On November, 2012, the voters of Colorado State and Washington State voted on a new initiative that legalized the recreational use of marijuana. This state level decision contradicts the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961, and disputes the International Narcotics Control Board located in Vienna and the World Health Organizations’s international treaties and agreements. Such international organizations have been displaying concern regarding this issue, yet in Europe and many other parts of the world, many countries have laws that prohibit cannabis but actually do not enforce them strictly for small amount possessions.

So the United States legalized recreational cannabis in two states, and regarding medical marijuana, 18 states and Washington D.C. already legalized this, and have achieved goals such as cutting spending on prosecuting and persecuting those who may use, possess, or cultivate marijuana. Taxation perhaps is another issue, for each state has its own laws, but it is clear that  taxation of cannabis will bring a tremendous amount of income for these states that have moved forward.

During the first Abe administration, the Prime Minister was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis(UC), a form of Inflammatory Bowel Disease(IBD), which is considered an intractable disease by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare. There are reports that conclude that many of those who suffer from UC, are also cannabis users, to alleviate horrifying symptoms.

・Cannabis use amongst patients with inflammatory bowel disease.［PubMed］
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21795981

In Japan, due to the Cannabis Control Act Part 4, medicinal use of cannabis is prohibited. We cannot even perform clinical studies, for this is also prohibited. WE CANNOT EVEN STUDY CANNABIS, YET FOR SOME ODD REASON, THE MEDIA AND GOVERNMENT CLAIMS THAT THE ONLY ANSWER TO CANNABIS, IS TO SIMPLY SAY ‘ABSOLUTELY NO!’.

Parachuting ex-bureaucrats do not even want to answer questions regarding this issue. When we requested evidence that cannabis caused violence in human behavior, (propaganda claimed by the parachuting organizations), the Executive Director simply replied ‘I don’t want to!’.

Interview with Drug Abuse Prevention Center

http://en.asayake.jp/?p=315e

Regarding the medicinal use of marijuana, the National Cancer Institute(NCI) of the United States issued a report called “Cannabis and Cannabinoids” on this matter, and in its overview stated as follows:

This complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) information summary provides an overview of the use of Cannabis and its components as a treatment for people with cancer -related symptoms caused by the disease itself or its treatment.

This summary contains the following key information:

• Cannabis has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years.

• By federal law, the possession of Cannabis, also known as marijuana, is illegal in the United States.
• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved Cannabis as a treatment for cancer or any other medical condition.
• Chemical components of Cannabis, called cannabinoids, activate specific receptors found throughout the body to produce pharmacologic effects, particularly in the central nervous system and the immune system.
• Commercially available cannabinoids, such as dronabinol and nabilone, are approved for the treatment of cancer-related side effects.
• Cannabinoids may have benefits in the treatment of cancer-related side effects.

National Cancer Institute　Cannabis and Cannabinoids (PDQR)
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/cannabis/healthprofessional

So, it was our intention to find out how much information does the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare which oversees cannabis laws, have so far obtained about international use of medical cannabis.

In February 2013, we utilized the Freedom of Information Act equivalent in Japan, to obtain all information the Ministry held on foreign medical marijuana policies. We soon found out that they have ABSOLUTELY NO! information regarding this matter. THE F.O.I.A. response was as follows:

1 The name of the document which was rejected to access.

“All information held by the Ministry regarding Medical Marijuana use in foreign countries”

2 The reason for rejecting the request.

“No documents are available regarding this issue”

For a victimless crime which does not hurt or manipulate anybody, the Japanese society has harsh punishments ready for those who possess personal amounts of cannabis. Their jobs and daily life are taken from them, and some are expelled from schools. The media sensationalizes such cases while identifying names, furthering the social stigma in this matter. They are arrested and put in strict jails, as well. Haven’t we lost balance between our actions and it’s consequential punishment? What are the reason for such policies in Japan? Aren’t we wasting tax payer’s money?

Not limited to ulcerative colitis, cannabis has been known to help those alleviate pain from cancer, enhance appetite, and assist those who cannot  sleep. It is a shame that the Japanese are not entitled to medical marijuana, just like many of the other countries throughout the world. This Cannabis Control Act historically has no reasonable explanation for existence, except for the fact that it was imposed by the occupying forces of the US shortly after WWII. This medication has hardly any known side-effects, and is known to be safe. This should be an available choice for the people of Japan as well as the rest of the world.

We would like to keep asking questions to the Japanese Society. So what do you think?

The clause that prohibits clinical research is promulgated in the Cannabis Control Act – Part 4 section 2 and 3. Currently, the goal of the legalize marijuana movement in Japan is to eliminate this particular clause,  which shall eventually allow cannabis use in various treatment and perhaps as a preventative healthcare measure, and even help those with debilitating medical conditions.

It is most certain that the short and long term effects of the nuclear disaster in Fukushima will lead to the increase of various types of illness’ including thyroid cancer etc., in children and adults, just as it did in Chernobyl, if not worse. Medical marijuana could perhaps be the answer to the suffering caused by such illness’ and the side effects of chemotherapy. In short, medical marijuana is much needed in Japanese society today.

Japan is also one of the leading countries in the use and abuse of sleeping medication, anti-anxiety medication (mostly benzodiazepines), which is promoted by large pharmaceutical companies who lobby hard to sell their products. Cannabis could easily replace these harmful drugs, in may cases. On the other hand, certain Japanese pharmaceutical companies have spent a lot of money on the research for Sativex, an oral/nasal spray that is derived from cannabis, often used in treatment to alleviate symptoms of multiple sclerosis, cachexia (wasting syndrome) caused by AIDS, cancer, and further more. Such research is done overseas, because of the aforementioned clause that prohibits cannabis derived medications. Sativex is still not available in Japan.

Most cannabis legalization groups have come to agreement that the urgent issue is to eliminate Part 4 section 2 and 3, in order to at the very least allow clinical cannabis studies in Japan. However, different groups seem to have different names for this particular proposition, which is finally at the stage of collecting signatures from the citizens of Japan. The universal idea is the same, but different groups are currently getting ready to do so without each other’s cooperation. This is a shame.

It is a relatively well known fact that Japan had medical marijuana until the end of the war. Japan had East Indian tinctures and dried cannabis sold as medication for asthma, lack of sleep, and to enhance the appetite, etc. It is most certain that this type of medication was used widely to treat many other different types of illness’ as well.

The elimination of the Cannabis Control Act Part 4 section 2 and 3 will certainly be the first step to the legalization of  cannabis in Japan, especially medical marijuana, which is a hot issue these days, nationally and internationally. Until then, cannabis remains an illegal drug, considered the same as methamphetamine which is a big problem in Japan, and cannabis remains punishable by up to 10 years for distribution with intent to sell. Low level offenses such as personal possession and cultivation (without intent to sell) even carries up to a maximum of a 5 to 7 year sentence, in a harsh, strict prison, which is clearly a violation of human rights. In fact, Amnesty and many other international agencies have repeatedly warned Japan of its prison systems and its violation of basic human rights. It is simply not worth it to get caught in Japan for a little bit of ganja, unless you (and probably your family) are willing to suffer. Yet about 3000 people get busted every year and about a million or two Japanese have tried cannabis in one form or another.

Now is the time to change the law. Until recently, the only way to contest and challenge the Cannabis Control Act was by getting busted and fighting the constitutionality of cannabis prohibition in the court of law. On our website, we have many articles referring to this matter. Many have tried before by getting arrested on purpose to fight the law – and the law won. The Japanese courts from local to superior, has refused to seriously consider the medical properties of marijuana. The courts have not addressed the right to life, the right to pursue happiness, etc., and  ignored the claims by those who mention that cannabis has positive medicinal properties.

Signatures are important, in the sense that it is influential on politicians who write and amend the laws. If they see that there is a big demand for medical marijuana, which there is, they may see the signatures  as potential voters. Hopefully in the near future the legalization groups can come together and collect enough signatures to influence Japanese politics. Until then, perhaps non-violent civil disobedience is the only way – but only if you are willing to do the time.

Today, we mostly smoke it.  Industrial hemp is strictly regulated, and it is very hard to obtain such licenses which allows hemp farmers to grow weed. Medical marijuana is not permitted, because there is a clause in the Cannabis Control Act that prohibits any medical application of cannabis. However, it is important to note that this law was implemented by the occupying forces of the United States shortly after the war. Until then, Japan had it’s own medical marijuana, mostly tincture products derived from East Indian marijuana.

The pot scene in Japan is deeply underground, but there are estimates that count between one to two million potheads in the entire country. It is bigger than most people seem to think, but very well hidden. About 3000 people a year get busted for cannabis related offenses.  Strict, lengthy sentences await those who are busted with intent to sell. Same goes for those who get busted more than once. First time offenders (???) usually get a suspended sentence, whether it’s for possession or cultivation. It is not highly recommended to smoke pot or grow it in Japan these days, or even try to smuggle any cannabis products including seeds. Seed importation has now officially become a punishable offense unless you can prove the seeds are processed for cooking or for some other reason besides cultivating the ganja.

There is absolutely no sense to the Japanese Cannabis Control Act, which is full of contradictions. First of all, there is no law against the usage of pot, only possession. Even though modern studies have suggested time and time again about the positive medical properties of marijuana, the laws about medical marijuana have yet to be amended. Japanese doctors and scholars are prohibited from even studying the medical properties of cannabis.

The Japanese media has always treated cannabis issues with extreme sensationalism, but this is changing. Much of this is due to the legalization of cannabis in two states in the United States. Perhaps the media is beginning to come to its senses. As medical cannabis is the hot issue these days internationally, the Japanese pot legalization scene has put their focus on eliminating the clause that prohibits the clinical application of cannabis. The universal idea is to eliminate PART 4 section 2 and 3 of the Cannabis Control Act that makes it illegal to even study marijuana in Japan. Most Japanese legalization groups have come to agreement about this. Whether or not they can unite and achieve such goals is a whole different matter. The Japanese cannabis legalization scene is an extremely small community with limited resources. Most groups are not working together, for one reason or another. It is time to for all legalization groups to overcome their personal differences and unite.

Vice travels to Nagano to interview key players in Japan’s legalize Cannabis movement. They talk to us about their cause, their experiences with the law, how cannabis has helped some of them overcome serious illness, and the possibility for changing Japan’s harsh drug policies. We also pay a visit to the Hemp Museum in Miasa Mura to learn more about Japan’s historic and forgotten relationship to the forbidden plant.

BY: SHIRASAKA KAZUHIKO & SHIGERU ASO

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN,

WE ARE AN ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO THE LEGALIZATION OF CANNABIS IN JAPAN. WE WOULD DEEPLY APPRECIATE IT IF YOUR POLITICAL PARTY WOULD ANSWER OUR QUESTIONNAIRE BEFORE THE ELECTIONS FOR THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, REGARDING THE CANNABIS CONTROL ACT AND THE FUTURE DRUG POLICIES OF JAPAN. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT THE RESULTS WOULD BE POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE.

QUESTIONNAIRE

ATTENTION: __________ PARTY

PLEASE CIRCLE THE APPROPRIATE ANSWER

REGARDING: DRUG POLICIES

THE CURRENT JAPANESE DRUG POLICIES ARE MODELED AFTER THE U.S., AS WE HAVE A ZERO TOLERENCE POLICY ON ALL ILLICIT DRUGS. HOWEVER, IN EUROPE FOR EXAMPLE, THEY HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT APPROACH. MANY COUNTRIES TODAY APPLY A HARM REDUCTION POLICY, AIMED TO REDUCE THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF DRUGS ON NOT ONLY INDIVIDUALS BUT SOCIETY AT LARGE. IN SUCH COUNTRIES, SALES OF HARD DRUGS USUALLY REMAIN PROHIBITTED, BUT FOR THE END USER AN APPROACH TOWARDS THEIR BETTER HEALTH AND RECOVERY IS THE ULTIMATE GOAL, AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO INCARCERATION. THE SO-CALLED LEGAL DRUG SCENE ALSO NEEDS ATTENTION, FOR WE HAVE NO MEDICAL OR SOCIAL PROGRAMS TO HELP THOSE WHO ARE IN DIRE NEED OF RECOVERY FROM SUCH HARMFUL UNKNOWN CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES.

SO HERE IS OUR FIRST QUESTION…

QUESTION 1

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE HARM REDUCTION POLICY?

A. THE ZERO TOLERENCE POLICY IS SUFFICIENT

B. IT IS NECCESSARY TO CONSIDER THE HARM REDUCTION POLICY

C. DO NOT HAVE AN ANSWER

D. OTHER (PLEASE ELABORATE)

REGARDING: PERSONAL USE OF CANNABIS

CANNABIS HAS BEEN STUDIED THOROUGHOLY AND EXTENSIVELY THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, ESPECIALLY IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES, AND USAGE OF CANNABIS HAS BEEN PROVED SCIENTIFICALLY TO BE LESS HARMFUL THAN TABACCO AND ALCOHOL. THE ONLY MODERN COUNTRIES THAT PUNISHES PERSONAL CANNABIS USE WITH INCARCERATION IS THE U.S. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND JAPAN. HOWEVER, IN THE U.S., MANY STATES HAVE DECRIMINALIZED SIMPLE POSSESSION OF CANNABIS, AND WASHINGTON STATE AND COLORADO STATE JUST LEGALIZED THE CANNABIS FOR RECREATIONAL USE.

QUESTION 2

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT PERSONAL CANNABIS USE BEING PUNISHED BY INCARCERATION?

A. INCARCERATION FITS THE CRIME

B. MUST RECONSIDER OUR POLICIES, AS OTHER NATIONS HAVE

C. DO NOT HAVE AN ANSWER

D. OTHER (PLEASE ELABORATE)

REGARDING: OFFICIAL INFORMATION ON CANNABIS

IN OUR COUNTRY, OUR GOVERNMENT DOES NOT HAVE ANY PUBLIC OR OFFICIAL SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION OR DATA REGARDING CANNABIS. CANNABIS WAS BANNED BY THE U.S. OCCUPATIONAL FORCES FOLLOWING WORLD WAR TWO. WE HAVE OBTAINED THE ONLY OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND LABOR, AMD FOUND OUT THAT THEIR DATA IS NOT BASED ON ANY SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE. EVEN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND LABOR OFFICIAL ADMITS THAT THEY HAVE NO MEDICAL OR SCIENTIFIC DATA REGARDING THIS SUBJECT.

QUESTION 3

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT OUR GOVERNMENT USES A DRUG SAMPLE KIT IMPORTED FROM THE UNITED STATES OVER 15 YEARS AGO FROM UNKNOWN SOURCES AS EVIDENCE TO BAN THE PERSONAL USE AND CULTIVATION OF CANNABIS?

A. OUR CURRENT POLICIES ARE SUFFICIENT

B. WE MUST DO MORE MEDICAL RESEARCH ON THIS TOPIC

C. DO NOT HAVE AN ANSWER

D. OTHER (PLEASE ELABORATE)

REGARDING: THE STUDIES OF MEDICAL CANNABIS

IN MANY FOREIGN COUNTRIES, IT HAS BEEN PROVEN THAT CANNABIS HAS VARIOUS MEDICAL PROPERTIES, AND SOME COUNTRIES ALLOW THE SALE OF MEDICAL CANNABIS. IN JAPAN, UNTIL THE END OF THE WAR, PHARMACIES SOLD CANNABIS TINCTURE FOR MANY DIFFERENT ILLNESS’ AS WELL. HOWEVER, DUE TO THE CANNABIS CONTROL ACT PART 4, EVEN CLINICAL TESTING IS STRICTLY PRHIBITTED BY LAW, PUNISHABLE BY INCARCERATION.

QUESTION 4

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT OUR CURRENT DILEMMA THAT DOES NOT ALLOW FURTHERING THE STUDIES FOR MEDICAL CANNABIS?

A. MEDICAL CANNABIS STUDIES SHOULD REMAIN BANNED

B. MEDICAL CANNABIS USE MUST BE STUDIED AND THERFORE THE LAWS MUST BE CHANGED

C. DO NOT HAVE AN ANSWER

D. OTHER (PLEASE ELABORATE)

REGARDING: INDUSTRIAL HEMP

UNTIL THE END OF WORLD WAR II, WHEN CANNABIS CULTIVATION WAS SEVERLY RESTRICTED BY THE OCCUPYING FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES, JAPAN FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF YEARS HAD A BIG HEMP INDUSTRY, AND ALSO THIS CROP WAS A BIG PART OF OUR CULTURE AND SOCIETY. CURRENTLY, IN MANY COUNTRIES THIS CROP HAS BEEN FOUND TO BE EXTREMELY USEFUL AND ECO-FRIENDLY. HOWEVER, IN OUR COUNTRY, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND LABOR WHO OVERSEES AND REGULATES THE CANNABIS CONTROL ACT RESTRICTS INDUSTRIAL HEMP DUE TO NON-SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE. SUCH CANNABIS CONTAINS EXTREMELY LOW THC LEVELS, BUT THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT SEEM TO ALLOW SUCH AN INDUSTRY TO FLOURISH.

QUESTION 5

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF INDUSTRIAL HEMP WITH LOW THC LEVELS?

A. EVEN INDUSTRIAL HEMP SHOULD BE STRICTLY REGULATED

B. INDUSTRIAL HEMP WITH EXTREMELY LOW THC LEVELS SHOULD NOT BE STRICTLY REGULATED

C. DO NOT KNOW

D. OTHER (PLEASE ELABORATE)

THAT’S IT! THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION.

(…TO BE CONTINUED, AS WE GET SOME REPLIES FROM 13 POLITICAL PARTIES)

three fields of cannabis
five houses
eight or nine children

The above poem was written by Japan’s world famous HAIKU poet, SHIKI MASAOKA in the late 1800′s. This poem was written about SHIKI’s ideal life, which consists of the above mentioned ideas. He wished to have cannabis fields, for he loved them. He wished for five houses to live in, and finallly 8 or 9children. This is not his only poem regarding cannabis.

at the evening
always comes
a storm of cannabis

The above is another example of SHIKI’S cannabis related poem. From his many poems written about cannabis, or ASA in Japanese, it is quite obvious that SHIKI was a great admirer of pot. His poems in its original form consists of 5 syllables, 7 syllables and 5 again. This minimalistic artform is called HAIKU in Japan. This poem is apparently a scenery that SHIKI must have loved, where he stood and enjoyed the beauty of cannabis blowing in the wind.

Here is another one.

evening rain
sparrows make noise
in the cannabis fields

This poem realistically portrays a scenery of sparrows within cannabis fields during the evening rain. Simple, yet very beautiful. SHIKI also wrote the following:

so amazing
the technique of
cutting down cannabis

This poem expresses the amusement SHIKI felt while watching the cannabis plants getting cut down. This used to be quite a site before cannabis prohibition was imposed upon Japan by the United States right after World War II.  As portrayed in SHIKI’s poems, it is clear that the Japanese lived in harmony with cannabis and nature throughout history. Believe it or not, the cannabis plant grows all over Japan, even to this day. However, the government burns down almost all of these plants every year. This act is nothing short of environmental destruction. The Cannabis Control Act completely contradicts with our rich cultural history with cannabis, and cannabis cultivation. The CCA denies our traditions of whichmany include ceremonies involving cannabis in our Shinto and animistic rituals.

There are many other poets and many different artforms in Japan that involve cannabis. It is uncertain of when cannabis was brought into Japan, but it is very clear from our ancient scriptures that we worshipped the cannabis plant. The cannabis seed dates back 10000 years to the JOMON period of Japan which was discovered in ancient clay pots. Shamanism was prevelent, and we used cannabis in shamanistic rituals. It is about time we got rid of the Cannabis Control Act that imprisons thousands of people a year. This is the only way to restore our true cultural heritage and restore cannabis as a medicine. For the record, until the CCA was imposed, Japanese drugstores used to sell E.INDIAN CANNABIS TINCURE as medicine for asthma, pain relief, insomnia, etc. It is sad to admit that the Japanese Cannabis Control Act even prohibits medical merijuana, even though we have a rich history of using this godsent plant as a  way to heal ourselves physically, spiritually, and emotionally.

The ancient Shinto manuscript, KOJIKI, is the first book ever written in Japan. It describes the colorful world of animism, our belief system in Japan that there are spirits and gods in everything and anything in the land of the rising sun. We refer to this as YAOYOROZUNOKAMI, which lierally means 8 million gods, that we have praised and worshipped throughout history. This includes the god of cannabis, the god of wind, thunder, etc. We basically have gods and goddesses for everything, and that is embodied into the deep psyche and spirituality of the Japanese people and culture.

In this book, KOJIKI, there is a chapter called IWATOBIRAKI. This means the opening of the stone. In our mythology, AMATERASUOOMIKAMI, the sungodess hides behind a stone, and the world is covered in darkness and gloom. The other gods are freaked out by this, so they gather around the stone and they throw a big party to call the sungoddess back into the world to enlighten the land. In the end of this story, AMATERASUOOMIKAMI hears the noise of the party and gets curious as to what’s going on, and while she opens the stone and peaks through the cracks, a Japanese powerful giant pulls AMATERASUOOMIKAMI out from behind the stone. Then the land was full of sunshine once again.

For further details on KOJIKI, information on this story can be easily obtained online, or perhaps at any big city library.

As marijuana activists in Japan fight the unconstitutional Cannabis Control Act, we have used this metaphor time and time again, as a symbol of the Japanese cannabis liberation movement. The Japanese CCA was established by the General Head Quarters(GHQ) lead by Douglas McArther right after the war as an industrial solution to enrich the chemical fiber industry.

Japan has always been living with cannabis, and it was seen in our beautiful nature alongisde rice patties and in mountainous areas. At one point, during the war, our government encouraged to grow cannabis in order to make up for short supplies.

Now the fucking government burns millions and millions of cannabis plants that grow naturally throughout the land. This is nothing short of environmental terrorism, and destruction of natural resources and habitat. Besides, why burn perfectly fine weed, without inhaling it. I refer to this weed as Cannabis Japonica.

Our history is rich with Haiku’s and stories about cannabis. The emperror of Japan has a tight connection with weed as well. When the last emperror died, the government arranged for cannabis to be grown for one year in Shikoku prefecture in order to use in ceremonies for the heir apparent.

At any rate, as more and more of us declare civil disobedience to the Cannabis Control Act, we shall open the stone once again, and our land shall flourish with light and cannabis. Let’s get stoned!

TRANSLATED BY: SHIGERU ASO

The cannabis control act is a serious violation of our right to quality life and our right to pursuit happiness, and therefore it is clearly unconstitutional. In the year 2003, I was arrested on purpose for cultivating 300 cannabis plants and I stated the above in the court of law. I was working with another activist and kept providing this wonderful medicine to people with rheumatism, cancer, etc. The cancer patients claimed that their was emmense pain relief, an increase in appetite, and that they were able to finally go to sleep at night. My fellow activist was openly discussing such matters on the internet. It was a matter of time before we both went to jail.

In the trial, my attorney stated that there were many documents and sources of information that proved the madeical properties of the cannabis plant, along with the safety of using this miracle drug. We filed the documents from world authorities, such as reports from the Council for Science and Technology in Britain and the US National Academy of Medicine. My lawyer stated that cannabis was being used in a medical fashion, and since there were patients that desperately needed access to such medication, the Cannabis Control Act violated the right to life of these patients. However, the district court of Osaka stated the following: The indicted person has been vocal about the lack of logic in the Cannabis Control Act all throughout the investiagtion and trial. His attitutde is not good.

My freedom of thought and speech was violated, and regarding the patients right to life – this was completely ignored. 

I appealed the case to the furthest extent of the Japanese legal system, and the administration of justice never gave us a straight answer. In short, the courts totally disregarded my arguments. I received a suspended sentence, but how could I possibly believe in the law and justice system any further? How could I possibly conclude to obey these unconstitutional laws?

Later on, I found out that the secondary institution of the Ministry of Health and Labor, known by the slogan “NO. Absolutely” – which is a direct translation of the “Just Say No” campaign by Nancy Reagan, was an organization constituted of ex-bureaucrats from the Ministry. I also found out that the only information they have on cannabis is a drug sample kit imported from the United States and translated about 15 years ago – which is simply out-dated anti-cannabis propaganda. I reasearched and interviewed many people including a director from the “No. Absolutely” Center, and a senior advisor from the Ministry of Health and Labor, who both admitted that they do not have any medical or scientific reasoning behind this absurd translation of an outdated drug display kit. In short, they have absolutely no proper medical or scientific information regarding cannabis, yet they enforce these laws. I utiized the freedom of information act to obtain all inforamtion owned by the Ministry of Health and Labor regarding cannabis and proved that their information was next to nothing, medical or not, and placed such information on the internet.
 
This spring, a man who fought the Cannabis Control Act as an unconstitutional law, ended in defeat. It was just like any other cannabis case and the courts have always brought up the 1985 Supreme court decision that the “negative properties of cannabis is public knowledge”. However, such opinions are no longer supported by the international scientific and medical community. The attorney proved so in court. I stood as a witness, and provided information such as the fact that the Ministry of Health and Labor does not own any knowledge about cannabis. Ofcourse, the trial was a kangaroo court proceeding. I wrote to the Supreme courts a declaration of objection to the ruling, and also declared civil disobedience to the Cannabis Control Act, and ended the support effort for this case.

The separation of three powers (legal, administritive, and judicial) are totally dysfunctional in this country. Justice is not independant from the other powers as we’d like to think.

Growing up in Japan, I never had a problem obtaining good weed. Hashish and dried cannabis are both prevelent in Japan. It grows wildly there too, believe it or not. The self defense force spends a lot of money every year erradicating this wild cannabis, burning something like a million plants a year. What a waste of money and even bigger waste of good commercial weed.

I first smoked weed when I was 14 at an International School in a decent size city in Japan. I had a son of a movie star as a roommate, and he was spoiled rotten. He introduced me to weed for the first time. He got the stuff from his mom, who was some sort of talent agent. These type of people are well known to have weed in Japan. We used to smoke out together and listen to music, giggle all night, just like any other pothead does so. 

Back then, perhaps 25 years or so ago, Filipino weed was very popular in Japan. This stuff was rough, meaning that it had a lot of stems and seeds, and tiny tiny buds. But it worked. Back then, Filipino weed cost about 3000 yen (about $30) per gram retail, and extremely good Thai weed (yes, including Thai Stick) cost just a little more. Weed was weed, and the quality didn’t seem to matter so much. We were just lucky to have it. Or it seemed so at the time. Basically, back then it was all about availability and the weed’s quality didn’t affect the price so much. I pretty much stayed stoned all through high-school. Well, until I got kicked out for using other illicit substances.

Hashish, on the other hand, has always been high quality in Japan. Hashish is definitely bigger in the Tokyo area, and regular bud is more popular among the streets of the greater Osaka area. A lot of the good hashish used to come through Nepal, India and other hippie spots via backpackers and post-draft International travelers who sold jewelry on the streets.

Now the market is dominated by syndicated foreign interests and of course, the Yakuza. In my day, it was the norm for us to have to go see a local Yakuza representative or a made member, just to buy some weed. Nowadays, everybody grows their own. This is the greatist difference I see in the Japanese pot scene in the last 25 years. The wholesale price used to be about 900 yen ($9) to 1500 yen ($15) per gram depending on where the merchandise came from and how much you bought. Popular weed was from Hawaii, such as Maui Waui and Hawaiian Red Beard. This stuff cost up to 5000 yen ($50) a gram, but would keep you stoned all day long. Unpopular was Black Indian Hashish which is surprising because this shit was good and cheap, around 2000 yen ($20) a gram. This stuff was rock hard, and stamped with a dragon on each brick. Oxidized and turned black on the outside, the inside is actually light green when fresh. I’ve seen many variations of this hashish with various stamps, but the dragon was by far the most popular. Well, now I’m talking Tokyo circa ’89, when the Japanese famous ‘bubble’ economy was booming, and I heard even absurd prices such as 12000 yen ($120) a gram for some super bomb shit from Cambodia, aka Cambo in Roppongi area of Tokyo. As for the Indian Hashish, this stuff was so potent it spun me like a top.

Now my friends in Japan are struggling to even give away the shit, let alone sell it, because the market is so flooded. In Japan, it is no longer that hard to find pot anymore. You just have to know the right people. Or know where to look. Plus you gotta remember, everybody’s paranoid, because the laws are so strict. For example, for simple possession of any amount for any reason, medical or not, you will go to jail. If you’re caught cultivating, you will go to jail. You do anything with pot, you face up to 5 years in prison, 7 if it’s considered 
with intent to distribute, and 10 or more for special highly felonious charges. First time offenders will eventually get off with a suspended sentence, but it is hard jail in Japan, even compared to the United States. Atleast, that’s my opinion after experiencing both quite extensively. They both suck hard in different ways. 5 years in a Japanese jail is a very long stretch, and the government hits pot smokers with senteneces that compare to rape and assault 
charges. I’ve seen people get 5 years for murder. So be very careful, especially if you are on a suspended sentence. There is no second chance – if you catch a charge while on suspended sentence, you will do the time for the initial sentence plus the time for the new charge. This is how most pot smokers go from jail to prison.

American prisons are fucked up, because they have become such hostile environments. Japanese prisons are fucked up because of the ultra strict rules and regulations. At ant rate, it is best to avoid jail in any country. Usually jail sucks. It’s just not worth it to go to jail over a little bit of reefer – or any amount for that matter.

Japan has a big time meth problem. Crystal Meth was invented by a Japanese scientist and was used during the war to promote Kamikaze style piloting, and after the war to promote hard labor to rebuild the country. It is an unfortunate problem that sometimes the suppliers of 
weed are the same ones who spread methamphetamine throughout the Japanese society. This problem is gradually being solved, because as I said before, most pot-heads in Japan turned to indoor and outdoor cultivation.

The internet played a big role too. Access to information regarding pot has become readily available to the Japanese public, and therefore there are more and more pot heads every year.The internet has extensive information about how to grow indoors, outdoors, in various mediums. This changed the game quite a bit.

There is also a huge reggae and hip-hop scene in Japan that played a big role in spreading the word about cannabis. Many Japanese Rastafarians moved to the country side to grow pot. There was some sort of a hippie movement prior to this, but I am too young to know about it. Perhaps my parent’s generation knows a little more about this subject.

But don’t forget – in Japanese society it is taboo to even openly discuss the subject matter of cannabis. If you stand out of a crowd, you have a great chance of getting busted. Being a foreigner (well I’m half American) doesn’t help either. Racial profiling by the police is very common in Japan. The police will target foreigners and confront them, and may ask (or order you) to empty your pockets. YOU DON’T HAVE TO FOLLOW THEIR ORDERS. Remember, such cooperation with the police is purely voluntary. But they are tenacious as hell, and it is common that if you argue with cops, you may end up wasting hours of your time.

At any rate, the Japanese pot scene is changing dramtically. More than 3000 citizens are busted for cannabis related charges every year. It is estimated that more than a million Japanese have tried cannabis in one form or another. As the Japanese travel abroad, they often bring home the practice of smoking pot back to their country. Hopefully the laws will change in the near future – Japan has a rich history with this plant, dating back to 10000 years ago, and we were stripped of the right to smoke weed by the American occupying forces, also known as the GHQ (general headquarters) right after the war. Until then, we even had medical marijuana sold as tincture in pharmacies.

The legal battles will go on, and some day we shall restore cannabis back into our mainstream culture to the fullest extent.