Japan reports sharp increase in marijuana arrests, triggering concerns for drug issues seen in the West

There was an almost 20 per cent increase between 2016 and 2017, as more youth say they tried it out of curiosity
South China Morning Post (China)
Friday, April 13, 2018

Japan has seen a sharp increase in marijuana possession arrests, especially among teenagers and people in their 20s, prompting warnings of drug-related issues typically associated with the more tolerant West. But the number remains relatively low for a country of more than 127 million people. National Police Agency figures show 3,008 people were arrested on marijuana changes in 2017, up almost 20 per cent from 2,536 cases in 2016. The spike marks a new record for the largely drug-intolerant country and comes as arrests for hallucinogenic substances are declining – apparently due to a police crackdown on “dangerous drugs”.