The Hokkaido Weed: Authorities Against Old Japanese Plantations in the Wild

Millions of marijuana plants grow each year in Hokkaido and in the north of Honshu (Japan). Some plants of marijuana are looked after by specialist growers; however there are also lots that grow in the wild in the region (although it is not clear where they came from; it seems that they were introduced from areas in South Asia). They have even been growing there since before 1948, when the plants were banned due to the country’s Cannabis Control Law. 

Obviously, despite the ban, nature is wise and the cannabis has not stopped growing. Nevertheless, this situation has led police authorities to try and root out a matter they deem to be illegal. Consequently, marijuana is loaded onto trucks and burned so that nobody can have access to it. 

Various intellectuals have spoken out against this situation. Among them is Hideo Nagayoshi who has written pieces arguing that the millions of plants destroyed each period should instead be put to good use in medicine, biomass energy and the construction industry. 

Nagayoshi believes that current laws do not make any sense and that they hinder medical research relating to medicinal marijuana use. This situation results in around 2,000 arrests per year for cannabis possession (with no distinction at all made among those arrested in terms of whether they are recreational or medicinal consumers). 

He is not the only person to stand up for marijuana. Yukio Funai, another intellectual, has created detailed calculations of the economic benefits that would result from cannabis legalisation in the country. If Japan takes notice of the voices that are beginning to be heard, then nature may be saved.

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Photo: Japan Times