Police say no more stores in Tokyo selling 'dangerous drugs'

Law enforcement officials acknowledged, however, that the wider problem of online sales of such herbs remains, adding that such sales are increasing.

And why is this? If the police can smell out some pain pills being shipped from overseas to an executive at Toyota one would think they could train their dogs to do the same for domestic mail.

"Dangerous drugs"...I love it.

Don't get me wrong, synthetic cannabis is/can be pretty bad stuff - certainly ironic considering the real deal is free of the problems synthetic cannabis has, and much better for you to boot - but I just love the sheer paranoia around 'drugs' in Japan.

Some of them will just go underground and take orders by phone for delivery.

Considering that a guy drunk on alcohol just got 22 years for killing three women and maiming one women with his car, this all seems very ironic. When will the Japanese stop being children about drugs?

"And why is this? If the police can smell out some pain pills being shipped from overseas to an executive at Toyota one would think they could train their dogs to do the same for domestic mail."

I was thinking the same exact and to add onto that, I've seen amphetamines sold in Japan without a prescription. I would never buy any of their medicine because I wouldn't know what's in it.

YES!; By all MEANS, BAN those " Dangerous " Drugs.. But of course we all KNOW that Alcohol and Tobacco is GOOD for you, and NOTHING to worry about.

And why is this? If the police can smell out some pain pills being shipped from overseas to an executive at Toyota one would think they could train their dogs to do the same for domestic mail.

Possession is not illegal, that's why. The stores selling them were selling them for the purpose of smoking, while the package clearly says 'not for human consumption'. This is why they were shut down.

It is a good move. When I used to read an American newspaper, I didn't have a day without a report about drugs and shootings. Drugs and Guns are no no in Japan.

Many of those deaths from "drug-related complications" are therefore directly attributable to the police. If cannabis were not outlawed there would be little need for synthetics and therefore many fewer people experimenting with untried substances on their bodies. Severe complications and deaths from cannabis are almost unknown.

the psilocybin ban was also "suggested" by the Americans as well

Mushrooms, aka psilocybin, were legal in Japan until 2002, when some talent got too messed up and went to emergency. Until they point they were under the radar. Then some 'talent' got too messed up on them, and went to the ER. So the government made them illegal a few months later.

So, all the drugs that aren't "dangerous drugs" must be safe.

Cuz Prohibition works SO well, right? Fully legalize cannabis(the real one) and people won't be incentivized to turn to such artificial, toxic stuff. Follow Portugal's example.

July last year, there were 68 shops within the metropolitan area known to be selling the herbs; now there are zero.

If there were 68 known shops, then that'd roughly mean there are 680 unknown dealers that are still out there.

You can learn a lot by watching The Wire:

Kima: Fighting the war on drugs... one brutality case at a time.

Carver: Girl, you can't even think of calling this $&!# a war.

Herc: Why not?

Carver: Wars end.

Oh boy! The fine fellows of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police must have been busy!!! There are thousands of stores selling "dangerous drugs" throughout the city. How could they even do that?

@ Frederic Bastiat

I agree cannabis should be legalized fully, but that wouldn't be following Portugal's example. What Portugal did was to decriminalize, not legalize, all drugs.

i wonder what would happen if i mail myself some "tokyo dangerous drug" but labeled as "this is not a tokyo dangerous drug"?

very easy to put posters up all over the city with a mobile phone number to take orders, yes its actually very easy to get a mobile/ internet phone that is not linked to the criminals that are using them.

Hope things would work out one way or the other. However, I'm afraid that online sales of such dangerous drugs would keep remaining after all. I think the Internet really can help you or hurt you.

Hopefully, the cops wouldn't end up playing cat-and-mouse games with them down the road.

I missed the alcohol and tobacco ban?!

I love alcohol, it will probably kill me one day and I also love tobacco, which will also probably kill me one day. No doubt some of these loophole drugs are dangerous but a blanket ban on new recreational drugs denies people a legal pathway to a more interesting, and perhaps, a safer way to live. When was the last time any government said ok we have a new drug. You can use it in your business meetings, after work, during wedding celebrations, birthday parties, funeral parties and it is on sale in the local convenient store alongside the triple expressos, sugar and salt laden foods, alcohol and tobacco. The drug war is a war based on fear and based on control. Change vs somebody else's idea of the status quo and there will always be casualties In such a situation. The future will bring better recreational drugs and we have to fight for them.

When will the Japanese stop being children about drugs?

If you think Japan is childish about drugs, you obviously don't know about the rest of Asia.

Good. Maybe they'll leave all the people alone. Especially those that don't look Japanese.

Back n' the day, saw many japanese (dj & crew) smoke "dirt weed" in Roppongi. What's the big deal? Not like they were dishing ou extacy.

but I just love the sheer paranoia around 'drugs' in Japan.

Right. Alcohol & cigarettes are way worse. This is what plagues japanese- not the so-called, "dangerous drugs."

Legalize marijuana then perhaps people won't turn to these "so called dangerous drugs"...

Franchesca, well said. I still enjoy my Kona Gold time to time, but need to hide da suff from da police. Here in Hawai'i, dey take it an go smoke it demselves.