Japan grappling with cannabis crisis – The Mainichi Daily News
From university students to sumo wrestlers, celebrities and professional sportsmen, the number of cannabis users is on the rise and showing no signs of slowing.Arrests and reports to prosecutors for marijuana cultivation have risen fourfold over the last 10 years to 192 in 2007, according to the Kinki branch of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare’s Compliance and Narcotics Division.
Cannabis is also known as a gateway drug, since it can lead to the abuse of other substances.
It’s commonly misunderstood that there are no health risks with smoking cannabis. However, Yukihiro Shoyama, professor of pharmaceutical resources at Nagasaki International University, disagrees.
“It’s more carcinogenic than tobacco, so to say there’s no health effect is a big mistake. Repeated use can also cause a motivational syndrome, similar to chronic lethargy, and deterioration of memory.”
During 2007, police apprehended 2,373 suspects on 3,388 cannabis-related charges. Of those, 1,430 people were in their 20s, 184 aged 19 and below and 75 aged 50 and above.
The Cannabis Control Law provides for up to five years’ prison for possession and seven for cultivation, but there is no formal punishment for use. However, the health ministry points out that there have been cases where smoking cannabis with a friend has been construed as joint possession, and that simple usage by no means allows people to escape the penalty.
What’s the Japanese word for “reefer madness”?
First of all, Professor Shoyama, cannabis has been shown to not lead to increase in head, neck, neck or lung cancers, even among heavy users, and may actually have anti-tumoral properties. Second, there is no such thing as the “amotivational syndrome”. Third, cannabis use does not lead to cognitive declines or memory declines and may actually stave off memory problems in old age. Fourth, cannabis is not a “gateway drug” and no reputable scientist will even spout that nonsense anymore.
Silly professor! How can an educated (PHd?) person say so many dumb things in such a short statement? Oh, silly ME, he must work for the Japanese government. I’ll bet the Japanese people know that he’s an idiot too!