Quote:
Originally Posted by burkhartdesu
This is true, and was surely a stupid decision. It's a shame.
But seriously, as the OP said, they were 59 and 62 years old at the time. It's not as though they were in the business of selling the stuff. Who's to say? Maybe it was used for a particular medical condition that couldn't be treated otherwise.
Do you think they will serve jail time?
In general: It's tragic that a government would punish the elderly for possessing dried plant material [That has proven medicinal benefits]. Doesn't the idea of making nature against the law seem a little, unnatural?
In reality: Don't bring drugs into Japan, there are plenty more entertaining things to do.
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You can describe marijuana as "dried plant material" in the same way you could describe anthrax as a "soft white powder".
The government isn't punishing anyone for carrying "dried plant material", they are punishing people for knowingly breaking the law. Is a crime less repugnant because of someone's age? If you were hit by a car driven by a 70 year old drunk driver, should the be treated any differently than if they were 30?
The benefits or otherwise of marijuana are not relevant in this situation. This school principle will not be sent to jail, she'll simply be deported after 10 days in a holding cell (like all the other foreign potheads are), and banned from ever returning. Once she arrives in America, she'll likely face federal charges because she and her husband used the US Post Office to transport the marijuana. Her case will probably be plead to a misdemeanor, but she's likely to lose her American teaching license.