlikely case a substance has to be rationed, distributors will not be allowed to sell to customers without prescriptions and doing so can result in the suspension of their distributing license.
3. Employers may choose to submit their employees to drug tests, however it will be considered discrimination to fire an employee for testing positive for a controlled substance unless it is proven they are frequently under the effects of said substance while on the job. Exceptions are made in cases of prescriptions and instructions given by the employees' medical provider.
The legality of Cannibalism
San Medici is renowned for its fine cuisine, which includes a vast array of dishes that varying types of protein. More adventurous foodies are welcome to try some of the many dishes offered in The Most Serene Republic that are based around human meat. It is worth noting that, though Cannibalism is indeed the correct way to refer to it and that the act of consuming the flesh of another human is, in fact, legal, the people of San Medici do not kill one another for food, nor are deceased bodies harvested for their flesh. Shortly after Cannibalism was officially legalized, it was clarified that the "human meat" San Medicians now had access to at supermarkets and restaurants did not, in fact, come from real people, but is instead grown in labs, after attempts at growing human tissue for transplants and other operations were so successful that laboratories found themselves with a surplus and it was found that consuming the tissue did not pose a health risk to other humans. Furthermore;
1. "Human" meat is subjected to the same regulations and quality checks as other meat products.
2. Killing someone with the intention of eating them is still a crime punishable with up to 10 years in a rehabilitation center.
3. Cannibalism is not widely practiced in San Medici, and although it is estimated that around 80% of the population has tried a human meat based dish at least once, only less than 4% regularly consume it.
The legality of Polygamy & Polyandry
In keeping with its stance on staying out of the bedroom, San Medici allows polyamory and marriages between multiple people. Interestingly, this peculiar type of arrangement has proven more popular amongst younger people, with 48% of those younger than 40 claiming that they had or currently have more than one partner, compared to 37% for those older than 40. Multi-spousal wedding ceremonies in The Most Serene Republic are grand and joyous affairs, and even current president Constancia Calascione has admitted to previously dating two men simultaneously. It is worth noting that;
1. Laws have been set in place to protect the rights and dignity of every member of a polyamorous relationship, such as those that stipulate that all parties involved must be consenting and familiar with other members of the relationship before a marriage can take place.
2. If a person takes on multiple spouses, they may not object if one of them chooses to take another spouse of their own. All members of a marriage have the right to take on other partners as they see fit and have discussed with their other partners.
3. Children born to a couple consisting of more than two people are considered to be under the care of all parties involved, and thus they will all be considered the child's legal guardians, unless explicitly stated otherwise by the two parties who produced the child. In cases of divorce, custody may be split between as many parties as wanted, so long as the arrangement is consented to by the child and is not in any way, shape, or form detrimental to their health, mental or otherwise.
These are just some of many laws instituted across San Medici, and as such this list may be expanded upon in the future. Until then, we hope these clarifications may have helped you better understand the inner workings of The Most Serene Republic and helped rid you of any negative stereotypes you maybe have had.
