Former actress Saya Takagi denied marijuana possession Monday at the first hearing of her trial at the Naha District Court in Okinawa Prefecture.

Takagi, 53, had advocated for the legalization of medical marijuana in her failed campaign for an Upper House seat in last July's election. She was arrested in October and indicted in November for allegedly possessing about 55 grams of marijuana at her home on Ishigaki, Okinawa Prefecture, in conspiracy with her housemates.

"It's not mine," Takagi told the court.