Japan is set to criminalize the recreational use of cannabis while legalizing medical use. The decision, announced last week, will take effect on December 12.
Although the possession and cultivation of marijuana are already illegal in Japan, the new law will also ban its use and impose a prison sentence of up to seven years for offenders.
At the moment, Japan does not impose penalties for cannabis use, partly to safeguard farmers who might inadvertently come into contact with the plant's substances while cultivating it for hemp products. However, this approach has shifted due to growing concerns that the absence of a ban on use is contributing to increased drug abuse among young people.
Last year, Japan saw a record 6,482 people investigated for cannabis-related criminal cases, an increase of 1,140 from the previous year. Over 70% of those investigated were teenagers and young adults in their 20s, according to police data reported by Japanese news agency Kyodo News.
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