On October 18th, Canada legalized the recreational use of marijuana, prompting the Japanese government to respond by sending warnings that the use abroad can still be prosecuted. The criminal charges for possession of weed in Japan are incredibly strict: distribution can result in 10 years in prison and a 3 million yen fine and possession can result in a 5-year sentence and 2 million yen fine. Despite the harsh consequences, it’s still difficult to prosecute a Japanese person traveling abroad unless they are caught and deported. For those traveling to Japan, domestic laws apply; for instance, in 1980, Paul McCartney was caught with marijuana possession at the Narita airport and subsequently sent back to the US. According to the article, the number of marijuana-related crimes in Japan of those aged 14-19 has increased fivefold since 2013.
The different attitudes towards marijuana differ between western countries like the US and eastern countries like Japan. Many attribute this contrast to the Opium wars of the 19th century, where China was nearly destroyed by the rampant use of the drug. In addition, during the war, many Japanese soldiers became addicted to meth in response to the grueling conditions of war. Thus, Asian countries tend to be fearful of all drugs regardless of their effects. Even though some may criticize the strict rules, it has created a strong taboo against usage and drug-related crimes are extremely uncommon compared to Western standards.
The drug war in the US is highly controversial - some argue that criminals be prosecuted heavily while others claim that rehabilitation and lax rules will improve the situation. It’s a complex issue that I’d like to research more and see how different countries are approaching this problem.
The different attitudes towards marijuana differ between western countries like the US and eastern countries like Japan. Many attribute this contrast to the Opium wars of the 19th century, where China was nearly destroyed by the rampant use of the drug. In addition, during the war, many Japanese soldiers became addicted to meth in response to the grueling conditions of war. Thus, Asian countries tend to be fearful of all drugs regardless of their effects. Even though some may criticize the strict rules, it has created a strong taboo against usage and drug-related crimes are extremely uncommon compared to Western standards.
The drug war in the US is highly controversial - some argue that criminals be prosecuted heavily while others claim that rehabilitation and lax rules will improve the situation. It’s a complex issue that I’d like to research more and see how different countries are approaching this problem.
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