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A survey conducted in Japan in December 2023 found that **** percent of men and almost percent of women reported using an illegal drug in their lifetime. Marijuana emerged as the most used substance, with just over *** percent of men and almost *** percent of women having tried it. Following marijuana, inhalants, methamphetamine, and ecstasy were the most common illegal drugs consumed in Japan. Overall, gender disparities in usage patterns are notable, with the men's share of using illegal drugs mostly higher than that of women.

Public perception of cannabis and youth involvement

While many other countries are moving towards legalizing cannabis, Japan tightened its laws in 2023, making ownership and consumption of cannabis illegal with prison penalties of up to seven years. Public opinion remains largely skeptical of cannabis use, even for medical purposes. A July 2024 survey found that more than half of respondents did not view cannabis as a legitimate healthcare solution, while only *** percent were in favor of it. In recent years, the number of arrests for cannabis-related crimes was highest among people in their twenties, followed by teenagers. 

Drug crimes

The total cases of reported drug-related crimes in Japan remained at around * per year, and gang crime-related drug arrests even saw a decline in recent years. Overall, Japan sees a low rate of drug use disorders compared to other industrialized nations. One reason may be that Japan has strict drug laws with penalties such as fines of up to *** million Japanese yen or imprisonment of up to ten years for possession, use, and sale of illegal drugs, including marijuana.