The Surprising History of Cannabis in Japan: From Cultural Significance to Criminalization
In a twist of fate, some of the countries with the strictest drug policies today have a hidden past where the same substances were once celebrated. Take Japan, for example, a country that once had a thriving hemp industry but now imposes severe penalties for cannabis use. The political and social landscape for weed users is confusing and dangerous, with a deep stigma attached. So, what is the legal status of cannabis in Japan? While medical use is technically allowed, there is no system in place to regulate it. And for recreational use, Japan not only prohibits possession, cultivation, and sale, but also penalizes consumption. That’s right, simply smoking a joint can land you in prison for up to 7 years. Despite these strict laws and societal shaming, there is still a significant portion of the population that continues to use cannabis. So, why do they take the risk of spending almost a decade behind bars for a simple joint? This is the question that led Dr. Yuji Masataka and his team, members of the Japanese Clinical Association of Cannabinoids (JCAC), to conduct their research, recently published in Drug Science, Policy and Law. We had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Masataka, who has a unique background in cannabis education in Japan, including projects like Green Zone Japan.
Why Do People in Japan Continue to Smoke Weed Despite the Risks?
This is not the first time Dr. Masataka’s team has delved into this topic. In 2021, they conducted a survey with over 4,000 responses from Japanese cannabis users – the largest cross-sectional study of its kind in the country. From these results, they concluded that “the actual health risks associated with cannabis use may not be as high as widely assumed,” according to Masataka. To further explore this issue, the researchers conducted a series of interviews, which became known as the Smoker’s Story Project. Inspired by Paul Auster’s National Story Project, the team aimed to collect and share individual stories on a public website. “While each account was personal and unique, we believed that compiling them would begin to reveal a broader picture of cannabis use in Japan,” explains Masataka. And indeed, it did. The current research project features interviews with 64 Japanese people (39 men and 25 women) over the age of 20. While this sample may seem small and is not meant to be representative, it is larger than the researchers expected. “We were initially concerned that people would be hesitant to speak about their illegal behavior – but to our surprise, more participants volunteered than we had expected,” Masataka admits. “We believe this was largely due to the trust we had built within the community through our previous work.”
