Why Smugglers Are Turning to Cannabis Liquid Instead of Leaves
A suspect, Yonamine, is being sent for prosecution. He is accused of attempting to import THC-laced cannabis liquid hidden inside a clay dish.Hiding Cannabis in a Clay Dish
On the morning of December 8, a young man emerged from Ōtsuka Police Station. While his expression was unreadable, his gaze wandered aimlessly.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police re-arrested 23-year-old Shō Yonamine on November 26 on suspicion of violating the Narcotics Control Law (importing for commercial purposes). He is alleged to have smuggled cannabis liquid containing the illegal compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in May of this year.
“Yonamine allegedly shipped about 1.1 kg of cannabis liquid hidden inside a package from the U.S. to an address in Yokohama. The liquid-filled bag was wrapped in plastic and placed inside a clay dish. He is believed to have coordinated the order with a U.S. supplier using a high-security app.
Yonamine had previously been arrested on November 5 for importing THC-laced liquid in June. During interrogation, he reportedly stated, ‘I don’t want to say.’” – National newspaper social affairs reporter
In recent years, seizures of cannabis liquid have been increasing. According to 2024 National Police Agency statistics, the seizure of dried cannabis has significantly decreased compared to the previous year, while seizures of concentrated cannabis such as cannabis liquid and resin nearly doubled from approximately 36 kg to 68 kg. Arrests related to cannabis resin remained flat, suggesting that the increase is primarily in liquid forms. Former narcotics officer Ryōji Takahama provides an explanation for this trend.
Methods of Consumption Change with the Times
“Cannabis used to mean dried cannabis or choco, which is cannabis resin. Cannabis liquid, on the other hand, is a relatively new product, made by concentrating the flowers and leaves of the cannabis plant into a liquid form. It is inhaled using a dedicated e-cigarette, which seems to be popular among younger users.
Its advantages include the ease of smoking it like a regular cigarette and the fact that it doesn’t emit the distinctive cannabis smell, making it harder to be detected by those around you. In the past, if we went to clubs or discos and smelled the air, we could immediately tell if someone was using cannabis, but with this liquid form, it’s much harder to detect. Also, just by looking at it, cannabis liquid appears similar to ordinary e-cigarette liquid.”
Mr. Takahama also points out that the preference for vaping cannabis liquid among young people may have a fashion aspect.
“In the Showa era, using stimulants typically meant injecting them. By the Heisei era, young people considered that uncool and began inhaling drugs heated in glass containers or aluminum foil. Similarly, instead of rolling cannabis into cigarettes and passing them around with a strong smell, using an e-cigarette fits better with their culture.
In recent years, most cannabis arrests involve young people—over 70% of those arrested for cannabis offenses in 2024 were under 30. The methods of consuming cannabis are evolving with the times. The wider spread among young people is also due to the rise of social media, where ordinary people sell drugs to other ordinary people as if it were normal. Additionally, there is a general lack of awareness of the severity of drug use.”
Drugs have become all too accessible. Even if it seems easy to obtain them, once someone gets involved, the consequences can be irreversible—something everyone should keep firmly in mind.
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PHOTO： Shinji Hasuo