While most of the world is tiptoeing ever closer to recreational cannabis, or at least acceptance of medical cannabis, Japan is working on how to make its anti-cannabis laws even more strict.
A new panel was held by the Japanese ministry on January 20 regarding a concern with the number of young people using cannabis. The ministry is considering revising the Cannabis Control Law, which can already offer as much as five and seven years of imprisonment for selling or cultivating cannabis.
While this may seem a little extreme, it is not surprising given the fact that Japan’s well-known, anti-cannabis slogan is “dame zettai,” which translates to “absolutely not.” The loosening of regulations in many other places does not seem to be having an impact on the country.
Japan also has the lowest prevalence of cannabis use of any country on record, especially surprising since it also has the third-largest economy. Only 1.8 percent of people in Japan said they had smoked cannabis once in their life back in 2019.
However, even though the country is definitely on the low side of cannabis use, consumption has increased over the past few years. Those found in violation of the Cannabis Control Law increased by 21.5 percent from the previous year in 2019, hitting 4,570, and the numbers have been increasing for the past six years. Most of those who were arrested, about 60 percent, were under the age of 30.
While this is all very draconian (by American standards), another reason behind the panel is to discuss whether to relax the ban on medical cannabis. Currently, no one can use any drugs manufactured from cannabis, including CBD and legal drugs such as Epidiolex, the FDA-approved epileptic seizure medication.
While stricter recreational cannabis laws are not a positive direction for cannabis advocates, less severe medical cannabis laws would be a good first step.
A new panel was held by the Japanese ministry on January 20 regarding a concern with the number of young people using cannabis. The ministry is considering revising the Cannabis Control Law, which can already offer as much as five and seven years of imprisonment for selling or cultivating cannabis.
While this may seem a little extreme, it is not surprising given the fact that Japan’s well-known, anti-cannabis slogan is “dame zettai,” which translates to “absolutely not.” The loosening of regulations in many other places does not seem to be having an impact on the country.
Japan also has the lowest prevalence of cannabis use of any country on record, especially surprising since it also has the third-largest economy. Only 1.8 percent of people in Japan said they had smoked cannabis once in their life back in 2019.
However, even though the country is definitely on the low side of cannabis use, consumption has increased over the past few years. Those found in violation of the Cannabis Control Law increased by 21.5 percent from the previous year in 2019, hitting 4,570, and the numbers have been increasing for the past six years. Most of those who were arrested, about 60 percent, were under the age of 30.
While this is all very draconian (by American standards), another reason behind the panel is to discuss whether to relax the ban on medical cannabis. Currently, no one can use any drugs manufactured from cannabis, including CBD and legal drugs such as Epidiolex, the FDA-approved epileptic seizure medication.
While stricter recreational cannabis laws are not a positive direction for cannabis advocates, less severe medical cannabis laws would be a good first step.
