Japanese Tottori Prefecture Bans All Cannabis and Hemp Cultivation
Japan has been one of the countries with the strictest approach to cannabis. In September, CULTURE reported on the announcement of the country’s hemp program, which featured its own character mascot to create awareness to the country’s rich history with growing cannabis and hemp. Sadly, the program is already being shut down, with the program’s president and at least two employees were arrested “on suspicion of marijuana possession,” according to Japan Times.
Located in Chizu in the Tottori Prefecture, the program was geared at both creating awareness for hemp as a versatile material, but also to help create a new industry for the area to thrive upon. Japan Times also reports that the regional assembly unanimously passed an ordinance banning cannabis and hemp growth in that area, and it will take effect sometime in 2017. Furthermore, no company will be granted a license to grow hemp henceforth.
Governor Shinji Hirai called the ban on cannabis growers the “ultimate way” to prevent any further issues in the country’s legal hemp growing sector, and Hirai also told reporters on December 19 that it will “promote efforts to prevent drug abuse” in the future.
Currently, Japanese sentences for defying cannabis laws range between a six months and five years for possession of a single gram. This was the first instance of licensed hemp growers in Japan being arrested under these circumstances.
