TOKYO (TR) – Japan saw a record 6,832 individuals busted for marijuana-related offenses last year, with young people accounting for more than 70 percent of the total, the National Police Agency revealed Thursday, reports TBS News (Apr. 2).
The figure represents an increase of 754 from the previous year, marking an all-time high. A staggering 3,633 of those arrested were in their 20s, while 1,373 were under the age of 20 — both the highest numbers recorded in the past decade.
The spread of the illicit drug among minors has become a pressing issue for authorities. Among those nabbed were 243 college students, 315 high school students, and 28 junior high school students.
In one notable case between April and June of last year, five high school boys were arrested in Miyazaki Prefecture on suspicion of possessing weed.
The internet is playing a major role in fueling the surge. According to an NPA survey of suspects arrested for narcotics violations, more than 40 percent of those in their 20s or younger initially contacted their dealers online. Of that group, over 90 percent utilized social media platforms, where transactions are frequently carried out using hidden slang.
Authorities also highlighted a disturbing lack of awareness regarding the drug’s dangers. When surveyed, 53.6 percent of suspects claimed they perceived “no harm” or “not much harm” in using marijuana — a stark contrast to the mere 3.5 percent who felt the same way about kakuseizai (methamphetamine).
Meanwhile, seizures of marijuana concentrates, such as marijuana liquid, skyrocketed to roughly 315 kilograms last year. That figure is more than quadruple the amount confiscated the previous year, setting yet another record.
The NPA has pledged to step up its vigilance, warning that the widespread use of social media has made it dangerously easy for youths to get their hands on illegal substances.
