There is no utopia for stoners in Japan since the country has cannabis laws that have a zero-tolerance policy, a strong societal stigma against the substance, and measures to tighten controls on usage.
But you wouldn’t know it by seeing Ai Takahashi and her pals body roll, twerk, and light up to the tune of the cannabis hymn “Young, Wild, and Free” at a small bar in Tokyo that was filled to capacity.
Cannabidiol, often known as CBD, is a non-psychoactive component of cannabis that has grown popular in countries all over the globe and is quickly gaining popularity in Japan. What they are smoking is a joint containing CBD rather than illegal marijuana.
“When I was a youngster, I was taught that marijuana is an absolute no-no both at school and everywhere else, and that’s what I thought too,” Takahashi said in an interview with the AFP.
“However, since I am such a tremendous admirer of reggae music, I was able to partake in its use when I travelled to locations where it was permitted.” Later on, the dancer, who is 33 years old, developed an interest in cannabidiol (CBD), which is permitted in Japan if it is taken from the plant’s seeds or fully-grown stems, but not from other components such as the leaves.
Vapes, beverages, and candies containing it may be purchased in specialty coffee shops, health food stores, and even a shop in the terminal of Tokyo’s primary airport.
According to Takahashi, the encouragement that her daughter gave to her mother to give CBD a shot while the latter was suffering from depression resulted in a significant improvement.
“At that point, I was completely persuaded of the efficacy of cannabis.” According to Visiongraph, a research company located in Tokyo, the value of the CBD business in Japan increased to an expected $59 million in 2019, up from $3 million in 2015.
In addition, the government is also debating whether or not to legalise the use of cannabis-based medications, which are already prescribed in a number of nations to treat illnesses such as severe epilepsy.
However, despite a growing interest in the health advantages of the plant, the nation is not becoming more lenient toward its unlawful use, as seen by the fact that cannabis arrests continue to set records every year.