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日本語/Japanese  Wed 11/14 21:34 JST
According to a recent report in the Economist, Japan is the most costliest place to get high.

A gram of cannabis weed costs about 58.3 USD compared to the UK's 5 USD.
And who controls weed in Japan? Foreigners. You can find many of them standing in dark corners around Shibuya's Center Gai flogging weed. For a while, it was common knowledge that the police didn't do anything about it but looks like they've pulled their act together a bit and are cracking down - a group of 77 drug pushers in Shibuya were recently arrested.

There were many folks who smoked weed when I was back in university which meant that I had to passive smoke it just by walking through the corridors.

Is drug intake popular in your region? I think there is a death penalty for people caught carrying drugs in Malaysia - I saw the word "Dadah" (drugs) coupled with a hangman rope on posters everywhere whenever I visited.

Below: A train driver for Seibu gets caught with drugs. He said he took it to recharge himself.
Via Gigazine.
Categories
Polls
squee in Singapore
Techie
Registered on 2007/09/27 05:11
With the level of law enforcement over here I thought we're gonna top the list. (3rd place isn't bad too)
We have the death penalty for trafficers here too.
(ID #63580) Posted on 2007/11/14 22:26
Astrana in Calgary, Canada
Student
Registered on 2007/08/15 11:20
woot first to comment.
nothing really to say lol
(ID #63581) Posted on 2007/11/14 22:27
gusgus in cyberspace
web head
Registered on 2007/09/11 04:28
oh sh!t, it's free in South Africa?!?   I'm moving!
(ID #63584) Posted on 2007/11/14 22:33
qingy in center of the galaxy
SMS
Registered on 2007/10/06 05:09
weed is cheaper than tobacco here, i don't know a single person who hasn't tried it at least once. people that get busted for dealing weed here are usually just fined and in worst case scenario jailed. for me i personally don't consider weed to be a narcotic drug like ecstacy, crack or heroin. 
(ID #63585) Posted on 2007/11/14 22:37
joshua8 in deep south U.S.A.
CLAIMS ADJUSTER
Registered on 2007/11/02 07:44
I keep on trying it and it keeps getting better
(ID #63586) Posted on 2007/11/14 22:44
Kimurasenseii
Well in France, I don't have the figures in head but it's something like  3people on 4 already at least tried.
(ID #63587) Posted on 2007/11/14 22:49
nya-chama in London, United Kingdom
Student/Freelance Programmer
Registered on 2007/10/31 09:18
Man, I need to take a trip to South Africa one of these days. I get mine for £5 a gram, seems like I've been getting ripped off? or is it just because it's the capital?

Surprised the Netherlands is so expensive though, despite it being legal there...
(ID #63588) Posted on 2007/11/14 23:00
ait_meijin in サイベリア
IT-オタク
Registered on 2007/02/04 19:58
Anime is the best drug indeed, and weed is crap >.
(ID #63589) Posted on 2007/11/14 23:05
lanie-emon in Keldabe, Malaysia
Mandalorian in training + Otaku...
Registered on 2007/06/05 11:28
You're right danny, here in Malaysia is a capital offense to posses or sell dadah. Most of the time if you're get caught it's a one way trip to the hangmen. Well, the problem of drugs is bad anyway here, though strangely enough weed is not popular (not that I know of).
(ID #63590) Posted on 2007/11/14 23:24
XSportSeeker in Brazil
Hikikomori
Registered on 2007/08/22 05:30
I guess in Brazil is pretty much like US or UK.
We have tons of users. Dealers range from organized criminal factions to young rich spoiled people that lives the night live.

Though far faaarr as far as it can get from perfect, the police is taking more action against it, specially in big operations that aprehend drugs coming from other countries.

On the other hand, just recently we had a law change on how to deal with drug addicts.

Instead of being promptly arrested, now they are fined after spending a day arrested. Only drug dealers, with a certain ammount of drug in possession, are arrested.

Had to be done since all jails are now overcrowded with criminals.

There's been a recent discution also about weed... every now and then the discussion will arrise (pretty much like in all over the world) about either to legalize weed or leave it as is.

The topic on discussion right now is about middle classed youngsters selling Ecstasy on raves. Not new, but last weekend there were several aprehensions of an organized network that sold it on raves.
A pic of a young and beautiful (looked like a model) girl showed up on the news, as being one of the drug dealers, thus arrising the issue once again...
(ID #63591) Posted on 2007/11/14 23:43
harry in New York City
student
Registered on 2007/07/04 23:33
Wow almost $60 to get high in Japan? Thats crazy, people must take up a second job or a second mortgage to get weed there. In NYC its everywhere. We even have dealers with cars so they can deliver right to you within mins. But I wouldn't trust most of them, there rumors of dealers lacing up their sutff with other chemicals. Pretty dangerous.
(ID #63592) Posted on 2007/11/14 23:51
Calintz in Miami, United States
Bounty Hunter
Registered on 2007/11/07 08:10
If you don't want to try weed, then don't. Its a personal choice and my words are to be taken as advice, not a belief.

I think everyone should try it a-least once. Weed isn't addictive, although people say they can't stop taking it. Weed is like alcohol, its emotionally addictive. People use it to calm themselves down or to forget their troubles (although sometimes it amplifies them).

Side-effects: Besides it being smoke, which of course causes lung cancer, weed effects your memory of a long period of time.

I live in Miami, that alone should say enough about the drug use here. Do I smoke weed often? No. I've done it three times and the last time I ever did it I went on a trip I never experienced before. It was wonderful, but it would be my last. I haven't smokin' weed ever since. Experiences in life are the things that define who we are, as do accomplishments -- and things can't be accomplished without going through an experience.
(ID #63593) Posted on 2007/11/15 00:33
rakushu in Mexico
Leecher
Registered on 2007/09/11 03:08
i haven't tried it before but surely I will someday, you know, just know what it feels ^^
(ID #63594) Posted on 2007/11/15 00:39
Ken in NYC
Student
Registered on 2007/03/15 22:38
Personally I hate drugs. Aside from the fact that it wastes money, you're killing yourself and everyone else around you. For something with 0 benefits, I think it's pretty stupid. I have to cover my mouth everytime someone comes close to me. It particularly sucks where I live because 95% of men in their 40-80's and 70% of young adults smoke on the while they're walking down the streets. Lung cancer is also quite common in my area. Heck, it doesn't help my track performance.
(ID #63596) Posted on 2007/11/15 00:57
SkullZero in New York
Registered on 2008/05/17 06:15
thats what i think, its like paying other people to punch you
(ID #194401) Posted on 2008/05/23 08:15
double in Singapore
Student
Registered on 2007/04/24 11:15
Drugs = More money spent on addiction = Less money left for figurines.

And that is bad, for otakus.
(ID #63597) Posted on 2007/11/15 00:58
Alafista OTAKU in Singapore
Singapore Customs
Registered on 2006/12/25 11:34
LOL how come its like free in Africa?
(ID #63598) Posted on 2007/11/15 01:25
SkullZero in New York
Registered on 2008/05/17 06:15
cuz they make it there
(ID #194402) Posted on 2008/05/23 08:15
Calintz in Miami, United States
Bounty Hunter
Registered on 2007/11/07 08:10
There are many types of addictions, they all don't fall under chemical. Spending a lot of money on something thats a 'useless product' to an outsider is considered an addiction. Spending a lot of time on the internet is considered an addiction. The question is, now a-days, what the hell isn't an addiction?

People believe that every drug is chemically addictive, when thats not the case. Its a common myth thats spread to people, while they're young (too young to do their own research) so that they could stay away from something thats deemed illegal.

Also, not every drug is harmful to the people around the user. That mostly applies to smoke related drugs, cause of the risk of cancer via second-hand smoke. Although, I will say this, drugs aren't for everyone. If you have a phycological imbalance then stay away from them. Cause some can mentally mess you up. The mind is a dangerous thing to tamper with. Yet, I'm not going to sit here and say "DON'T TAKE DRUGS!" cause its your choice. Hopefully you're smart enough to know the turning point.

Stay safe and don't be stupid. >_>
(ID #63599) Posted on 2007/11/15 01:35
Calintz in Miami, United States
Bounty Hunter
Registered on 2007/11/07 08:10
What I meant to say is, Stay safe and educate yourself (sorry).
(ID #63601) Posted on 2007/11/15 01:41
syrix in U.S.
student
Registered on 2007/03/21 09:30
Weed is very popular here, crack too.  There have been news reports of teachers who sell drugs to people, not sure if they sold it to their kids though.  But weed in general is reported more on the news as it is quite easy to obtain here.
(ID #63602) Posted on 2007/11/15 01:44
Dead Snake in Redhill, Singapore
Internship student
Registered on 2007/05/12 03:11
drug dealers and drug users both get a death penalty too in my country.
drugs is just have all the bad things you can have in the world so I suggest us to avoid them...and never ever try it even just for once...
(ID #63603) Posted on 2007/11/15 01:44
lizardman in Tokyo
Too bad that alcohol causes much more trouble and while doing that is absolutely legal.
(ID #63613) Posted on 2007/11/15 02:13
SkullZero in New York
Registered on 2008/05/17 06:15
well in america they made it illegal, but the results of that were so bad they took it back
(ID #194404) Posted on 2008/05/23 08:18
JapanAnime in Hilversum, Holland
Student Business Economics
Registered on 2007/08/05 18:23
Never tried it and since I'm allergic for smoke, I don't have the urge to try it. A lot of students here have tried it, since it's legal (thus easy) to get in coffee shops (it's Holland/The Netherlands after all ^^).
(ID #63615) Posted on 2007/11/15 02:21
Phenie in South Africa
Catgirl Trainer.
Registered on 2007/01/08 15:26
Never have, never will, even if it costs... nothing here apparently, heh.
(ID #63621) Posted on 2007/11/15 02:48
PoWeR in Your Spawn
Spawn Camper
Registered on 2007/08/28 05:12
lol friend smoked weed at his house once... found him staring at the TV surfin through static... asked him what he saw after. & he said he was watchin ghost rider lol !!!

anyways pot's wide spread here -_-
(ID #63624) Posted on 2007/11/15 03:00
SkullZero in New York
Registered on 2008/05/17 06:15
lol
(ID #194407) Posted on 2008/05/23 08:19
Choo in Singapore
Student
Registered on 2007/10/31 21:28
woah. singapore is 3rd in line. and the 1st South east asian country. lol
(ID #63626) Posted on 2007/11/15 03:41
Henry in Makati, Philippines
anime/cosplay events organizer
Registered on 2006/12/25 19:17
never had one and never will...

illegal drugs are everywhere and it is a very lucrative vice. local and foreign drug syndicates here puts up secret/underground illegal drug production factories and exporting outside the country.

i think the leading drug syndicate here in asia is the Chinese Triad.
(ID #63627) Posted on 2007/11/15 03:53
howie huang in Toronto, Ontario
Student
Registered on 2007/07/22 02:27
"According to a recent report in the Economist, Japan is the most costliest place to get high"
- which is good for the people there :D
(ID #63637) Posted on 2007/11/15 05:03
RyoHazuki in Tokyo, Japan
IT Account Manager
Registered on 2007/07/23 13:09
alcohol is worst and far more "dangerous" than weed, yet its legal.
(ID #63638) Posted on 2007/11/15 05:33
Mars in Chicago, America
College Kid
Registered on 2007/08/24 03:48
I gotta say
Weed > Drinking > Caffeine > Cigarettes

Marijuana is definitely the healthiest of them, drugs are not for everyone and that's fine they don't need to be. Personally Marijuana has been the least detrimental to me, you can't over dose on it, but like anything else you can get addicted. I'm not addicted, at least i hope not, and i gotta say my only time to smoke is with friends. It is a sad state of affairs to smoke alone, kind of like drinking alone to get drunk, There are just too many shenanigans to be had with friends ^^;

It's illegal in the states, but it also illegal in one state to take a bath on sundays, federal loans are based on income instead of assets so that just helps people who don't really need the loans like trust fund babies. 

It's not like you can get cancer from smoking, drinking. oh right...
and doing too much (*a lot*) will induce cardiac arrest, but that much caffeine is like doing meth. 

So don't drink and drive,
smoke and fly.
(ID #63639) Posted on 2007/11/15 06:16
SkullZero in New York
Registered on 2008/05/17 06:15
weed can cause memory loss and lung cancer
(ID #194408) Posted on 2008/05/23 08:22
Dan of July in Arizona
3d Modeller/Time Lord
Registered on 2007/07/04 11:39
I'm hoping it's so expensive because it's some primo Hydro.  Otherwise your totally getting screwed at that rate.  I've only payed that much once or twice back in the day when I used to smoke, and this was knock you out, make you stupid weed.  And I must admit, imo, it was totally worth it.

I suppose if you don't want to pay that much you could always grow it yourself for a personal stash.  It's not that hard and all you need is a closet to do it in.  But good luck though explaining to the police if you get caught that it was all for personal use and there was not intent to distribute.  
(ID #63642) Posted on 2007/11/15 06:44
searching for work T-T
Registered on 2007/10/11 21:54
Some of my friends are addicted to weed and to see how it physically and mentally nullified them is enough for me not even consider it.  
hendrik in jakarta,indonesia
student
Registered on 2007/06/01 04:39
weed, smoking are for dead guy
they brought they death aura too

i hate smoker, wish to eradicate all of them
(ID #63647) Posted on 2007/11/15 07:20
Jeppa in the Netherlands
I've had it once to try it but i don't really like smoking.
Costs too much money.
Where i live every small city has at least 1 or 2 (the big cities got lots of them for the tourist)shops where you can buy it.
(ID #63648) Posted on 2007/11/15 07:51
Seiryuu in Singapore
Student
Registered on 2007/10/02 17:50
i bloody hate the smell when people are smoking!!! IT SUCKS BIGTIME!!! i just wonder why people like to pay just to kill themself. what worse is, they still implicate people around them by making them second-hand smokers. cigarettes production is the worst industry on earth!
(ID #63650) Posted on 2007/11/15 09:20
keats in NL
student
Registered on 2007/09/02 20:42
Of course here in the Netherlands it's easy to buy it, there's a shop that sells it about 50m from me. I've tried it, but it's not for me. Friends ask me to buy them some all the time though, saves them the trouble of coming over. 
(ID #63652) Posted on 2007/11/15 11:22
hendrik in jakarta,indonesia
student
Registered on 2007/06/01 04:39
i would love to sell it, but i would never even once use it.
(ID #63655) Posted on 2007/11/15 13:01
radical anime fan in Dai-Singapore-dan. Hotter than Kamina and Lelouch combined.
Polytechnic Freshman. Mmm... fresh.
Registered on 2007/01/25 21:20
Selling it is a sure way to earn big bucks, if one can overlook the fact that you're dooming many more lives in the process. 
Too bad I can't.
(ID #63657) Posted on 2007/11/15 13:21
Tempest in Germany
Student
Registered on 2007/11/07 06:56
I tried it two times, but I simply don't like it. It seems like the amount of weed consumers is increasing here, a year ago few people would talk about weed, now I meet a lot of people who smoke it. I prefer listening to music it can make you "high" in way too while relaxing :)
(ID #63659) Posted on 2007/11/15 13:28
Sakari in Tokyo
Student
Registered on 2007/06/20 01:24
I would try it if the circumstances were right, but only once. Example of an fine circumstance would be if say... my grandpa smoked weed, I might have a wiff with him on the porch ^^ Even if I wanted to do any kind of drugs I just couldn't part with my money...
(ID #63660) Posted on 2007/11/15 13:31
Koshiko in Sydney
website designer (currently assist. graphic designer)
Registered on 2007/08/03 12:37
I've never tried smoking a cigarette, never mind weed D:<
Someone I knew smoked it and he couldn't keep his business running properly 'cause he'd spend his spare time smoking instead of improving the business, he eventually had to sell very very cheap x_x;
(ID #63661) Posted on 2007/11/15 13:31
Sean in San Francisco / Tokyo / London / Dublin
Video Editor / Sound Designer / DJ
Registered on 2007/01/23 17:06
True that Japan is one of the most expensive places to buy weed.

What's more interesting and revealing about Japanese society is that foreigners DONT CONTROL & BUY all the weed!

When I was in Tokyo earlier this year, I met quite a number of Musicians, Designers, DJ's , Programmers and Journalists who were ALL JAPANESE , and 
ALL LOVED WEED.

As far as I can tell these were often Japanese people who had studied abroad  (Australia, Europe, Canada & USA) and had tried smoking it. After falling in love with it, they eventually returned to Japan and wanted to continue smoking  it, but found it expensive & dangerous (because of police clamp-downs).

As a result, there seems to be a vast network of Japanese Cannabis smokers who DO NOT USE the usual channels to get their weed (Iranians, Israelis, Nigerians & Ghanains ).

It's probably not news to those who know a little about Japan that they excel at technically specific things. Home-growing Marajuana is one of those things. You dont have to be "cool" to grow weed - you just have to do it correctly. If you've ever seen an Ikebana display or have marveled at the beautiful gardens & plants spread all over Japan , you wouldnt be suprised to hear that Japanese hydroponically grown weed is AMAZING. Absolute top quality. Even for a seasoned veteran smoker like myself, I was blown away by the flavour & quality of the Marajuana.

These growers / dealers tend NOT to deal to foreigners (cant be trusted?) - and deal exclusively to other Japnese people in their extended friend network.

This is a way better option as you then avoid getting caught (as the cops always try to bust the Iranians) and the price is FAR LOWER !! (At the same time as the quality being far higher!)

Keep in mind these smokers I met were not "lazy drug-addicts" but rather very succesful young people in multiple industries (although I see a particular popularity in those involved with arts/music/design.

It's slowly and quietly changing Japanese society (for the better), but is feared by the government because they dont want people thinking for themselves.

By the way Danny, where can you get a gram for 2 Pounds 50 pence in the UK????

I would love to know as I am there right now and wouldnt mind those prices!!! As far as I can tell here in London & Birmingham it costs about the same as California.

BTW - The "drug" that the Seibu Train Driver was taking was probably "Kaku-sei-sai" (aka Speed, Meth, Crank, etc) NOT CANNABIS. 

Speed has been around in Japan for over 100 years as it was invented there (In Kyoto University!) in the 1890's.

What many people (once again) do not know is that the Japanese army was given Kakuseisai as a stimulant to out power the americans in the Pacific. MOST (if not ALL) Kamikaze pilots were also shot up with Speed before their suicidal flights. "Yamato Damashi" my ass - if any of the pilots refused - they were promptly pushed to the ground and forcibly injected with the drug.

That's what you call a real drug problem....
(ID #63663) Posted on 2007/11/15 14:14
gordon in 新加坡 Singapore
宅男 Otaku/ 工程师 Engineer
Registered on 2007/06/11 14:57
not only is it expensive to smoke here, the government ban smoking in lots of places as well like pubs, bars, lounges, nightclubs, bus stops, non-air conditioned eateries etc.
(ID #63665) Posted on 2007/11/15 14:28
thefrikking in Spain
Imperial Guard
Registered on 2007/08/18 06:30
Hahaha, I don`t need drugs to be cool!!
(ID #63667) Posted on 2007/11/15 14:55
atr360 in my house...
web surfer (no pay)
Registered on 2007/11/14 00:07
dude i hate it when i whent to school and i used to smell weed burning somewhere on the camous... and the school police officer wouldnt do anything about it it really sucked.....
(ID #63671) Posted on 2007/11/15 16:40
Ujuj in Paris
Programmer
Registered on 2006/12/24 22:31
Here is my opinion. 

Some junkies have problems because of marijuana, and you often hear about them on TV, Internet or in the newspapers. Lots of "good" people smoke without any problem, you never hear about them.

Marijuana does not make you wiser, it's true. But you're not a junkie, or an addict because you smoke it. 
It's the same thing with alcohol : you can have a beer or wine without being an alcohol addict, and without being totaly drunk. You just have a beer for the taste, for the feeling it brings to you, and perhaps to share it with friends. It's the same thing with Marijuana.
Yes, some people become addicted, but it's the same thing with alcohol : everywhere in the world you can see people in the street totally drunk, even (and perhaps more ?) in Japan. Usually, people who drink too much have some personal problems - with their family, whith their job, or only with themselves. It's the same thing with Marijuana. If you have problems, don't look for any solutions in beer, alcohol, or marijuana...
When you're OK, in your body and in your mind, you can have a beer or marijuana with friend or even alone, just for pleasure, and it's not fair to hear other people who don't even know what is beer or marijuana telling you that you're a junkie or an addict, and that you shouldn't do that.
No, when you smoke herb, you don't have hallucinations. Yes Marijuana is a "drug", exactly like alcohol and tobacco. Yes, smoking tobacco or marijuana is not good for health, especially when you smoke too much.

I think that having a beer or smoking marijuana from time to time (but not too much, of course) is OK for me.
I don't smoke tobacco in my everyday life, I make lot of sport, I have a good job, I live with my girlfriend, I pay all the taxes for my country, I have lot of friend, and some time I really appreciate to have a beer and/or marijuana alone or with my friend, just for pleasure, and I don't want to be arrested for that.
(ID #63677) Posted on 2007/11/15 17:25
BeLe in Davao, Philippines
.NET/Web Developer
Registered on 2007/01/03 16:36
All I need to get high is a dose of anime and games XD  Weed just won't do. 
(ID #63681) Posted on 2007/11/15 18:14
SkullZero in New York
Registered on 2008/05/17 06:15
can you die from an overdose of anime and games?
(ID #194415) Posted on 2008/05/23 08:32
SilverCross in U.K
Registered on 2007/08/12 03:42
i think smoking weed is fine .. even though the government band it its quite lenient over in the U.K .. i know doctors that smoke weed and most people over in the u.k does it as well.. beside its better then smoking i dont smoke my sell but do like rolling a splif during the weekend.. its not addictive as well since the could be a chain smoker and suddenly stop the next day and there will be no side effect or craving.... for people that says that smoking weeds makes you look cool and stuff the are obviously under the wrong impression as most people generally smoke at home with a few mates... just so the tele looks more interesting ... me and my housemate did try to plant a few pots just for the fun of it but found it cheaper to buuy... i am not sure in gram but as far as i know you could get around 120pounds for an ounce or around 25 for and eight.... just for reference.. i could get around 100 for and ounce since we are quite close friends....
(ID #63682) Posted on 2007/11/15 18:16
Emperor's Hand in Ohio, USA
Operations Manager, Jartrans
Registered on 2007/12/25 00:51
 I live in the US where pot is illegal because wars of any type net large profits and drug wars are no different than military wars in that sense. Despite all this i use it regualarly, and know many others of varying race, social status, financial position, and age who also use it. 


   Its not about trying to look cool, or rebel against the government and establishment.Its not about escaping from reality, or running away from problems. It doesn't make me any more or less intelligent. I am not advocating its use to anyone in particular,but rather trying to  un-demonize it to those who are very confused it seems.Its critical to understand that mainstream media, lobbyists and people who feel their beliefs should be wrenched upon everyone else(aka religion) all tell you its a horrendous drug and show very unrealistic examples of what happens when you use it.

  Think for yourself, do some research and you may learn that some of the brightest minds of the 20th century used marijuana. My favorite example is Carl Sagan. 

  To further my case of its use example: I got high most days before school,(never during for fear of being caught) and during this time i learned a lot. I was in the National Honor Society, Physics Club, Foreign Language Club, i took all advanced courses, and most of my teachers and classmates knew of my marijuana use. I port