Friday, June 12th, 2009 at 12:20 pm | By: Radical Russ
A government survey indicates that the percentage of people 15 and older who have smoked marijuana increased 2.6-fold between 1995 and 2005, although the overall rate remains relatively low.
Cannabis users formed 1.3 percent of all respondents in a 2005 survey on drug use by the National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, up from 0.5 percent in a previous survey in 1995.
Marijuana finished behind organic solvents, including paint thinner, which at a usage rate of 1.5 percent was the most abused type of drug in Japan.
In both the 1995 and 2005 surveys, the percentage of people who said they have taken stimulant drugs stood at 0.3 percent.
Slightly more than 3 percent of the respondents said they have been offered solvents, while 2.4 percent said they have been offered pot and 1.0 percent stimulant drugs.
More Japanese would rather huff paint thinner than smoke pot? I hope that’s a reflection of the availability of cannabis on the island and not a preference. That paint thinner can easily kill you and we all know the marijuana will not. C’mon, Japanese growers! I call on you to grow more and help save your fellow countrymen from huffing!
I want a NORML chapter in all fifty states, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. I want double the number of chapters. So I really need your help.
Just this last two weeks, I have received emails from budding activists (pun intended) looking to start NORML Chapters in Colorado, North Carolina, Alaska, Alabama, Florida (Miami), Missouri, Virginia, Idaho, New Hampshire, Kentucky, Mississippi, Vermont, Texas, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Kansas, as well as four new college chapter inquiries and inquiries from Australia, Japan, Guam, and Mexico (Cuidad Juarez).
I work to put the people in the same state in touch with each other because the hardest thing about forming a NORML Chapter isn’t finding the guy or gal to lead, it’s finding the other four people to form your board.
So Stashers, if you’re in one of the above-named states or countries and you’d like to get on board with a new local chapter, send me an email to stash@norml.org with the subject “Join a Chapter” and I’ll hook you up.
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Today’s Stash: Dan Linn from Illinois NORML joins us for Government at Work to discuss Illinois HB 2514 and SB 1381, the twin measures to make Illinois the 14th medical marijuana state (call the Illinois reps at 217-782-2000). It’s like New Jersey, Illinois, and Minnesota are in a race or something.
Jet Baker joins us as a regional Cannabis Correspondent with his report on the Texas NORML reformer’s bootcamp in Austin, or “the ATX, y’all”.
Taku from THC Japan calls in from Tokyo to discuss sumo testing positive for weed, emerging Japanese cannabis culture, and the similarity of Reefer Madness in all languages. I take it back – I called Taku… what’s the per-minute charge to Japan?
And Rich Hardesty not only provides today’s Daily Toker Tune, he talks to us about his music and getting his song on the Totally Baked DVD.
Friday, February 13th, 2009 at 1:44 pm | By: Radical Russ
At the behest of a sponsor, Michael Phelps has recorded a video apology to the people of China, expressing his remorse over the recently published pictures of him using a marijuana pipe and thanking them for their support and forgiveness.
The 52-second video has been posted on several Web sites in China, and one major Chinese newspaper said the video had been sent directly from the Japanese auto company Mazda, which last month signed Phelps to an endorsement deal believed to be worth more than a million dollars. Phelps was signed to promote Mazda cars in China after his record-breaking eight-gold-medal performance at the Beijing Olympics last summer.
But Mazda apparently decided an apology to the Chinese would suffice. The company issued a statement saying it would continue its sponsorship of Phelps. “His expression of remorse and his determination to make amends, and especially his video apology and expression of thanks to the Chinese people, give us confidence that Phelps can make a healthy return to the pool and have even more brilliant achievements,” the statement said.
I’m sorry, I’ve forgotten — how many gold medals and world records did Michael Phelps win for the nation of China again? Or Japan?
I had been withholding judgment on Phelps apologies. I was giving him some leeway, being a 23-year-old young man, being socially awkward from years spent in a pool rather than socializing, being in the unenviable position of having the entire world focused on you as you decide “millions of dollars and set for life” vs. “the fallen-from-grace gold medalist who stood up for pot”. I’m down for the cause and all, but you throw eight figures at me and I might have to think about it.
Forget it, Phelps, I’m done withholding judgment. You may be the fastest fish in the water, but out of the pool you’ve got as much spine as a squid. Your pot smoking isn’t something to be ashamed of, in fact, it was the smartest recreational intoxicant choice you could make. You’re unquestionably the greatest swimmer ever and your financial future would be secure even if every sponsor dropped you (unlike, say, the thousands losing their jobs over a dirty pee test). USA Swimming would never have banned you from any real competition; you’re their only household name. You, unlike anyone else caught smoking pot, were in the most unassailable position to finally say, “I smoke pot and I like it a lot – so what?” and maybe be the little boy who cries out the emperor is naked that finally tips the scales in ending adult marijuana prohibition.
Real men stand up for what they believe. Real men fight for their sacred honor. Real men don’t cower and submit for a paycheck when their family’s survival doesn’t depend on it.
Sheesh, do we now have to boycott the companies that kept Phelps because they’re supporting the Judas of Ganja? ”Is this not the third time thou hast denied me,” said Cannabis?
Friday, February 6th, 2009 at 7:00 pm | By: Radical Russ
In the past six months, four wrestlers have been kicked out of the ancient sport for allegedly smoking marijuana, creating the biggest drugs-in-sports scandal that Japan has ever seen.
Although three of the wrestlers who have been expelled from the sport were from Russia, the arrest last week of a 25-year-old Japanese athlete who goes by the ring name of Wakakirin for possession of marijuana has raised concern that use of the drug may be more widespread than originally thought.
More than being simply a drug issue, however, the scandal has been amplified by the fact that it involves one of the world’s oldest and most tradition-bound sports — and one that is solidly rooted in religious purification ritual.
Sumo wrestlers are expected to live the old-school life of a disciple. They wear their hair in topknots, dress in traditional robes and train in communal “stables.” Their schedules are tightly regulated and the word of their coaches, who are still called “masters,” is absolute and final.
Moving quickly to ease criticism, the Japan Sumo Association, which oversees the professional sport, voted this week to dismiss Wakakirin, whose legal name is Shinichi Suzukawa.
With Wakakirin’s arrest, officials now say they will further beef up doping tests for marijuana and stimulants. Marijuana is not considered a performance-enhancing drug.
Wakakirin reportedly became interested in marijuana after reading about it in magazines and seeing others smoking it at hip-hop clubs.
Hmm… when your sport requires you to be really, really fat, and not move from one spot, couldn’t marijuana be considered a performance-enhancing drug? See, this is why our Founding Fathers were so wise to institute a separation of church and sport in this country! ;-)
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.
Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008 at 12:08 pm | By: Radical Russ
Not Even Sumo Immune From Drug Scandal
Two Russian sumo wrestlers tested positive for marijuana use in Japan less than a month after a fellow Russian wrestler was arrested for possession of pot, the country’s association of sumo wrestlers said today.
It’s the first drug scandal in the roughly 2,000 year history of sumo wrestling and the latest in a rising number of marijuana incidents in Japan, a country with harsh penalties for drug offenders.
Nihon Sumo Kyokai, the Japanese sumo wrestlers association, announced today that urine samples of Russian brothers Soslan “Roho” Feliksovich Baradzov and Batraz “Hakurozan” Feliksovich Baradzov showed the presence of marijuana. The news came amid a police investigation of another Russian wrestler, Soslan “Wakanoho” Aleksandrovich Gagloev, who was arrested for illegal use and possession of cannabis last month.
Marijuana-related arrests have been on the rise in Japan in recent years, according to a report compiled by the National Police Agency. Between January and June 2008, police made 1,686 arrests involving marijuana — the highest in history and an increase of 9.1 percent. from the same period in the previous year.
Possession of marijuana is illegal in Japan, punishable by up to five years in prison with forced labor. Foreigners convicted of such crimes can face deportation and a lifetime ban from the country.
However, a loophole in the law allows people to purchase and possess marijuana seeds. A packet of 10 marijuana seeds can be bought online for $80 to $400.
Hold on, I’m still working on that image in my mind of three 500-lb. Russian sumo wrestlers working a bong. Is there a Qwik-E-Mart large enough to supply the munchies for this toker trio? Sumo’s got to be the only sport where packing on an extra ten pounds of fat from Doritos and Haagen Dazs is a good thing!
While I don’t agree with banning steroids, at least there is a reasonable case to be made for testing for steroids, as well as stimulants, and that’s the competitive edge cocaine, speed, or ‘roids can give the athlete. With marijuana, you just can’t make that case. It is only because marijuana is criminal that these athletes’ careers need to be ruined, not because they’re cheating their sport in any way.
RevRayGreen: I'll post a pic of me and my son....gimme a minute
Missippi Hippy: Guess what... I'm gonna be a new... ummmmm well, my pet piggie Ganja is in labor and they ain't mine in the same sense. See what your wife [...]
RevRayGreen: days they didn't talk back..or act disrespectful..
RevRayGreen: feel so lucky my son is 18 going 19 and my daughter 16 going on 17..relish the days that can't talk back
Urb Age: Congrats Spof thats awesome. My little Clara is about to hit 20 months. Im not the activist I used to be, but its made me a better man.
Urb Age: Heck I was gonna go up there, but just not feeling well this weekend..Dang it, I hate it when that happens..
RevRayGreen: wishing I was hanging at NORML cafe...
JohnH: Just a quick comment about tokin' and sperm motility....been tokin since age 14 and have 8 kids ranging in age from 30 to 9...(what can I say, I found 2 [...]
slash5city: really ..oprah 35 yr or more in the closet toker ...outed ....o my god !!
SneakerPimp: that would be huge news just imagen the headline
RevRayGreen: maybe Oprah smokes and keeps it on the DL...
SneakerPimp: and good afternoon
mr reuben: I could do without seeing Rob K. on tv. But Bruce and Eithan get a big thumbs up from me.
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"Truth In Trials Act" Reintroduced In Congress; Maine: Voters Approve Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Measure; Colorado: Breckenridge Voters Overwhelmingly Decide To End Pot Penalties. […]
Some of the nation’s top athletes discuss why today's pros are turning to cannabis — and away from alcohol and painkillers — off the field, and question why pro sports leagues are continuing to sanction those who do. Moderator: Steve Bloom, Author, Pot Culture; editor, celebstoner.com * Toby Grear, MMA fighter * Sean Neumann, Documentary Filmm […]
Cannabis Law Reform's Missing Link: Law Enforcement Former Seattle Police Chief Norm Stamper; LEAP and NORML Advisory Board; Author of Breaking Rank Putting the Mexican Cartels Out of Business Mexican drug cartels now employ over 100,000 soldiers and are responsible for nearly ten thousand deaths per year. Their largest source of income is marijuana. […]
Japanese marijuana use doubles in a decade, still trails huffing
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