No. of teen marijuana cases up 5-fold in 4 years: police

In regards to crime, generally, the number of juveniles subject to police action in 2017 fell 4,719 from a year earlier to 26,797, the lowest since 1945, the end of World War II

That means nothing. The population is declining with less and less kids being born every year, so the proper way to measure if crime is going up or down in an age group is to look at the per capita figures. That should give you a more accurate assessment.

"Nowadays (marijuana) can be obtained easily online"

Not likely, most dispensaries are reluctant to even mail it from state to state (in the US), let along attempt to send it to a foreign countries where it's illegal. None of the dispensaries want to risk loosing their business and going to prison for illegally selling small quantities to Japan.

Not likely, most dispensaries are reluctant to even mail it from state to state (in the US), let along attempt to send it to a foreign countries where it's illegal. 

I think it means black market sales.

Not likely, most dispensaries are reluctant to even mail it from state to state (in the US), let along attempt to send it to a foreign countries where it's illegal. None of the dispensaries want to risk loosing their business and going to prison for illegally selling small quantities to Japan.

This article has nothing to do with the United States.

Probably oji-san use is up too, but they will never report that.

Oh jesus, seriously just legalize it and be done with this nonsense.

Ah_so So oneline black market sales are easy? Dark web isn't easy to purchase illegal drugs and receive them unless you've proven yourself and done previous illegal activities before gaining access. That's not so easy for most kids.

CoconutH20 The articulated didn't specify one way or the other and since the US is the world leader in online sales, I assumed that's what they were implying.

"Nowadays (marijuana) can be obtained easily online and it is possible that (juveniles) are abusing it just to satisfy their curiosity," an agency official said.

One can buy it sure, but getting it delivered is another. Obtaining it easily suggests that the product is produced locally, which means the cops aint doing their jobs. Also it suggest that if law enforcement is aware of the "ease" they are not doing their jobs finding the sources and are just waiting on the users.

If it's being procured from overseas it means the cops/customs/post office are not doing their jobs as all incoming mail is supposed to be sniffed prior to entry.

Police took action on...

Translated means they seized the marijuana and smoked it themselves

I think a complete ban of marijuana is silly, but it does worry me when teens smoke it. Your brain still has a lot of growing to do, and some studies indicate that weed can have stunting effects on that growth. It's alarming when kids as young as 14 smoke weed (or any drugs, for that matter), even if the number is still relatively low.

I don’t smoke, but I say: legalize it. Pot causes way less damage than alcohol. Never heard of “Smoked Pot and Killed Whole Family in Tomei Expressway”

Yet caffeine, a drug used to replace cocaine in soda, is perfectly legal, despite its addictiveness and, in higher quantities such as in energy drinks, fatal.

Dear "Lost-in-Nagoya": The ONLY reason you have not heard of cannabis traffic accidents is that it is illegal. Actually, I was told by a user that many feel they are "super-competent" to drive or do what ever they think of (whereas there must be rather an impairment of their attention span). So these users may drive and have very bad accidents! I do not believe the nonsense of those who say "legalize it." They may have a motive of greed. We other people are affected by the users' inattentiveness, their mistakes and their self-absorption. If they run something on their regular jobs, we lose. If they drive, we too are in danger. It seems best to keep them in the closet of the illegality for our safety's sake!.

They may have a motive of greed. We other people are affected by the users' inattentiveness, their mistakes and their self-absorption. If they run something on their regular jobs, we lose. If they drive, we too are in danger. It seems best to keep them in the closet of the illegality for our safety's sake!.

Ridiculous. It's a plant. You are restricting people's freedom to smoke a plant. The studies show that your opinions are all outdated, and a result of brainwashing over decades.

It's a shame to see drugs abuse in japan is getting worst. It's even worst to see people supporting it in the comments. Smh

@Matthew Petrea

Drug abuse should be treated as a medical issue and not a criminal one. Take the criminality out of drugs and the black market price drops, thus no incentive for dealers/criminals to sell it.

It's been proven time and time again in Portugal, Uruguay, and several US states that decriminalization/legalization cuts down on abuse among adults and teens. Prohibition does nothing but encourage abuse and crime.