Record 3,500 people involved in cannabis cases in Japan in 2018

while that of cannabis was 5,000 yen,

Damn....for ONE gram? There are some pretty damn rich kids out there!

By age group, the number per 100,000 people came to 6.0 among those aged 14 to 19, nearly a six-fold jump from 1.1 in 2014. The figure more than doubled from 5.0 to 12.2 among people in their 20s while it increased from 4.1 to 7.3 among those in their 30s.

Personally speaking weed shouldn't be classified as a "drug". Hell there have been cases down here where foreigners were taken to court for growing it, and using it, in the privacy of their own homes, and they got off!

Screw the folks that call it a "gate-way" drug, they are just fear-mongers. Look at the states in the US that have legalized it, LESS crime, more money, all great benefits!

Come on Japan! Stop and take the time to light one up!

Was I the only one that read this as "Record 3,500 people involved in cannable cases in Japan in 2018"?

Its too early in the morning.

Personally speaking weed shouldn't be classified as a "drug".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbrsQsNsQxQ

Agreed should be legalized. It was part of Japanese religious Shinto culture and was taken away and demonized during American occupation. Now that the U.S. is starting to legalize for recreation in majority of the states and Canada as well not to mention the many health benefits of CBD oils. Japan really needs to repeal the archaic laws in 大麻 and think would help with the depopulation and other social ills such as recluses and suicides and depression. Also, Japan makes some of the best agricultural produce, imagine the economic revitalization opportunity in the country side if shifting focus on making high quality orgamic 大麻 second to none.

Now that the U.S. is starting to legalize for recreation in majority of the states

Not even near a majority in the states.

I am real distressed to read this increase in Dangerous Drug use. Especially this

the number per 100,000 people came to 6.0 among those aged 14 to 19, nearly a six-fold jump from 1.1 in 2014

Why risk you health, future, education and job prospects and prison and a criminal record. Just say NO when drug pushers try to sell this deadly poison.Japan does not want all the huge drug problems of The West.

Keep all these Dangerous Drugs out of Japan!

Japan does not want all the huge drug problems of The West.

Keep your outrage and Reagan-era "say no to drug" messaging directed at the yakuza who are bringing the drugs in and profiting immensely from sales.

I was surprised when I saw opium growing in a village in a valley near me. I asked a local old lady if she knew what it was. She told me she did, and lots of people in the village make tea from it because it snows a lot in the winter, so it keeps them warm inside.

The strict laws against pot and other drugs will never be change in Japan. Talk to Naoko Average about pot and he is convinced it will kill you. It’s all part of the education system. The J-Gov doesn’t want educated people because they are too hard to control. Having an under-educated society that is brainwashed into believing everything their government says is perfect for running a fanciest regime. You only have to look at the DPRK for confirmation of this. The people of the DPRK are brainwashed into believeing their great leader little Kim does not poop. I poop you not! Japan is no different for the amount of time Japanese people spend in secondary and tertiary education they do not have a very broad education at all.

The strict laws against pot and other drugs will never be change in Japan.

I think they will as the rest of the world comes out of prohibition. But Japanese culture is very risk averse, so they are not early adopters. It will require a number of other countries to first come out and legalize before Japan will ever even consider it.

I don't smoke or touch anymore since living in a place where it is very strict.. don't really miss it that much.

However its ridiculous the fear based moralistic view on this "drug" specifically, its not that scary..

This like alcohol, in my opinion, if you need it everyday and can't operate with out it you have an issue, if you can enjoy responsibly then.. meh no big deal.

How about getting all worried about something that with all most no refinement grows out of the ground and usually the worst problem with it is laughing a lot and the munchies... you look at the many other issues that need attention. Kids without seat belts, tax evasion, overstayers.. whatever..

When that happens we will all be long gone from this planet.

Government control will forever plague people from across the board for how free we could truly be. Locking people up for substances of which overall have no affect in general public. What you put into your body is your decision. Cannibas has medical benefits. Open mindedness is necessary for japan to prosper.

I visit Oregon (my home state) twice a year and partake a bit. That's enough for me. Nothing dangerous about Mary Jane at all. A lot of Japanese would benefit from a spliff.

I visit Oregon (my home state) twice a year and partake a bit. That's enough for me. Nothing dangerous about Mary Jane at all. A lot of Japanese would benefit from a spliff.

Keep Oregon green! I'm from near Eugene.

The real question thos article forces is how many Japanese received suspended sentences versus foreigners that received jail time for the exact same offense.

The headline is about cannabis but half of the story is about stimulants. Apples, oranges.

The street value of stimulants was 60,000 yen per gram, while that of cannabis was 5,000 yen, cocaine 20,000 yen and heroin 30,000 yen, according to the NPA.

Lol. Why is cannabis listed with the hard drugs? How about associating nicotine with pcp?

"What crime have you guys committed?"

Mr. Speed: "Armed robbery"

Mr. Cocaine: "Carjacking"

Mr. Heroine: "Manslaughter"

Mr. Marijuana: "Loitering"

Japan needs to keep up the good work. People who spend money on Marijuana are not responsible people. I encounter people on a daily basis who won't pay their water bill but buy Marijuana.

Japan needs to keep up the good work. People who spend money on Marijuana are not responsible people. I encounter people on a daily basis who won't pay their water bill but buy Marijuana.

Confirmation bias.

The overwhelmingly huge number of people who smoke marijuana pay their water bills.

But I suppose if you're a water bill collector, and most of the people you see who aren't paying their bills are smoking marijuana, you start to think that not only is marijuana responsible for them not paying their bills, but also that all people who smoke marijuana don't pay their bills. Both of these are incorrect conclusions made due to a lack of information. If you saw all the people who do smoke marijuana, you would realize that most of them are normal members of whatever society it is that they live in. Marijuana smoking is a pretty human thing, through most of our history. When that truth is realized, you see that bums who don't pay their bills smoke marijuana too.

Do you judge someone who has an occasional drink by the actions of an alcoholic? Neither should you judge marijuana smokers on bums who don't pay their bills.

After the Marijuana scene from the movie 'Burning', i remembered my younger teenage days back in Nepal, searching for 'Gaja' journey on motorbike.

That was just good old memories but it doesn't urge me to do it anymore. Never ever.

Just spring fine with

Red wine from Spain

Cognac from France

Soju from South Korea

Sake from Japan

They have pretty low numbers compared to some countries as far as drug crimes. But, Japan thinks marijuana is such a bad "drug" but ignore the high amount of alcoholics in the country. Alcohol is accepted and overly celebrated as a normal part of Japanese culture. The healthcare industry in Japan benefits from the health problems that come with alcohol and tobacco. They would lose money form the legalization of marijuana.

The usual platitudes about marijuana compared to alcohol and Japan being too strict don’t take away from the fact that nobody really knows how bad habitual pot smoking can be. There is no reason why Japan needs to legalize it. In fact watching and learning from the mistakes of others is making more and more sense the longer they wait.

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/03/19/704948217/daily-marijuana-use-and-highly-potent-weed-linked-to-psychosis

https://www.businessinsider.com/marijuana-syndrome-vomiting-nausea-chs-colorado-er-visits-2019-3?utm_source=feedly&utm_medium=webfeeds

Last time a stoner told me about not being able to pay their water bill was......yeah...never.

Keep all these Dangerous Drugs out of Japan!

I agree with you Ganbare.

But I would like to point out something to you. Many years ago, in my native country, a Japanese student who I was friendly with asked me if I would be able to get some marijuana for her.

I said No, and that I have never touched that stuff. I felt hurt by the stereotying, She obviously thought that in the West everybody smoked it.

I never have, and never will, legal or not.

I was never really friends with her after that.

I never have, and never will, legal or not.

I was never really friends with her after that.

Wow, you sound like a fun person to be around.

Smoking too much marijuana makes people change the subject in the movie "Bumblebee", when John Cena appeared I wanted to yell "Jooohhhn Ceeenna!".

The street value of stimulants was 60,000 yen per gram, while that of cannabis was 5,000 yen

Jeepers creepers! Not 32 grams for 5000 yen? lol

Many years ago, in my native country, a Japanese student who I was friendly with asked me if I would be able to get some marijuana for her. I said No, and that I have never touched that stuff. I felt hurt by the stereotying

I do agree with this though. Since I am a Westerner, some people automatically think a smoke something, drink alcohol like water and scarf down meat on a daily basis lol

I never have, and never will, legal or not.

I was never really friends with her after that.

Wow, you sound like a fun person to be around.

In those days we had great fun, after a few beers. That was all we needed to chill out and have a good time.

The usual platitudes about marijuana compared to alcohol and Japan being too strict don’t take away from the fact that nobody really knows how bad habitual pot smoking can be.

Yes they do. There is about 50 years of studies into marijuana, including habitual smokers. It's one of the most researched drugs in existence. People who want to claim the science doesn't know enough yet are looking for excuses.