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Joint session: Pot found growing at Japan MPs’ building
TOKYO, June 22, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Marijuana plants have been found growing
at an office building used by lawmakers in Japan, which has some of the
strictest drug laws in the developed world, an official said Friday.
The budding crop of four plants was found by a visitor on Thursday growing
on the premises of an office building for members of the upper house, an
official in charge of maintenance there told AFP.
“After we reported it to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, two Tokyo
officials visited” and removed the plants, he said.
“They said the plants looked to be about two months old,” he added.
“The officials explained that marijuana seeds can be carried by wind and
bird excrement, and they said they will visit us again to ensure” the plants
were unrooted completely and hadn’t spread.
Japan strictly prohibits both hard and soft drugs, and police have in past
years arrested sumo wrestlers, musicians, actors and college students for
possessing, growing or selling marijuana.
In sharp contrast, Canada said this week it would become the first G7
country to legalise the consumption and cultivation of cannabis from mid-
October, arguing it would take traffickers out of the equation and protect
young people.
BSS/AFP/MR/1240 hrs