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Japanese TV Report About Prop 19

Here’s a short news report from today’s Sukkiri Morning show about California’s Prop marijuana legalization ballot measure (Prop 19). :

The arguments for and against legalization are summed up by bullet points.

Arguments against legalization:

Using marijuana can lead to the use of other drugs, such as stimulants.
The legal marijuana could be shipped to other countries.
The crime rate will increase.

Arguments in favor of legalization:

The state can raise a lot of money by taxing legal marijuana.
Law enforcement will no longer need to waste money and resources going after marijuana dealers and users.
Marijuana has been used for medical purposes, and it is safe.

As the only American in the studio, Professor Robert Campbell of Tokyo University is asked to comment on the story. Despite the fact that he’s spent the last 25 years in Japan, he seems to know a bit about the issue. He correctly points out that “medical” Marijuana has very easy to obtain in California for some time now, noting that there is no evidence supporting the gateway drug theory. Despite having pretty much admitted that the arguments in favor of keeping marijuana illegal are groundless, Campbell says he is opposed to legalization because there’s no need to increase upon the social problems that legal drugs like alcohol and tobacco already cause. He also fears that foreign students in California could end up bringing pot back to their home countries.

Japanese host Terry Ito says he is also against legalization. He wonders how parents would feel if they went home and discovered that their children were smoking legal marijuana. If Prop 19 passed, he predicts that Japanese parents would never allow their kids to study abroad in California. (He makes no mention of how millions of Japanese fathers get drunk on alcohol in front of their children on a regular basis.) He also considers the tax revenue argument to irrelevant, since the California state government shouldn’t have been spending beyond its means in the first place.

The arguments against legalization are presented at face value without acknowledgement that they are bullshit. Even somewhat reasonable commentators like Professor Campbell fail to explain why the criminalization of marijuana makes sense when far more dangerous drugs like alcohol remain legal. I wish I could say that this kind of poor news reporting about the marijuana issue is limited to morning entertainment/news shows, but almost every Japanese TV news report I’ve seen about Prop 19 has gone with a similar style of reporting.

Note: This report aired before it was announced that Prop 19 failed to pass.

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32 comments - What do you think? Posted by James - November 3, 2010 at 6:14 pm

Categories: Japanese TV Tags:

Hamachiman

The citizens of California had found that Proposition 19 wasn’t what they thought it was and voted accordingly. I am sure many people’s first reactions when it comes to legalizing marijuana is, sure, why not.

But Prop. 19 was ill written and ill conceived. The most damning thing against the prop. was that it didn’t do a darned thing in terms of FEDERAL laws. California and other states could pass any law they want but it would still violate federal laws against marijuana possession and use. What good is a proposition when you still have to fear being sent to federal ‘don’t drop the soap’ prison? And there’s nothing in the proposition that deals with the potential for even more costly bureaucracies to regulate and tax marijuana.

http://tepido.org LB

“The most damning thing against the prop. was that it didn’t do a darned thing in terms of FEDERAL laws.”

No state proposition short of full secession from the US could do anything about Federal laws.

Hamachiman

And that’s exactly my point. What use is a proposition when it doesn’t even legally protect you from federal prosecution?

Rob A

Obama and the DEA have said that they will not prosecute for use/possession of marijuana in accordance with state laws.

This happened when he first took office. It was Obama’s way of saying “Cut it out” to the DEA, who were harassing medicinal patients in California for picking up prescriptions, and raiding/shutting down state-legalized medicinal dispensaries.

Hamachiman

Umm, not quite, you might want to do some research on this one:

http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/dailyweekly/2010/11/drug_czar_gil_kerlikowske_chee.php

Today, Californians recognized that legalizing marijuana will not make our citizens healthier, solve California’s budget crisis, or reduce drug related violence in Mexico. The Obama administration has been clear in its opposition to marijuana legalization because research shows that marijuana use is associated with voluntary treatment admissions for addiction, fatal drugged driving accidents, mental illness and emergency room admissions.

Despite what Obama says (sound familiar?), the top drug czar has made it known that he would have not have turned a blind eye to marijuana use/possession even if the proposition had passed. Which is what has been happening to marijuana users/medical marijuana establishments ever since the medical marijuana thing went through.

Rob A

“The president believes that federal resources should not be used to circumvent state laws” Feb 2009, Washington Times, “DEA pot raids go on; Obama opposes”

The ‘Drug Czar’ doesn’t have a job if he doesn’t do what the president tells him to do. He was appointed, not elected. The position in general is only one of supervisory delegation. That person has little say over policy, he just dishes out what he’s told.

In addition, most of the quoted statement he made today was patently false. There is NO research showing marijuana causes or even contributes to any of the claimed negatives. The only thing marijuana has in common is that it was used at the same time as those events occurred, at least one time. He could just as easily have said “research shows that water use is associated with voluntary treatment admissions for addiction, fatal drugged driving accidents, mental illness, and emergency room admissions.”
Noliving

“Obama and the DEA have said that they will not prosecute for use/possession of marijuana in accordance with state laws.”

Obama’s administration is that they won’t prosecute people who use medical marijuana.

Those that use marijuana for recreational purposes on the other hand will still be prosecuted.

Meaning is this, if federal law enforcement is knocking at your door and you can’t provide a prescription authorized by your doctor, your in trouble with the federal government.

yoga boy

He is told what to say by producers. Do you think that if he agreed with legalization he would actually be permitted to say that on Japanese TV? No a chance in hell.

George

I assume after living in Japan for 25 years, he doesn’t explicitly need to be told what to say. He knows that Japan is a very very conservative country regarding anything classified as a “drug,” and that his continued social acceptance (including being able to stay working) would be in jeopardy if he supported pot openly.

Uselesser

I’m actually pleasently surpised they even aired this on Japanese TV. I said before that I have yet hardly seen any debate on TV here but this is actually some kind of debate about this issue. Wish they could have talked about places where mariuana is legal, such as Holland, Spain and other European countries. It’s not as dangerous as what the majority of people in Japan believe it to be. Far from it. But try saying that on Japanese TV. In any case, I support the legalization move in California. Good luck, Cali!

Niels

Mariuana is not legal in Holland. It’s not prosecuted against if you have amounts for private use on you. It is, however, still an offence to carry it and use it.
So if you walk around with more then 4grams of the stuff, cops will still bust you.

Uselesser

The do have coffee shops in Holland. It’s as easy to purchase marihuana as it is to purchase coffee in cafes. They are legal.

steve

I was hoping it would pass, but, as mentioned by hamachi, it would have created a mess with the feds.

This, from safechoice.org – linked in the post, is just classic.

MYTH: Marijuana makes people stupid and/or forgetful and/or lazy

FACT:
Like alcohol, marijuana is an intoxicant and may cause temporary impairment, and – like alcohol – that’s why most people use it. Otherwise, marijuana users are typically productive members of society. Even if marijuana did make people stupid/forgetful/lazy, it is not a crime to be stupid/forgetful/lazy. Alcohol, on the other hand, contributes to violent and aggressive behavior, such as fighting, domestic abuse, sexual assault. I’d prefer people take their chances with laziness.
Rob A

* Using marijuana can lead to the use of other drugs, such as stimulants.
This has been debunked repeatedly by medical studies. There is no supposition that Marijuana will in any way be chemically addictive or ‘lead to other drugs’. This is propaganda which DARE and ‘The War on Drugs’ has used for decades to try and stop its use.

* The legal marijuana could be shipped to other countries.
So can the legal guns, so can the legal pharmaceutical drugs, so can anything that is manufactured. This is not a valid reason against legalization.

* The crime rate will increase.
Again, this has been proven false by looking at other states/countries that have legalized marijuana in the past and overseas. There is no suggestion that legalization would have any reason to increase crime rates. In fact, preliminary studies have shown that it is likely crime will go DOWN since possession will no longer be a criminal offense, and people will no longer have to resort to underground sources for their now-legal substance.

* The state can raise a lot of money by taxing legal marijuana.
Fact! Taxes will benefit public infrastructure and even go to fund schooling and education, which desperately needs it.

* Law enforcement will no longer need to waste money and resources going after marijuana dealers and users.
Fact! A huge percentage (compared to other crimes) of people currently in jail or on a government monitoring program are as a result of marijuana arrests. This costs hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars, each month. Legalization will save the government boatloads of cash.

* Marijuana has been used for medical purposes, and it is safe.
Fact! Marijuana has been successfully used for treatment and cancer and as a relief from chemotherapy symptoms for decades with great success. Marijuana also has never killed anyone, because it’s LD50 (dose at which 50% of people would die) is too high to ingest or inhale enough ever. For example, with my body mass I would have to consume over 100g of PURE THC at once to overdose. It is completely safe, as long as you don’t drive while high.

* I am smoking a bong right now!
Fact! I have been self-medicating with marijuana for my anxiety and ADD/ADHD for about 10 years now. It’s the only thing I have found which allows me to concentrate without feeling like I’m all wound up and sick to my stomach. I’d much rather smoke pot than take prescription amphetamines.

Noliving

As one person who is diagnosed with ADD why would you choose pot over prescription amphetamines? Have you actually been diagnosed by a doctor with ADD/ADHD?

goat

Pro-marijuana activists were also against this proposition. You can read their arguments here: http://votetaxcannabis2010.blogspot.com/
http://www.mutantfrog.com/ Adamu

What a great example of how these people are literally paid not to think things through. They are just spouting received wisdom on cue like the trained seals they are.
http://www.billowykimono.com Senor Science

“Japanese host Terry Ito says he is also against legalization. He wonders how parents would feel if they went home and discovered that their children were smoking legal marijuana. If Prop 19 passed, he predicts that Japanese parents would never allow their kids to study abroad in California. (He makes no mention of how millions of Japanese fathers get drunk on alcohol in front of their children on a regular basis.) He also considers the tax revenue argument to irrelevant, since the California state government shouldn’t have been spending beyond its means in the first place.”

Lol

And little 18 year old Taro, fresh out of high school and at his first college party (Look Mom, I’m a big boy now!) binge drinking at some chain Izakaya in Kabukicho and puking his guts out right on the street SURELY is better than him lighting one up?

Getting advice on fiscal responsibility in government spending from the Japanese is like Lindsay Lohan extolling the virtues of clean living.
Kwok

I think the fact you counter argue by linking to a pro-cannabis site also taints you with the same bias brush. Couldn’t you find a neutral organisation/paper that said legalisation would be a good idea?

http://www.japanprobe.com James

The arguments against legalization that are presented in the Japanese news report have been so thoroughly discredited over the years that I don’t feel the need to find a “neutral” source about the issue.

If you think the information on saferchoice.org is wrong, feel free to provide evidence that proves your position.

Kwok

I’m not arguing for or against the legalisation of cannabis, but I’m questioning the balance of your post.

Ok, you’re not an official news organisation (like the TV news programs you talk about), but I just wanted to highlight that you were attacking impartiality by using an impartial source of information.

Tomas

Jusging from my own personal experience, “Stoners” are much more likely to try other more hardcore drugs. At least where I live.

MF DULER

Same here. I don’t know anyone who smokes pot who doesn’t also use other illegal drugs.

Zazza

Japanese society in general doesn’t look kindly on dissenting opinions. If authority says something, or the majority does something, you’re supposed to follow and accept it.

Perhaps they think advocating for something means being involved in such, and don’t want problems with the authority/majority. That’s why such programs are so biased.

Undeniable logic

Conformity is everywhere. Think around selective perspectives. It is in your education, monetary system and wealth. Be not limited to the society of Japan.

Jamandru

i think the hidden reason governments and societies want to criminalize marijuana is the fear of the citizens becoming lazy, thus losing their desire to work hard and be active consumers. japan’s “ganbare!” attitude must heighten those fears considerably.

but those are basically economic reasons and that is a hard sell on maintaining an illegal status, so they cling on to those other highly theoretical/unsubstantiated reasons.

RMilner

Historically it is rooted in US attitudes towards non-white immigrant workers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the US laws that were enacted and a result, and US success in spreading these laws to the rest of the western world.

Undeniable logic

Cannabis is not a drug, inhaling burned matter in general has consequential circumstances on a plausible scale. It is a weed, therefore.
drunkdaddy

“He makes no mention of how millions of Japanese fathers get drunk on alcohol in front of their children on a regular basis.”

Yes thats true. But why he had to? Because we already know that.
I think you are mistaking something. These shows are meant to be broadcasted in Japan. Why everytime they talk about foreign problems they have to mention over and over about domestic problems that we already know? You’re right, there are many stupid fathers in Japan, but we already know that! You want to let people know how Japan sucks, but you are just letting people know how you suck.

http://www.japanprobe.com James

Yes thats true. But why he had to? Because we already know that.
I think you are mistaking something. These shows are meant to be broadcasted in Japan. Why everytime they talk about foreign problems they have to mention over and over about domestic problems that we already know? You’re right, there are many stupid fathers in Japan, but we already know that! You want to let people know how Japan sucks, but you are just letting people know how you suck.

We already know that, and so do the viewers. Yet, the majority of those viewers, and probably Terry himself, don’t consider drinking alcohol to be a bad thing. It’s socially accepted in Japan for fathers to drink alcohol at home, and I doubt most Japan would think it is something that “sucks” or is “stupid” about their country.

It’s not about pointing out “how Japan sucks,” it’s about pointing out a huge inconsistency in the way people many anti-legalization people think. If a drug like alcohol is legal, why should the considerably less dangerous drug like marijuana be illegal? Why should parents be horrified by the idea of sending letting their children study abroad in a state where marijuana is legal, while far more dangerous binge drinking is legally taking place among university students in Japan?

Even news programs in the United States sometimes express similarly irrational anti-marijuana views. The “alcohol is okay, but marijuana is scary and bad” mindset is hardly limited to Japan, but when a Japanese TV personality is speaking out about why he doesn’t think marijuana legalization is a good thing, it makes sense to show how irrational the view is by providing a counter-example from Japan on how other types of more dangerous drug use are legally and socially tolerated.

drunkdaddy

Now I somehow get your point.
Sorry about that. I really even didn’t think of alcohol-marijuana comparison.

John

James’ point in bringing up how Japanese fathers get drunk in front of their children is not to put down Japan, but to show that while this show speaks the evils of smoking pot, they ignore the obvious harms that alcohol has on Japan. Very few Japanese shows have addressed the issue of drinking, probably because so many tv sponsors are Asahi, Kirin, Sapporo, et al.

Japanese TV Report About Prop 19

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