Question by : How common is drug use in Japan?
I am curious as to how common issues like addiction and use are in that country. Japan is an island nation, so they cannot share a border, especially with a corrupted nation such as Mexico. As such, I am guessing that they do not have as much drugs in the country as the US.

Also, I’m not sure if Japan has strict prosecution for illegal drug use or if they have lenient rules towards treatment of addicts.

I saw a lot of cigarette machines, so tobacco is in no short supply in Japan. Neither is alcohol, for sushi bars serve sake.

How does Japan treat marijuana use? “Hard drug” (cocaine, heroin, etc.) use?

Best answer:

Answer by luddite
Japan treats all those caught with illegal drugs very harshly indeed. Expect a long custodial sentence.
They are in no way lenient.

Answer by rik
If you mean in terms of controlled substances, compared to the US drug use in Japan is not as common.

As for laws regarding drugs, it is strictly enforced. The Japanese do not have the California attitude that drugs are somehow cool or no big deal.

As for how lenient, in 1980 ex-Beatle Paul McCartney was arrested when marijuana was found in his luggage. He was thrown in jail and the popular opinion of the man in the street in Japan was that he should stand trial. If he was convicted (a certainty in his case), he would have been sent to a Japanese prison for 7 years. It took the intercession of the British government to allow McCartney to be deported instead. Does this sound lenient to you?

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

 

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