Yo, what’s good my people? It’s your boy Dan here, and I’m about to drop some knowledge on y’all about the recent changes in Japan’s cannabis laws. So listen up, this is some important stuff right here.
On December 6, the peeps in the Upper House voted in favor of revising the Cannabis Control Law. What does that mean, you ask? Well, they lifted the ban on pharmaceuticals made from weed plants. But hold up, they also introduced a new criminal offense for using marijuana. Talk about a mixed bag, right?
Before this revision, it was a big no-no to use any medicines made from Mary Jane plants. But now, they’re saying it’s all good as long as those meds are confirmed to be safe and effective by the higher-ups in the pharmaceutical world. So basically, they’re opening the door for medical treatments using cannabis. That’s a game-changer.
Why are they doing this, you may wonder? Well, it turns out that weed can actually be helpful in treating epilepsy and other disorders. There’s this stuff in Mary Jane called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which can make you see things that aren’t really there (if you know what I mean), and then there’s cannabidiol (CBD), which is less harmful and can help with epilepsy. People overseas have been using CBD drugs for epilepsy, and now Japan wants to get in on the action.
But wait, there’s more! The old cannabis law didn’t actually punish people for using weed, only for possessing it. That doesn’t make much sense, does it? So now, they’re getting serious about cracking down on marijuana use. If you get caught with weed or smoke it without permission, you could end up behind bars for up to seven years. Ouch.
And let me tell you, arrests related to pot have been skyrocketing in Japan. They’re actually arresting more people for weed than any other drug. Young folks, especially, are getting caught up in this mess. In 2021 alone, a record-breaking 5,783 people got busted, and almost 70% of them were in their twenties or younger. It seems like one reason for all this is that there haven’t been any real consequences for using weed. Well, not anymore.
Now, let’s talk about the good stuff. This change in the law is a game-changer when it comes to medical treatments in Japan. It’s like a breath of fresh air blowing away those old-fashioned ideas about weed. Now, they’re seeing the potential for using cannabis-based medicines to help folks with all sorts of neurological disorders. That’s big news, my friends.
But before you get too excited, there are some hoops to jump through. These meds have to go through a strict approval process to make sure they actually work and won’t mess you up. The big shots in the pharmaceutical world are now in charge of deciding which meds are good to go. So we’ll have to wait and see what they say.
You know what else is cool? Other countries have already been using CBD drugs for epilepsy and stuff. They’re doing clinical trials right here in Japan too. So we’re not alone in this journey. We can learn from what’s happening around the world and make sure we’re doing things right.
Now, here’s the thing about getting caught with weed in Japan. It’s not just about getting slapped with possession charges anymore. No, no, no. They’re really cracking down on this stuff now. If you get caught with weed or smoke it without permission, you could end up behind bars for up to seven years. That’s no joke.
This new law has the cops scratching their heads too. They’ve got to figure out how to enforce these stricter rules and deal with all the people getting caught. It’s not gonna be easy, my friends. And what about us regular folks? How are we gonna feel about all this? Will there be more stigma around weed? Will people think it’s even worse than it already is? These are the questions we gotta ask ourselves.
So there you have it, my peeps. Japan is making some big changes when it comes to weed. We’re opening the door for medical treatments using cannabis, but at the same time, we’re getting tougher on those who use it recreationally. It’s a tricky balance, but we’re figuring it out. And hey, let’s not forget to learn from what’s happening around the world and make sure we’re doing things right. This is just the beginning of a new chapter in Japan’s cannabis story. Stay tuned, my friends, because there’s gonna be more to come.
Peace out,
Dan
