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2mo ago

Japanese Authorities Make First Arrest Under New Cannabis Seed Import Ban

This case tests enforcement of a regulation that took effect last March by charging a company executive with flying untreated cannabis seeds hidden in an ashtray.

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Overview

  • Kunio Kuroki, a 37-year-old company executive from Onojō, was arrested July 25 by Fukuoka Prefectural Police, Moji Customs and Kyushu Narcotics Control Department on suspicion of violating the Cannabis Cultivation Regulation Law.
  • Investigators say Kuroki smuggled 11 untreated cannabis seeds into Fukuoka Airport on April 16 concealed in a portable ashtray within his carry-on after purchasing them at a cannabis shop in Thailand.
  • The Cannabis Cultivation Regulation Law, promulgated in December 2023, began banning the import of any untreated cannabis seeds in March 2025 to close previous legal loopholes.
  • Kuroki told authorities he was unaware that bringing seeds from overseas violated the new import restrictions, underscoring gaps in public awareness about the updated law.
  • Officials have launched a joint investigation and intensified outreach campaigns to raise compliance as they apply the seed ban for the first time nationwide.