TOKYO REPORT: Cannabis Abuse on Rise among Young People in Japan

Tokyo, June 1 (Jiji Press)–Cannabis abuse is becoming widespread among young people in Japan, especially in Tokyo. In 2025, people in their 20s and younger accounted for more than 70 pct of all those taken into police custody or otherwise processed in cannabis-related cases, pushing the total to a record high. Roughly one in six of the cases was dealt with by the Metropolitan Police Department, underscoring the scale of the problem in Tokyo, Japan’s capital and busiest urban center. Often described as a “gateway drug,” cannabis is widely believed to raise the risk of users turning to more dangerous substances, including stimulants. Law enforcement authorities are urging the public not to be swayed by claims that cannabis is “harmless” or “nonaddictive.” Broader Base Revisions to laws including the narcotics and psychotropics control law took effect in 2024, making the use of cannabis illegal, in addition to its possession and distribution. The exception is the use of cannabis-derived substances as pharmaceutical ingredients, provided their efficacy and safety have been confirmed. According to the National Police Agency, these legal changes were one factor behind last year’s increase in the number of people subject to police action in cannabis-related cases, which rose by 754 from the previous year to 6,832. Tokyo recorded the highest number of cannabis-related cases among all prefectures, with 1,139 people processed by the MPD. For the first time, the figure surpassed the number of people questioned by the department in stimulant drug cases. Among cannabis-related cases investigated by the MPD, people in their 20s made up the largest age group at 57 pct, followed by teenagers at 15 pct and people in their 30s at 14 pct. Combined, teenagers and people in their 20s accounted for 72 pct of the total. The number of people in their 20s was about four times higher than a decade before. The youngest person involved was 14 years old, and about 90 pct of all people covered by police action were first-time offenders. Cannabis use has also spread into university sports. Last year, male members of the judo club at Kokushikan University in Tokyo were arrested on suspicion of cannabis possession, among other allegations. Commenting on the rise in cannabis use among young people, Yoshio Kawachi, chief of the MPD’s drug and firearms control section, cited “the influence of misinformation online, including claims that cannabis is ‘harmless to the body.'” He added that some young people are introduced to cannabis by older schoolmates or friends, while others first try it while studying abroad in countries where it is legal. He voiced concern that “the user base is expanding.” Easy-to-Use Liquid Authorities are becoming increasingly concerned about cannabis liquid, a substance that can be used in e-cigarettes and inhaled. According to the MPD’s drug and firearms control section, the number of people questioned by police over cannabis liquid abuse has risen in recent years, more than doubling from the previous year to about 320 cases last year. The amount seized also climbed, reaching about 133 kilograms, compared with roughly 40 kilograms of dried cannabis. Police believe cannabis liquid has become particularly popular among young people because it is easier to use than dried cannabis and gives off less of a telltale smell. According to MPD sources, a man in his 20s told investigators, “It was easy to use,” while a woman in her 20s said, “It was convenient for everyday use.” As for how users obtain it, cannabis liquid is often bought from foreign dealers in entertainment districts or received for free from acquaintances. In some cases, buyers are steered through social media to highly encrypted messaging apps, where they contact traffickers and arrange purchases. Kawachi of the MPD said he believes that “the ease of using cannabis liquid is a major factor behind its rapid spread.” Warning that “even a single use of illegal drugs can devastate a person’s life,” he stressed that “as drug-related crime can have a direct impact on public safety, we plan to step up both public awareness efforts and enforcement.” END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]