Japan goes up in marijuana smoke

By Rena Singer

Japan appears to be in the midst of a marijuana epidemic of unprecedented proportions.

In the past six months alone, four sumo wrestlers have been kicked out of the sport for using the drug and a player on the national rugby team was banned for life. In addition, police have arrested a rock star and staged high-profile raids at some of the nation’s top universities, arresting students and confiscating Ziploc bags full of suspicious substances.

To many non-Japanese, the thought of sumo wrestlers smoking weed to foster the munchies and pack on the pounds may seem like the punch-line of a joke. And the idea of rock stars or university students partying with illicit drugs hardly seems scandalous in celebrity circles or on university campuses.

But in Japan, these incidents have shocked the nation. They received front-page coverage. And they prompted television exposes and editorials like the recent one in the Asahi Shimbun newspaper that said, “Our incipient cannabis pollution must be contained at all costs.”

The penalty for the possession and use of marijuana in Japan is severe — not only in terms of prison time (Paul McCartney famously spent 10 nights in jail here after being arrested for possession in 1980). When a player for Japan’s national rugby team tested positive for marijuana last month, he was banned from the national team forever and the professional team he also plays on, sponsored by electronics maker Toshiba, has suspended all team activities until the end of March and has withdrawn from the ongoing national championship out of shame. Smoke on that, Michael Phelps.

Late last year, after four Waseda University students were arrested for marijuana possession, university administrators called a press conference, bowed deeply to the dozens of reporters assembled and issued a formal apology. “We are sorry for causing so much trouble,” Tomoki Waragai, the humiliated executive director of the university, told reporters.

They vowed to conduct a comprehensive survey of the student body to determine the extent of the problem. And university administrators sent an email to all students warning them that students “foolish enough” to try marijuana “all too often end up physically and mentally ruined, perhaps leading lives of crime. There is no ‘innocent’ or ‘harmless’ way to take illegal drugs. In Japan, possession alone is sufficient to lead to the most dire of social punishments. Engaging in drug-related activity is utter stupidity.”

This comes at a time when Japanese society’s whole-hearted acceptance of another mind-altering substance — alcohol — is at center stage. Recent events highlight the contradiction between this country’s treatment of marijuana and its treatment of alcohol. The same week that the rugby team pulled out of the championship because one of its members used marijuana, Japan’s Minister of Finance Shoichi Nakagawa stole the limelight at an otherwise staid press conference at the G-7 meeting in Rome with this apparently drunken behavior, now a viral hit on YouTube.

After the debacle, Prime Minister Taro Aso initially stood by Nakagawa and only accepted his resignation three days later, when opposition parties complained that Nakagawa’s behavior had embarrassed the nation.

“Attitudes towards alcohol are incredibly lax here,” explained Jeffrey Kingston, the director of Temple University’s Japan Campus. “Alcohol facilitates the frank exchange of opinions and views in a society where communication can be quite stilted.”

In this conformist society, seemingly laden with rules about everything, says Kingston, alcohol is the acceptable method for relaxation. “There is no wiggle room on this.”

So alcohol, even hard liquor, is on offer from vending machines throughout Japan’s cities in the same way vending machines offer Doritos in the U.S. And public drunkenness is considered normal. So much so that Tokyo’s late night trains are populated night after night by masses of inebriated businessmen, many of whom have to be physically removed from the train after passing out.

The National Police Agency declined to comment for this story, other than to point to crime statistics. In 2003, just over 2,000 people were arrested for marijuana-related crimes. Last year’s figure, though not yet final, is expected to top 2,800. Although the number is clearly on the rise, drug use here remains far below the levels in the U.S. or Europe. Polls in the U.S. indicated that 46% of Americans say they have tried banned substances. In Japan, the figure is only 3%.

Police are quick to point out that increasing numbers of Japanese — including in one instance a Buddhist monk — are trying their hand at cannabis cultivation. The number of green thumbs arrested for cultivation has doubled in the last decade. But the total number of arrests for that crime still doesn’t top 200 per year.

The Asahi Shimbun editorial explained, “surely, we don’t need to try to catch up with the west in drug use.”

GlobalPost.com

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Latest 15 of 49 Total Comments Show All

mrsynik at 02:27 PM JST - 19th March

Just leagalise it, regulate it to get rid of the organised crime it generates. Like prostitution, no amount of government spending on policing and the justice system will make it go away. Better to have it, and keep it controlled. Besides imagine the stock prices of JT and PM if they added hooch to the range of products they are regulated to sell.
isthistheend at 02:51 PM JST - 19th March

I say again. Never expect common sense about smoking from a smoker. What nobody has mentioned is how devastaing ALL smoke is to ones precious lungs, heart, teeth, stomach, and blood pressure. But especially one's lungs. And also, nobody mentions the hypoglycemia factor of MJ which leads to the munchies. It doesn't matter whether you smoke 1 TOKE or 1 whole stoggie, when you come down, your metabolism demands a hit of something particularly YIN like sugar, or ice cream and not just a bite or two, but an OVERDOSE, consumption, consumption, consumption. And for the young, fast foods are the convenient target to satisfy this expanded URGE. 0 After overeating (gorging), a negative cycle is very prone. Especially in younger people since they can eat more and discharge more energy. I'm not for castigating all those who smoke MJ, but I am saying we need to be more upfront and above board on ALL the Issues concerning it, and teach THEM ALL to young people, not just categorizing it as a liberty vs puritanism debate. Very real physical ramifications will develop with continued MJ smoking. Don't go off on a tangent and get caught up on whethter is addictive or not. More importantly, there are other things we can do to lead a creative life than smoke dope. Especially among young people. That's my point. Let's be more careful/attentive/inquisitive about other cultures activities for example, and not be so naive as to think lighting it up is going to solve your daily problems or lead to nirvana etc. The insights you get from MJ very quickly fade, until you take another toke and then the cycle kicks in. If you are enthusiastic about improving on any physical talent, like music or sports and think it can help you, that too is just short lived, though maybe good for a song or two. O.K. I'll concede the sudden or short burst for creativity. But the overall picture is just not that good. Weigh the WHOLE picture. Like the song says, "What comes up, must come down, spinning wheel's got to go around"... And about no second hand MJ smoke? Come ON. You can smell it for a half a block away, and it does affect others. Bless you all.
dennis0bauer at 03:15 PM JST - 19th March

wtfdude maybe the movie Tokyo zombie could be classified as a Stoner movie?
injapan at 03:27 PM JST - 19th March

have you ever gotten really drunk? the next morning, you want to die.
the day after smoking a joint, you feel like you had the best sleep of your life. but yeah, we should stop THAT. "i read it was bad for you, and is a gateway drug." get real. you are the same people who were trying to stop the hippies in america in the 60's. weed is illegal in certain places because of FEAR, RELIGION, OLD GUYS who never smoked a j, and TRADITION. people don't want to break that tradition, even if it makes people feel good. much of the time, people who are drunk can't even walk straight, they vomit, pass out, or start fights. i have never in my life seen a person who is stoned, do any of these actions. that is how backward these laws are.
isthistheend at 03:45 PM JST - 19th March

Hello deh, this is your hippy dippy George Carlin weather man speaking. It could also be Yul Brennar on his death bed. We are not equivocating smoking MJ with alcohol binge drinking. I'm just trying to communicate that as good and satisfying as the ol MJ buzz feels, trouble awaits the repeating smoker (ever heard of a one and done one?) There are much better alternatives for you and your HEALTH but it takes alot of dedication and effort to find these other things, including good diet, good physical activity, good love making, good mental habits, good livelihood etc. Certainly not easy in this day and age, but still very possible...with effort and a higher standard for ones life. Limiting yourself to a lighter ignited (anything MJ included) high is an easy choice, but not so easy to stop once started. If and when you do break free of your smoking, you'll realize that many alternatives are actually better for you and make you more happy than the continuous conversation inside your brain tugging for you to "let's get high." You'll find ways that make you continually high, without the damage to your lungs. Wouldn't that be a nice scenerio?
urufuls at 03:46 PM JST - 19th March

goodDonkey

How many people die each year from marijuana overdose?

I found a site that said out of 664 marijuana related deaths, there were 187 deaths where marijuana was the only drug reported.

http://www.drugwatch.org/TruthMarijuanaHemp.htm

That's not because of overdose, but deaths related with it. The only way that someone could die from overdose is probably asphyxiation :).

So as long as the majority ruled in favor of slavery then it was acceptable? And don't give me that crap slavery doesn't compare to the freedom to smoke marijuana. Because if your majority rules argument fails in one case then it falls flat on its face. Majority rule does not mean squat as to the fairness of a law.

Well, slavery continued for a while didn't it? You've actually further supported my point. I see your point that even though the majority knows that marijuana (or slavery for that matter) is bad, it may not stop the minority from touting its benefits. No one is saying either are acceptable. You are correct in your assessment. And I believe that the scales will change and smoking marijuana will probably be legalized. Although I believe that is a mistake.

Now, there are benefits derived from marijuana. It's called THC. So the whole idea trying to push this whole medical marijuana thing is debunked, because the same medication can come from this pill.

Bloody Puritans and their prostitution, weed and pornography laws; they know nothing about justice.

Pornography: more addictive than marijuana. Does someone's opinion that these two things are destructive in society make one a Puritan, and a bloody one at that?

I've had friends who smoked weed for 20 years or more and they still aren't addicted.

I'm sure there are those who can moderate their intake. 20 years though?

I'm sure you were saying the same thing at 5 years. And again at 10 years. And again at 15 years. I challenge them to try and quit it for 1 year.

goodDonkey, I have no malice toward you or anyone on this debate who smoke marijuana. I just have an opinion (backed up by facts) and I feel strongly about it.
urufuls at 03:47 PM JST - 19th March

Here's that site again

http://www.drugwatch.org/Truth(underscore)Marijuana(underscore)Hemp.htm
larguero at 06:37 PM JST - 19th March

There is a great fear about what can happen with the society if everybody smoke marijuana. There are far more deaths due to alcohol and tabacco consumption... I dont smoke MJ nor I am willing to do it, but that is every person decision. I really dont see why the Government should get into my house and tell me that I cant do something I want to do, without harming anybody else nor disturbing social peace. In my house, I should be able to do what I want. Period.
isthistheend at 08:49 PM JST - 19th March

Hey Iarguero, except you shouldn't be allowed to make sarin or anthrax and other such things, right?
unscrejects at 10:38 PM JST - 19th March

What's the story here? Japan has always had a huge consumption of the weed. Heck west Japan produces more of the stuff than Jamaica!
onedragon at 11:17 PM JST - 19th March

Ever been to Izu?
jessssicaaa at 11:03 AM JST - 20th March

Larguero, i agree "In my house, I should be able to do what I want. Period."

But, yes always a but lol drugs are Bad. Alcohol is a poison but doesnt stop anybody (even me) lol I think people need to learn to feel good without drugs or alcohol, you don't need it to have a good time.. you don't need it to feel happy, those who rely on it feel as though they do, but they are kidding themselves. Drugs unless for medical use are all bad. Alcohol should be used rarely and just for a drink with friends.. not "lets get pissed yeeeehhh!!" lol.
jonnyboy at 04:32 PM JST - 22nd March

Hey Iarguero, except you shouldn't be allowed to make sarin or anthrax and other such things, right?

let people make them. it's using them to attack other people in public that would be the problem!
isthistheend at 05:36 PM JST - 22nd March

jonnyboy, why make these poisons but to create a dangerous and probably fatal situation for someone else? Are you saying that the right of exercising your personal freedom inside your own house is the most important right of your human life? Even if you live with other relatives or members of your own created family? How about their rights to enjoy the security of safety from such above named poisons? Sounds like its time to clean your bong.
jwswiss at 09:42 PM JST - 24th March

Somebody who's sitting at home smoking marijuana is no threat to anyone else. Marijuana is not a poison, like some people are saying. It would take physically impossible concentrations of marijuana smoke to cause anything resembling an overdose. Nicotine and alcohol, however, are very real poisons. Yet they're legal in most places. The arguments for keeping marijuana illegal are all very weak, from "it's bad for you" (many legal things, such as McDonalds, are), to "if everyone smoked no work would get done" (the same thing can be said about drinking alcohol). Ultimately, the argument against marijuana use comes down to one group of people (who think it's bad) trying to impose their morals/opinions/beliefs on others. Which is more destructive to a person's life: 1. Smoking marijuana occasionally, which MAY make them lazy (or lazier, since it doesn't change your core personality), or 2. taking a person to jail, so that they lose their job, and putting their kids into protective custody? Seriously, why are some people unable to look at this objectively in that way? If I want to eat a Big Mac every day and die of a heart attack by next year, that's my choice. The same way, if I want to sit down and smoke marijuana occasionally in my room, where I'm not doing anybody any harm, that would also be my choice. It's the same basic thing. I heard someone once say that legalizing marijuana would be like legalizing murder. Sadly, this kind of irrational logic is at the forefront of the fight against marijuana and most politicians are too spineless and out of touch to go against it.