Society

37% of Tokyo minors involved in police cases linked to pot say cannabis is not harmful

Aug 22 () - Of the minors dealt with by Tokyo police last year on suspicion of violating the cannabis control law, 37% said that cannabis is not harmful, a survey by the Metropolitan Police Department showed Saturday.

About 40% of the minors used social media to acquire marijuana, according to the survey.

With the number of people dealt with by the Tokyo police last year for alleged violations of the law soaring more than 13 times from 2012, the department plans to address the survey results in its efforts to discourage cannabis possession and use by youngsters, officials said.

Japan maintains strict laws on marijuana even as a number of countries have legalized its recreational use in recent years. The law subjects owners and growers of the plant to up to five and seven years of imprisonment, respectively, and the government has warned citizens about using pot in countries where it has been legalized.

Some respondents noted that cannabis has been legalized in some countries, while others said there’s a low potential for addiction when it comes to cannabis use.

"In Europe, some countries are leaning towards legalization more and more. For example, in Barcelona (Spain), people are allowed to buy cannabis seeds and grow few plants in-house."

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