The Man Who Spearheads the Fight for Legalisation in Japan: "I Want to Be Saved, That’s All”

Although more and more countries have come to accept the medicinal properties of marijuana, there are still many others that refuse to recognise their patients' rights, as is the case of Japan. That country's current legislation not only prohibits its use but also places huge restrictions on any scientific research regarding therapeutic cannabis.

This prohibitionist approach affects more than a few people - Masamitsu Yamamoto being one of them. A resident of Kanagawa Prefecture, in the city of Tokyo, he suffers from liver cancer in a very advanced stage and, on seeing that none of the treatments available to him could alleviate his pain or stop the advance of the disease, he decided to look for some other alternative measure.

Having tried various options such as chemotherapy, none of which succeeded in stopping his disease, he came upon cannabis and its medical properties. After gaining information on its benefits, he called the health, agriculture and justice ministries of his country to inquire about the manner in which he could legally obtain the treatment. He also applied for inclusion in a clinical trial researching the properties of the plant. The authorities paid no attention to his requests, so he decided to grow cannabis at home.

Shortly after starting with this treatment, his health improved enormously. The effects of cancer dwindled and Masamitsu found himself considerably relieved from his pains. However, in December last year he was arrested and taken for questioning. The police seized 200 grams of cannabis grown by himself and his condition has progressively worsened since then.

Yamamoto has commented, in view of the trial in which he now stands accused, which he had never had any problems with the Japanese authorities before. The sole reason why he uses cannabis is that, having exhausted all other available options, he found marijuana to be the only one that could alleviate the symptoms of his illness.

The Japanese physician Kazunori Fukuda has carried out much research work on the prevention of the illness. As regards Yamamoto's case, he has said: "Terminal-stage cancer patients suffer from a loss of appetite and depression. At present not many drugs are good for such symptoms. Marijuana has been found to stir appetite. It is known for inducing a sense of relaxation and happiness. Why should terminal cancer patients not be allowed to lift their feelings? Marijuana's medical effects of alleviating advanced cancer symptoms have been pretty clear."

Masamitsu Yamamoto has expressed hopes that his case will open a public debate on medicinal marijuana in Japan. "I have two sons. I could've kept the case just to myself, instead of going public, but I thought that it would be a good opportunity to discuss this issue in society. As long as there are people whose lives have been saved by medical marijuana, research on it should be allowed. What is justice without life?"

The considerable expectation raised by the case could lead to a legislative change in the country. There are many patients who, like Masamitsu, are still waiting for Japan to recognise their rights to access cannabis-based treatments, which have already proven highly effective in dealing with the illnesses they suffer from.