High school student caught with cannabis resin

I hope no yakusa get hurt in this whole episode, let's hope the force of corruption and codependence holds fast between the police and our friends in the yakusa.

Smokin resin? What's next, some teen getting arrested for drinking bong water?

It's amusing to see the pot-smokers lining up to defend cannabis. To say that smoking marijuana has not caused any deaths is tautological by your own given proofs. You've noted it's a drug like alcohol, which affects judgement. Alcohol gets people killed. There's absolutely no way you can say with any authority that pot doesn't make people do stupid things that get them killed, too.

Is cannabis resin even usable for much ?

dolphingirl,

Thanks for your opinion. I agree with much of it. One would hope that if it was legal and government regulated that it would be more difficult for teenagers to get. However, looking at teenagers and their usage of tobacco and alcohol, I am not sure if that would be the case. Anyway, I appreciate what you have to say.

kinniku: What you say about research is true. One study says this, another says that. I suppose you could prove many theories by creating experiments to fit what you WANT to prove. And you are also right in saying that probably anything you smoke is going to be bad for your lungs.

All drugs, legal and illegal, have both positive benefits and negative effects. I think, if drugs like marijuana were legal and government regulated it would be more difficult for teenagers to get and people would be more aware of the good and bad effects through education. In that way, adults could make their own informed decision on whether or not to use it.

Yes, it is currently illegal to possess/use cannibis in Japan and we must respect that law. However, I do believe that it would be better if cannibis were legal, or at least decriminalized.

dolphingirl,

I am aware of the study you mentioned. I am also aware that Tashkin was one of the professionals that originally said what I wrote. Studies come and go. However, I think I will wait and see what the next set of tests in the future reveal about the health benefits of inhaling smoke into the lungs. In fact, I distinctly remember tobacco companies telling us inhaling their smoke was healthy too. Cool and refreshing, I think it was called. I also remember coffee being sooo dangerous, then a short time later not so much. So, when thinking about how natural putting smoke into your lungs is, I vote for unnatural and quite possibly not so safe. However, I respect you right to your opinion.

The number of people who die from using marijuana is zero.

I know you didn't write this to me. However, how can you specifically say such a thing, especially after admitting studies have shown that teenagers who are heavy consumers of marijuana are more likely to develop schizophrenia later in life? You do not think this condition can be life threatening? Are there no people who have died because of being under the influence?

I understand what you are saying about alcohol. You make an interesting argument. However, the bottom line here is that, at present, it is against the law. Instead of people trying to take the law into their own hands, I think it would be more effective to encourage change legally.

Wow, J-Cops netting the big fish again!!!! Your taxpayers yen at work.

laconic: You are right about this. Studies have shown that teenagers who are heavy consumers of marijuana are more likely to develop schizophrenia later in life. I'm not saying that marijuana is completely harmless. It isn't. What I am saying, is that it is safer than a lot of other drugs, including alcohol. Thousands of people die as a direct result of alcohol consumption. The number of people who die from using marijuana is zero.

kinniku: I believe that the information you have is a bit outdated. The statement 'It contains many of the same substances as tabacco that can cause emphazema and caner' came from a report in 1984. However, recent research has found no link between marjijuana and lung caner. And I quote from the Washington Post, 2006 --'The largest study of it's kind has unexpectedly concluded that smoking marijuana, even regularly and heavily, does NOT lead to lung cancer.' And the theory is --'The THC may kill aging cells and keep them from becoming cancerous.'

grafton,

He had cannabis in a country in which it is illegal to do so. Expecting people to follow the law can hardly be compared to goose-stepping along with Nazis.

The story is nothing, a waste of space. But the post here are positively frightening. I could never understand how the Germans found guards for the death camps, now I am beginning to realise I live in a world where just below the surface of the people around me there lurks some really, really frightening creatures. Get a life people the boy had cannabis.

Damien15,

Governments take actions to protect their citizens every day. What people put in, near or on their bodies, what they sit on, what they eat, etc. Yes, I would expect a government to do that, especially for minors.

dolphingirl,

Just for your information...

Ummm...thanks, Doc...however you are incorrect. It contains many of the same substances as tobacco that can cause emphysema and cancer. Just because you like to use it, does not mean it is safe to use. Were the scientific studies you mention done by people who were using it at the time by any chance? Putting smoke into your lungs is not healthy.

Maybe he was trying to make himself a hemp rope. He kinds deserves what he got for being so stupid.

But how do you judge how serious a crime it is? Not stopping at zebra crossings while driving is a crime but I don't hear anyone saying "Lock them up and throw away the key". Anyone advocating jail time for this victimless crime is a being hypocritical. It's got nothing to do with breaking the law, it's just because you hate drugs.

Everybody knows he got it from a Gaijin in Roppongi! I think everyone in Japan should get some weed. Help folks lighten up a bit.

dolphingirl just for YOUR information, the link between smoking marijuana and the increased incidence of schizophrenia in teenage boys is now widely accepted in the medical community.

kinniku: Just for your information, marijuana is probably one of the safest recreational substances and scientific studies have found no link between smoking it and getting lung cancer.

Give the kid a break. He was just trying to relax and have a good time, and smoking in your car is a way better way to do it than all of the too-drunk to walk salaryman stumbling into you on the streets or on the train. That said, Japan is one of the strictest advanced countries in the world on marijuana and that wont change anytime soon so its not even worth trying to obtain weed here.

But is it really the responsibilty of the government to protect citizens from its potential dangers? YES!

If it is, why alcohol and tobacco are allowed? Because all societies need some legal ways for people to unwind.

You seem to think some of us are anti-drugs/pro-booze and smokes. You are wrong, I am pro-following the law and anti-breaking the law. Hence I think this future scumbag should be strung up.

There are lots of things that are 'nature' or 'herbal' that you should not put near, in or on your body.

Agreed, some dangers involved. But is it really the responsibilty of the government to protect citizens from its potential dangers? If it is, why alcohol and tobacco are allowed?

Sorry, should be:

There are lots of things that are 'nature' or 'herbal' that you should not put near, in or on your body.

This is a plant, not a checmical substance, there is no danger involved.

Of course there is danger involved. In most cases, it is not a good substance for the body and not recommended. In addition, it can cause emphysema and cancer. Just because you like or because it is nature it does not mean it is good for you. There are lots of things that are 'nature' or 'herbal' that you should put near, in or on your body.

nandakandamanda- You should write crime stories!

People you can't pick and choose which law you want to follow. Next you'll be excusing drink-driving as a human right, child porn as not that serious, etc. Drugs are banned because they are detrimental to your health and society.

Sounds to me like he was in the Yaks' car buying the stuff and seeing the cops, they told him to leg it. The cops gave chase.

Meantime they just drove off...

It's my mistake to ever reply to your post. Mistake I will never make again.

bquadry - drugs are illegal in Japan? Hardly. Alcohol is most certainly a drug, and far from illegal. And a number of over the counter medications contain opiates in Japan. Unfortunately for this kid marijuana is most definitely not legal, and he's definitely screwed his chances of getting into KU.

criminalizing it is a violation of human rights----ha ha, right up there with being tortured and not allowed to practice your religion. Sounds like you have been enjoying a bit too much of your fav plant.

Damien15- obey the laws of the country, or expect consequences.

Drugs are illegal in Japan now. It's that simple.

bgaudry, Japanese never had problem with cannabis. They just inherited series of laws from US and this was one of it. Just today, there's a news in JT about legalization in California.

http://www.japantoday.com/category/world/view/marijuana-legalization-gains-momentum-in-california

This is a plant, not a checmical substance, there is no danger involved. Your thoughts are old and moldy. It's a herbal remedy and criminalizing it is a violation of human rights.

If you are religious, it's the same god who created all the vegetables and fruits that created this one, for us humans to enjoy.

yelnats- this is Japan, what happens in the US and A is irrelevant.

Did they frisk the kid? How the hell should we know!

In the states they ask you to step out of the car. Did they frisk this kid?

Not being sarcastic, this little toerag is danger to himself and his fellow students. He needs to be punished severely for this. He broke the law- do the crime, do the time.

Soon we'll be seeing this in a J-Drama:

Hey man, open up, it's me Kenji. What? Hey man, open up it's me Kenji. I think the cops are coming. Who? Kenji man. Kenji? Kenji's not here man. No man I'm Kenji. What?

Looking forward to seeing Cheech anc Chong's dvds and cds translated into Japanese for the masses.

It's ok, don't be upset, bgaudry is just being sarcastic.

its a good thing they stopped him. today a smashing of cannabis oil and tomorrow and PC full of child porn.

Why didn't they just spray paint 'we have drugs' on the side of car?

Good idea looks like they were doin it for the first time

Throw this vile little criminal away before he becomes a major criminal.

Wow. Bizarre.

wait, is resin illegal. it ain't weed, its a derivative of weed...

I don't think it matters here. I believe just having traces of any illegal substance in your system is enough.

bgaudry at 09:54 AM JST - 8th October

The destruction of Japanese society via Western drugs continues!

Actually the "Western" Drug you speak has its origins in the Asia.

So he just scraped his bowl and had it in the bag or was it still in the pipe? Waste of time keystones, legalize now!

Arrested by 6 or 7 cops for possessions of cannabis resin! That's absurd! I don't find it surprising, though. I'm sure police officers here just lurk around in large groups and wait until they see something or someone 'suspicious'.

Damien15: Couldn't agree with you more! Benefits of cannibis far outweigh the negatives.

Hellokitty: Technically, the cops can't just search your vehicle but..and this is a big BUT... they can if they have 'probable cause'.

Triumvere: Very good point! This poor guy panicked.

I hope he isn't indicted for this. Surely, scaring the S**T of him will be a sufficient deterent from using this 'dangerous' drug again. Best of luck, kid!

Lesson: don't bolt from the cops. Act natural.

hellokitty: "In the U.S., I would crack my window just enough to talk to the fuzz. If they wanted to search the car, I would ask if I were under arrest. If they said, "No," I'd say, "Blow.""

BS! In the US, if you take your hands off the steering wheel you risk getting shot, and you're going to tell us that if a police officer in the US approached your curtain-clad car and asked you for something they would gracefully leave when you told them off? Please!

Do the police have the right to search the vehicle in this case where no law was violated?

In the U.S., I would crack my window just enough to talk to the fuzz. If they wanted to search the car, I would ask if I were under arrest. If they said, "No," I'd say, "Blow."

6 or 7 policemen??? what a bunch of knobs

Lock this vile criminal up and throw away the key

He was out of luck and the konbini didn't have a toilet, or he needs to run faster.

Why didn't they just spray paint 'we have drugs' on the side of car? Sounds like they did EVERYTHING to gain suspicion.

One of the Kennedys’ once said, "Punishment for the drug, should not be more damaging than the drug itself". What choice will this kid have, having this on his criminal history? He will have to check "Yes" on the embarkation card whenever he re-enters Japan, for the question "Have you ever been caught on cannabis possession". Any permanent job he applies, they will dig this out and he won't be hired. He is damaged for life, just because he chose to inhale. On the other hand, how damaging this drug really is? From the recent news, we see that it's enjoyed by all age and professions. If world record holder Phelps is doing it, that should be a proof itself that it's not damaging at all. Surely there maybe consequences if abused, but no more than alcohol or tobacco abuse. Let's shake this taboo and come to global realization that cannabis is not a dangerous drug. It's a herbal remedy. Treating users as criminals is a crime to humanity and violation of human rights.

I always liked a bit of hash for a change...hmmm almost the weekend...

Smart idea putting up the curtains and all. I'm sure it was this very action that attracted the police in the first place. Give a 17 year old J-boy a break.

Hash smoker.

The destruction of Japanese society via Western drugs continues!

wait, is resin illegal. it ain't weed, its a derivative of weed...

Why would something like this be posted, it happens every day. I bet there must be a multitude of students who are only users that are doing this stuff.