drugs

National Jan 22, 2021

New panel to probe growing use of marijuana and stiffen draconian pot law

by Tomohiro Osaki

Under the Cannabis Control Law, owners and growers of the illicit plant already face up to seven years of imprisonment.

National / Crime & Legal Jan 20, 2021

Japan to use AI for customs procedures, stop drug smuggling

To stop the import of illegal drugs, Japan has already started testing a prototype nuclear quadrupole resonance device that uses AI to check X-rayed items and identify drug smuggling.

National / Crime & Legal Jan 19, 2021

Seizures of liquid marijuana surging in Japan

The estimated amount of the drug in liquid form confiscated by Tokyo Customs in 2020 jumped nearly 70 times from the previous year's level.

National / Business Dec 15, 2020

Psychedelics replace cannabis as the new favorite edgy investment

by Tiffany Kary

Early stage investors are predicting substances such as psilocybin and Ibogaine have an even better shot than cannabis at disrupting the $70 billion market for mental health.

World / Crime & Legal Dec 6, 2020

Burner phones and banking apps: Meet the Chinese 'brokers' laundering Mexican drug money

by Drazen Jorgic

Chinese money brokers based in Mexico "have come to dominate international money laundering markets," U.S. prosecutors have said.

Commentary / World Nov 17, 2020

Can marijuana help Biden heal a divided nation?

by Tara Lachapelle

Five states passed ballot measures on marijuana use. It was a moment that cannabis companies and their investors have been waiting for: to be considered a legitimate industry.

World / Politics Nov 5, 2020

Five U.S. states pass legal marijuana measures

Legal marijuana is becoming the American norm as ballot measures passed in Arizona, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, and South Dakota, adding to the 44 states that already allow it for medical or recreational purposes. Adult-use pot will be legal in 15 states. The measures were among ...

World / Social Issues Oct 28, 2020

Cannabis, no longer so divisive, draws more conservative support

by Tiffany Kary

Initiatives on ballots in a handful of conservative states show Republicans are increasingly on board with legalization, paving the way for an end to federal prohibition.

Baseball Oct 17, 2020

Baseball powerhouse Tokai University suspends team activities due to drug use

Tokai University, a four-time Japanese national university baseball champion, said Saturday it has indefinitely suspended all activities of its baseball club due to illegal drug use by several members. According to the university, which has several campuses across the country, some members of the club ...

World / Crime & Legal Oct 17, 2020

'The Godfather': Mexico's ex-defense chief helped ship tons of cocaine and heroin

Mexico's former defense chief Salvador Cienfuegos used his power in office to protect a faction of the Beltran-Leyva cartel, directing operations against rival gangs and even finding maritime transport to ship drugs, U.S. prosecutors said Friday. Cienfuegos, arrested at Los Angeles Airport on Thursday, took ...