Drugs in Japan

[Sangetsu]

Smuggling marijuana to an island nation like Japan is not easy, and customs is very aggressive when checking anything which comes into the country. Some of you may remember a few months ago that the new principal of the Sacred Heart International School was arrested when her husband attempted to ship a small amount of marijuana to her. Like all other foreigners who get caught with drugs, she was arrested, tried, and deported without even getting a chance telephone her coworkers or to change her clothes.

Drug use in Japan is extremely uncommon. One can get arrested for narcotics possession in Japan even for marijuana residue in an ash tray. The Japanese make no distinctions. And one must remember that Japanese police possess far more powers than the police of of western nations. If you are arrested you don't get any phone calls, and there is no requirement for an attorney to be present when you are questioned. And when you are convicted (which happens pretty close to 100% of the time) you are going to spend time behind bars. Drugs mean jail in Japan if you are caught.

If you want to know why Japan is such a safe country, you now know part of the reason. No drugs means no drug money and no drug gangs. It means no one has to steal or prostitute themselves to buy drugs. It means that the prisons are not full of drug dealers, and that the hospitals are not full of drug addicts. Japan is a good example of a country where strict drug prevention policies has been a success.

Japan may not be a Christian country, but it is certainly a moral one. The punishment a drug user endures in prison is probably nothing compared to the shame his family endures when news gets out of his arrest. The first thing people think here when someone gets arrested is "His poor parents, how are they going to face their neighbors?". The families of those arrested for drugs or other crimes often move to another city rather than endure the shame.

Having long lived and worked in an area where drug use was common, along with the associated crime, poverty, and death, I much prefer the Japanese attitude about drugs.

[KungMartin]

Originally Posted by Tyrien

Granted, like any recreational drug (I'm including caffeine, Cigarettes, and Alcohol.) it's not healthy. But it's definitely not a hard drug by any classification.

Actually, in the "health" aspect Alcohol and Tobacco should be classified as "hard drugs". Tobacco gives you lung cancer, and Alcohol kills your liver. Pot does NOT give you lung cancer even if you smoke it (THC lessens the effect of cancer cell formation), and it DOESN'T fry brain cells (they go to sleep in lack of a better explanation, but eventually "wake up"). Anyone who told you that is wrong. Also, after all these hundreds of years of Cannabis use, not a single death has been documented to the direct use of Cannabis (so obviously you can't get lung cancer if no one has died from smoking cannabis).

Also, Alcohol and Tobacco (and caffeine) are physically addictive. Pot isn't, it's only psychologically addictive at worst. Which is VERY rare to become, since withdrawal from Marijuana isn't a problem unlike most other drugs out there.

and contrary to popular belief the smell doesn't really sink in and linger that much.

It actually goes away pretty quickly if you've only smoked it. I usually have to like spray deodorant on my jacket (after I've been outside with a friend smoking a joint) if I've been smoking some really strong skunk weed (which has a crazy strong smell). But it goes away pretty quickly, unlike Tobacco.

Originally Posted by Nyororin

For an example - A former student of my husband`s university was caught in Tokyo trying to buy a small amount of marijuana in Roppongi. Not only did he get arrested, lose his job, and had his university degree removed... the information was sent out in the alumni news, and contributions he had made to various projects during the past were considered to be of no value and removed. Chances are, customers also stopped business with his company.

Damn, really? That's just fucking... overkill. Wow just wow...

There really IS no drug culture. You don`t get people going around offering their opinions about it, you don`t get sites all over dedicated to the positive benefits of some drugs, etc. There may be a few, but you`d really have to go out looking for them. And as there isn`t really much exposure - people do not. The drugs you are more likely to encounter are heroin and meth - and I say "more likely" in just that direct meaning. More likely than 0, not likely to encounter.

Yeah I was going to say Meth too since it's sort of like a party drug. Even I've taken meth and I don't like taking chemical drugs. I'd say Cocaine would be in the same league too, but heavier. Definitely has to be used in Japan to some degree=D

[sarasi]

Originally Posted by Tyrien

To be honest I simply don't believe that. I feel that it's just not talked about.

there's hardly any way I can believe the majority of Japanese citizens consider majiruana to be a "dangerous and risky behavior'.

As the others have said, you can choose to believe what you like, but those of us who have lived in Japan for years can tell you that you are wrong. We are basing the info we have given here on what we have actually observed in the people we know and in the media while living here, and you are basing your ideas on what you have probably quite selectively read on the internet.

[Nyororin]

Originally Posted by KungMartin

Damn, really? That's just fucking... overkill. Wow just wow...

Overkill? No - that is what "they have very strict laws against drugs in Japan" means. So when someone says that, it is TRUE, and not just the same as average drug laws wherever.

Yeah I was going to say Meth too since it's sort of like a party drug. Even I've taken meth and I don't like taking chemical drugs. I'd say Cocaine would be in the same league too, but heavier. Definitely has to be used in Japan to some degree=D

You totally missed what I was saying. NOT that it is common, but that if anyone runs into someone using drugs it`s more likely to be someone using meth or heroin. NOT that it is likely they will run into the drugs.

You are still looking at it through the window of your own life and experiences. You could go to a thousand parties in Japan and chances are you`d never see anything other than alcohol. Ever. There just simply is not a drug culture in Japan. There simply aren`t "party drugs" here. The culture when it comes to these things really is completely different.

[dirtyroboto]

Kungmartin, I spent most of my life in and around London and some time in NYC and Florida. I was in the music business for a while, you can guess what that means right!
It means I have seen it all when it comes to drugs and drink.

In Japan you can't buy Rizla. (To locals, I know that, don't flame).
But the main factors that others have pointed out is the social stigma.

In the west you will get laughed at by your spliff smoking parents, sisters and brothers if you don't suck the weed. Your friends won't talk to you and your Boss may fire you for not having a spare paper.
Kids in the west now use drugs as fashion. It's more down to what you can score then what you wear.

In Japan, life is still going on as usual. There has been an increase in immigrants who take drugs and by association introduce drugs to Japanese. There are Japanese who try to smuggle drugs into Japan for an easy buck.
For the most part, and I mean 99% the Japanese are not interested in that part of western culture.

And it is this point. That Japan has by and large protected it's people and their welfare that is the reason you won't find a drug culture here.
While western governments have failed and Islamic states have used religious and barbaric deterants. Japan has helped it's people avoid the onslaught of drug culture.

So, if you are a tourist in Japan I guess you could find a smoke quite easily. If you don't mind hanging around in the same place as people who will rob you or spike your drinks, that is. When I say Japan I mean Tokyo, oh! when I say Tokyo I mean a small part of Tokyo.

[sarasi]

Originally Posted by Nyororin

There just simply is not a drug culture in Japan. There simply aren`t "party drugs" here. The culture when it comes to these things really is completely different.

Well, I think the incidents with Noriko Sakai and Manabu Oshio last year make it clear that there is a minor drug culture in some areas of society here, and that some celebrities are well into it. In the clubs in Shibuya and Roppongi you could find 覚せい剤 (stimulants for those who don't read Japanese) if you were interested, and as I mentioned above I also know people who regularly smoke marijuana, so to say there is no drug culture at all here is inaccurate in my opinion. Marijuana use, while nothing like KungMartin was assuming it is, is a bit more widespread than you might think.

Having said that, the rest of what you have said on this thread is very accurate, and should have helped to convince other posters that smoking marijuana is not something you just get a slap on the wrist for doing here.

[Nyororin]

Originally Posted by sarasi

Well, I think the incidents with Noriko Sakai and Manabu Oshio last year make it clear that there is a minor drug culture in some areas of society here, and that some celebrities are well into it. In the clubs in Shibuya and Roppongi you could find 覚せい剤 (stimulants for those who don't read Japanese) if you were interested, and as I mentioned above I also know people who regularly smoke marijuana, so to say there is no drug culture at all here is inaccurate in my opinion. Marijuana use, while nothing like KungMartin was assuming it is, is a bit more widespread than you might think.

I`ve never said that drugs are impossible to find - but having grown up (unfortunately) very very deep in the "drug culture" of the US... It would really be a stretch to call the small strings of people into drugs in Japan a "drug culture". You honestly could go to a thousand parties and concerts in Japan and really never encounter anything at all... Whereas in the US, you`d be lucky to not find something at every single one. In the end, it really is social suicide even if you don`t get caught and into any legal trouble.

When it comes to availability, I think that dirtyroboto hit it on the head pretty well when he said "If you don't mind hanging around in the same place as people who will rob you or spike your drinks, that is. When I say Japan I mean Tokyo, oh! when I say Tokyo I mean a small part of Tokyo."

[KungMartin]

Originally Posted by sarasi

and as I mentioned above I also know people who regularly smoke marijuana, so to say there is no drug culture at all here is inaccurate in my opinion. Marijuana use, while nothing like KungMartin was assuming it is, is a bit more widespread than you might think.

Hey I wasn't really claiming much more than that honestly! Pretty much just the fact that you know people who smoke it regularly is what I was assuming.

I definitely hear you though Nyororin=)

[edelweiss]

Before 2002 all those people who were legally ingesting mushrooms were a part of the drug culture. I'm sure farmed drugs like marijuana and cocaine may be harder to come by but like I said I have seen obvious meth users in Tokyo. You only need easily found chemicals to make the stuff.

I don't hang out in clubs or bars when I visit Japan, I rarely stay out past 10PM and I have still seen the drug addicts. They are mostly stumbling around in the early morning still wearing yesterdays clothing. The last one I saw was trying to cut into line for the bathroom at a Starbucks in Harajuku at 4 in the afternoon! She was skinny, looked sweaty, smelled vaguely of gasoline and was broken out in meth bumps. I mean, she still had a nice handbag but she was otherwise a hot mess.

And what about prescriptions? Most urban kids around here don't bother with street drugs these days. They hit up mom and dad's medicine cabinet. Is that something seen in Japan at all?

[dirtyroboto]

They are mostly stumbling around in the early morning still wearing yesterdays clothing. The last one I saw was trying to cut into line for the bathroom at a Starbucks in Harajuku at 4 in the afternoon! She was skinny, looked sweaty, smelled vaguely of gasoline and was broken out in meth bumps. I mean, she still had a nice handbag but she was otherwise a hot mess.

Are you sure she was native and not a imported sex worker? I only ask as I know there is a problem with girls being imported to work in the sex trade after already being abused and hooked on drugs before they are bought here.

It must be said that even in organised crime in Japan, drug use is frowned on. It may be sold, but never used by a member.
BUT!!!
Now there are many non Japanese crime setups who are moving into the drug business in Japan, and you can find public information posters warning against drug use on many streets.

For me, I would want my children to have the chance to grow up in a drug free environment. Japan affords that chance. I don't want to see 10 year old kids smoking weed on the street like in the UK. I want to see them enjoying life as normal children.

Back in the day in the UK (about 30 years) people who smoked drugs mainly smoked Hashish, and were very secretive about it. It was expensive and smoked by bohimian types.
Now, every man, woman and child seems to have access to the strongest skunk being bred, and for a small price too.

I am really not against the plant itself, but the culture that has now flocked to worship it's distinctive leaves. It does have many beneficial uses, but so many people are now using it as a crutch and teaching their kids to do the same.
Gone are the days of "Mum! can I get some pocket money for a bag of cola cubes and a fanta". Welcome to the days of "Mum! can I get some pocket money for a few spliff's, rizla and a packet of fags".

(note: Fags are English slang for ciggarettes)