American arrested on suspicion of smuggling cannabis oil

This should not have happened if the guy had a proper understanding regarding the national rules for travelers to Japan who want to carry CBD Oil with them. Most of the countries are starting to ease their travel restrictions with introducing new rules on the use of CBD Oil. That's why now its time when airlines should also stand and teach their passengers regarding what products are prohibited in destination countries, and this should happen before they are boarding passengers on their planes.

Few Japanese are aware that the Cannabis Control Act (taima torishimari hô in Japanese), the first Japanese law ever to restrict cultivation and possession of cannabis, was passed in 1948 when Japan was not a sovereign country but still under American occupation, under the supreme command of General Douglas MacArthur.

At the time there wasn't any talk about a "marijuana problem" in Japan. The law seems to have been passed only because a few years earlier a similar law had been passed in the USA. Far more harmful and then already widely abused amphetamines remained legal because at the time they were legal in the USA too.

Lots of assumptions being made here. I could have been "Rick Simpson Oil," a variety of cannabis oil with the highest THC content that has healed cancer in many patients. Or another variety that helps children with seizures.

I didn't know cannabis oil was a thing. What is it used for? Do they put it in e-cigarettes?

I heard that cannabis cream was good for skin rashes and itching. I bought some (it is legal here in California) for my wife, and she said it reduced her symptoms, but not enough to justify the cost.

Why is this oil so valuable and how would one distribute it...one eye-dropper full at a time?

Asking for a friend.

Our, Japanese government loves to tax and tax the citizens. If there could be a tax for breathing air when I live on the third floor, then they would implement it.

Now imagine when one day our government wakes up and realizes that by legalizing light drugs (marijuana, hashish,..) they could tax this, tax the hell of it. Like a lot of European countries do. Because they realized a long time ago that it's easier to control it than fight it. Like alcohol, which is also bad for your health.

By the way, some of the drugs available in the pharmacies here are banned or prescription drugs in many countries.

Because of such idiots, no wonder the japanese people get more and more suspicious of us foreigners.

@monty

What a ridiculous thing to say. Regardless of his behaviour, strange people are wrongly suspicious of anyone that's different, everywhere.

Plenty of Japanese people do drugs.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the Japanese authorities can arrest you if you have 'substances' in your body, taken legally abroad, even if you have nothing in your luggage or possessions. In other words, the Japanese government has control over your body and behaviour even when you're abroad.

No excuse. Possession here is illegal.

He knew the consequences.

In California, Oregon, Washington and Nevada and other legal states in the USA that 7 kilo's is worth less than 350,000.00 dollars which is about 35 million yen altogether. Japan prices are way over exagerated

He was obviously going to sell it for a profit. Whatever opinion you have on prohibition, he was looking to make money on the very fact that it is prohibited.

Ashley Shiba

He will absolutely get 5 years in the slammer here, his head will be shaven and his mother or family will have to purchase his jailhouse clothes, and lastly he must eat every last thing on his plate. There is no tv, no cigarettes prison here is a real prison

LOL, my head is shaven, I use recycled clothes from my son, I eat everything on my plate (childhood education), I don´t watch TV, and I quit smoking. If that is the criterion, not a big difference...

sourpuss

&WillieB

This is the weed-lover’s mantra. That was before people started actually researching the stuff. There is growing evidence that it isn’t.

Care to point to some of that "evidence"? Fwiw, everything in excess is dangerous. You can die from overdosing on coffee, on salt, and yes even on water. In the normal amount that Cannabis is consumed by normal users, it just about the safest drug you can think of.

&WillieB

*It is harmless,  *

This is the weed-lover’s mantra. That was before people started actually researching the stuff.

There is growing evidence that it isn’t.

Richard Melgarejo, who is an English teacher,

I think the article should read - Richard Melgarejo, who is a DRUG DEALER ....

jansob1

Whether it's true or not that pot is harmless, it doesn't matter when deciding to smuggle it into Japan. It's illegal, and when he filled out his visa paperwork he promised to follow the law here.

It is harmless, but yes you are correct. He knew the extreme laws here and knowingly took the risk of breaking them. His decision, he gets the consequences.

When it comes to this kind of offence, Japan is actually one of the more lenient of the Asian countries. In some countries this offence can receive a prison sentence of up to 30 years. A very foolish man.

if he got caught with a very small amout of oil he might get away with it as it would be for personal use, but 2KG ? no, sorry it was destined for the streets and to make money, so I have no time or sympathy for him. jail time, by by.

"Japan’s laws are so outdated it is unbelievable!"

According to whose definition?

The Japanese legal system, or yours?

If it is for vaping, that uses tiny amounts, so the street value of a one-litre bottle will be way higher than the equivalent weight in buds or cannabis resin.

I've not tried it, but I would guess that vaping say 0.1g of oil is going to have way less smell than smoking a j.

Police said they suspect Melgarejo may be part of a smuggling ring.

Or he could have a lot of stress living in Japan?

I've had CBD several times in the last few weeks- great stuff!

Japan’s laws are so outdated it is unbelievable!

Was his school in financial trouble to need those extra yens ?

Should have driven a DeLorean

@OlympicSupport

Nice catch on Japan's GPIF investing in cannabis! How I wish Japan had a homegrown John Oliver or Jimmy Dore or someone who could entertainingly point out government and corporate hypocrisy, greed and incompetence here.

He'll be teaching English in prison now.

I'm pretty sure it's not for medicinal purposes. Unless, Ferrari guy is looking to help the elderly. How would you even move that shipment from an English school in Ibaraki. He's in deep.

Is this oil for vaping?

Emplaced social strictures are hard to change, but will eventually. The Japanese People will at some time appreciate their ability to enjoy the benefits of cannabis in all its forms. I use it for my arthritis, and have several plants growing outside now. My PTSD requires it to get through the night.

Change takes time.

hemp oil:

https://www.amazon.co.jp/%E3%83%98%E3%83%B3%E3%83%97%E3%82%AA%E3%82%A4%E3%83%AB/s?k=%E3%83%98%E3%83%B3%E3%83%97%E3%82%AA%E3%82%A4%E3%83%AB

you can buy hemp oil in Japan - no problem... But don't play around with the one that can get you high ..

7 kilograms is a lot of oil it takes a lot of pot to make that much. Sackloads. I would say that the Japanese court system would take this pretty seriously. 6-8 years or something not just 3 as suggested above. After 17 years in Japan this guy was well aware of the consequences and took a huge risk.

Draconian marijuana laws are never helpful in the long run. Waste of time for a harmless plant, and frankly embarrassing. Relax, smoke some MJ netflix and chill with your girlfriend/boyfriend have more babies etc etc.

Saw his pic on tokrep , he looks very Asian

But how does he sound? I don't get prejudices based on appearance, but I know I'm guilty of prejudice based on voice and accent. So does he sound like a gangster or an English teacher?

(Sorry if this appears multiple times. I had trouble posting.)

Because of such idiots, no wonder the japanese people get more and more suspicious of us foreigners.

The Nihonjin have NO ILLUSIONS about Americans so "more suspicious" is invalid. Secondly, when they become familiar with the highly friendly and calm nature of one's relationship with Cannabis, they will not miss the sloppy artificial exuberance produced by a toxic product of rot, and there will be more Japanese People thankful for this particular 'foreign impudence' pushing, even so painfully, against the impaired, senescent cranial circulatory systems of Japan's archaic leadership.

Cannabis oil needs to be mixed with tobacco to be smoked.

No, I assure you it doesn't. Doing so would be disgusting.

Since covid-19 it has been on a binge regarding meth and opioids deaths.

Yes, but covid-19 exacerbated many social issues. The opioid crisis has been going on since well before either covid or cannabis legalization.

I guess he thought the reward would be worth the risk, bad choice obviously. Japan is so strict on drugs and I am definitely ok with that. Whatever his views or others on legalization of marijuana and it's potential health benefits if the law says ILLEGAL then that's it, no matter what county. I remember that show Locked Up Abroad, man I feel bad for his parents.

@Antiquesaving It is difficult to compare Canada with Japan for a lot of reasons. Probably 90% of elementary school teachers are woman and 90% of the elected school board trustees are woman and if a boy struggles to sit in a circle at a young age to talk about their feelings the system "criminalizes" them and there is a rush to put them on a methylphenidate. A well know side effect of these drugs is substance use disorder.

Yes, I know these behaviour modification drugs are given to girls too but most children given these are boys because mostly female teachers are sexist against boys.

Probably sprinkled onto other things and smoked.

@proxy

I have heard people say just as you are saying.

Then we read about the middle class husband and wife that use pot and the occasional opioids found dead in their nice suburban home by their children after they overdoses on recreational fentanyl.

These are not the street drug addicts or they weren't yet and they were/are not an isolated case in Canada.

It seems that the lessons learned in the 80s concerning recreational use of cocaine wasn't learned and not it is opioids and this idea has been made more acceptable now the using cannabis seems just fine and the calls to make the rest legal has begun.

Poor fellow. A very heavy price to pay.

What an idiot. I hope he enjoys his time in Japanese custody. I hear it’s not terribly accommodating like the US system can be.

Yep pot is legal and if you look at countries where it is you also find high use of opioids, meth cocaine.

When was the last time some Methhead or junky tried getting money from you in Japan? I will guess never.

Canada in most major cities it is a common scene.

Now the calls to decriminalize hard drugs or even legalise them have started now that pot is legal.

Those that supported legal pot and now legal opioids are blaming everyone but the addicts for their overdoses and deaths demanding that narcan kits or similar be available in every police car, public building, etc... To save these fools.

2 kilograms? That’s a lot. What a silly man to attempt to smuggle or send that amount (or any amount) in to a foreign country, especially one with such strict drug laws.

However, the comments some people make on this website about marijuana are incredible. Do they not realise that this drug is legal in many countries and many states of the USA?

These people seem to be unable to differentiate it from heroin, crack cocaine or methamphetamine, in the way they describe its users and the effect it supposedly has on people and society.

Alcohol causes far more social and health problems.

The weed supporters are out in force on this thred. “Forget reality, weed is a miracle drug.”

lol

Police said they suspect Melgarejo may be part of a smuggling ring.

this made me pee a little! Really....

A lot of speculation and strange guessing, I know the Japanese police are not my most trusted police force but:

I wonder if the police followed proper procedure or just guessed that it might be some illegal substance and forced him to confess and made an illegal search 

Check out a few episodes of border security UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand.

Any package coming into a country is legally subject to being searched no warrant needed. ( Christmas present sent to my children have been opened by Japan customs many times).

Packages arriving are regularly tested for traces of illegal substances, drug dogs used, once something is suspected the package is opened and tested if something illegal is found it is closed back up sent to it's destination in a sting operation as happened here, after that reasonable suspicious can be used to search and or a warrant.

Nothing unusual of different in Japan than any other country.

How can they arrest him "on suspicion" of smuggling cannabis oil? Either he had it or he didn't. Which is it?

got ¥200 million's worth of oil at home..... so imports more. not the brightest of moves.

should of just stayed in his country

But the it would have been worth far far less. I doubt this was for personal consumption. He rolled the dice, he lost.

But the claim that THC consumption leads to "trouble" is nonsensical. If anything, it is opposite. Typcally, THC users are the most peaceful and lazy crowd you can imagine.

These posters have seen to many Netflix movies. I have NEVER heard of someone high on Marijuana going on a killing spree. MJ does not do that to people. I love seeing the uneducated posts!

Only a short matter of time before the American comes up with the tired old "I'm innocent I didn't know what was in the package, xenophobic Japanese cops framed me" excuse.

While we are at it, let's take a jab at the Japanese as well. Isn't it the Japanese men who say "I don't remember", when they commit sexual assault, rape, murder? This is just some oil..not any of those things I listed.

Fun Fact

Despite Japan’s position on cannabis, financial disclosures from the country’s Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF), the world’s biggest pension fund, show that it held about $80 million in stakes of weed companies last year, according to Bloomberg.

The GPIF is a top shareholder in Canopy Growth, a publicly-traded Canadian cannabis company, holding a stake worth more than $50 million. Some $17 million was invested in the Cronos Group, a Toronto company that owns pot brands like Spinach and Happy Dance.

https://www.google.co.jp/amp/s/www.vice.com/amp/en/article/qjp73v/japan-weed-marijuana-drugs-pension-fund

He must have been HIGH when he place the order.

BtangToday  05:17 pm JST

Saw his pic on tokrep , he looks very Asian

Which goes to show how judging someone by their looks means nothing.

The name is of Spanish origins popular in the USA and central America,

Which actually means nothing as is clear by so many in North America that have names that barely have any connection to their actual ancestry.

From what read they can arrest you if they find it with a blood test.

I saw the news.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lR7UC-9Z8MA

He’s got quite an online presence. Many many people in Tsukuba are going to be asking lots and lots of questions.

He is selling it to his students, then i pretty sure he is in a world of pain. Normally there are some private students who have pretty wealthy parents and those do not appreciate it if he had try to profits off their kids money.

Sorry, but ‘No sympathy for blatant stupidity’. He wasn’t an ALT: 17 years in Japan, the business Owner, with 6-8 employees dependent on him and numerous children and families he taught over the years.

But the claim that THC consumption leads to "trouble" is nonsensical. If anything, it is opposite. Typcally, THC users are the most peaceful and lazy crowd you can imagine

Well yes and no.

Nearly every one I know that was a regular user of pot ended up in one of 2 situations.

1-) they move on to much harder drugs and things went downhill from there.

2-) they just couldn't stop and became so lazy that it affected their home lives, family, relationships to the point of spouses leaving, child services taking the children, etc..

Given that it's the year 2021, I think the authorities here need to re-evaluate what should be considered "kiken-drugs" from a penalty or incarceration perspective, especially where such substances could ultimately be used for medicinal purposes.

I am a bit on the fence on that.

In Canada pot is now legal some say this is great.

But then also in Canada they are having an opioid and meth crisis.

One thing that has never happened to me anywhere in Japan in over 30 year was being accosted by a Methhead or other type of junky Tring to get money from me like what happens everytime I go to Vancouver, Toronto or Montreal.

NipponGlory

Very happy another trouble maker is now locked up! does not follow laws = trouble

I have no particular sympathy for the guy, as he knew the draconian laws here and decided to gamble. And lost the gamble.

But the claim that THC consumption leads to "trouble" is nonsensical. If anything, it is opposite. Typcally, THC users are the most peaceful and lazy crowd you can imagine.

According to police and Kanto customs officials, Richard Melgarejo, who is an English teacher, was detained after he took possession of a package containing two kilograms of cannabis oil, Fuji TV reported. The package had been sent to a hotel in Ibaraki Prefecture. Melgarejo was arrested on April 26 when he went to the hotel to pick up the package, police said, adding he was sent to prosecutors on Friday.

Coronavirus has not been kind to Eikaiwa conducted in small rooms and they cannot access subsidies for eateries and other businesses?

Very happy another trouble maker is now locked up! does not follow laws = trouble

AG

Thought cannabis oil was already legal in Japan, considering its many proven benefits for some health issues.

Antiquesaving

As far as I know it isn't but even in the USA there are 2 types one without THC the other with THC.

The first is technically leg often sold as Hepm oil the other technically is illegal under federal law.

Hemp Oil with zero THC, also referred to as CBD Oil is legal, even for importation, as long as it contains zero THC.

The cannabis oil this guy got busted for is most likely the kind with high levels of THC, which is definitely illegal. The fact that he was disguising it as hair products is a pretty good sign of that.

FYI - CBD is the ingredient with most of the health benefits. THC is the ingredient that gets you high. However, there is some clinical evidence that a small amount of THC works symbiotically to boost CBD's efficacy. Unfortunately, Japan doesn't allow even trace amounts of THC, even though such low levels would not get anybody high.

At least they allow CBD oil. So, that's something.

Saw his pic on tokrep , he looks very Asian

They say "wait for your next visit to the States." And give yourself 3 mos before returning, cause "they test many upon return"

https://oharalaw-japan.com/2016/02/24/what-is-the-punishment-for-possessing-marijuana-in-japan/

https://www.worldnomads.com/travel-safety/eastern-asia/japan/japan-drug-laws-the-zero-tolerance-approach

Thought cannabis oil was already legal in Japan,

As far as I know it isn't but even in the USA there are 2 types one without THC the other with THC.

The first is technically leg often sold as Hepm oil the other technically is illegal under federal law.

But not a lawyer so just what I could understand from what I could find.

So along the same line CBD Hemp Oil that does not contain any THC and is made only from the plants stem or seeds ( not the THC contain flower tips) is apparently legal and available in Japan from what I have read but I wouldn't know personally.

Importing it is another matter and may be on a restricted list with or without THC present in the oil.

If it contains THC I expect this will not be a good few years for this guy.

Judging from the street value, I am guessing it contains THC.

Was his school in financial trouble to need those extra yens ?

Very handsome but not so bright Engrish Teacher:

Only a short matter of time before the American comes up with the tired old "I'm innocent I didn't know what was in the package, xenophobic Japanese cops framed me" excuse.

A couple of summers back my daughter gave me a jar of skin cream from a health foods shop, but after some mental debate over the ingredients I decided not to carry it back to Japan.

Imagine my surprise when my (J) wife produced it from her suitcase, saying, "Here, you forgot this!" Aaaarrrggghhh.... :headbang:

Arrested on April 26 and sent to prosecutors on June 4.

Given that it's the year 2021, I think the authorities here need to re-evaluate what should be considered "kiken-drugs" from a penalty or incarceration perspective, especially where such substances could ultimately be used for medicinal purposes.

Japanese police - You can not bring this into Japan.

Richard - Yes I can-nabis.

hahaha

should of just stayed in his country

somehow in his head it all made sense.

Thought cannabis oil was already legal in Japan, considering its many proven benefits for some health issues.

Don’t agree with any type of smuggling, but it’s time for the government to look into these alternatives medicines.

Not only for the obvious: public health, but also as they would be able to regulate and tax it.

Wake up call!

80 million yen for two bottles of cannabis oil???? That's like 800,000 dollars! I know it's a case of supply and demand but this is ridiculous!

Because of such idiots, no wonder the japanese people get more and more suspicious of us foreigners.

According to the website of the English class, he is not just a teacher, he is the owner of the English class.

He is in for a world of pain. Just don't do marijuana in Japan - the risk is not worth it. Have a shochu and wait for your next visit to the States.