Cases Of Cannabis Users Under 20 Years Old Reach The Highest Record In Japan

UNSPLASH ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - The Japanese police have arrested or taken other law enforcement measures against 1,222 people under the age of 20 in marijuana abuse cases in 2023, which is the highest record so far in the country.

According to data released by the Police on Thursday, March 14, the figure is Japan's highest record in cases involving the country's legal age.

Based on data compiled by the National Police Agency, the number of marijuana abuse in this age group in 2023 increased 34 percent compared to 2022, as reported by ANTARA from Jiji.

Cases of marijuana abuse among people under the age of 20 decreased for the first time in nine years in 2022, but increased again in the following year.

If analyzed by age, cases of marijuana in 2023 experienced a sharp increase in the suspect aged 16, then peaked at the suspect aged about 20 years, and then decreased to an older suspect.

The Japanese Police Agency attributed the result to a lack of knowledge about the dangerous effects of marijuana and the ease of obtaining the substance.

To that end, the Japanese Police said they would step up efforts to raise awareness of the risk of marijuana abuse, especially among high school students.