Free The Leaf
End The Prosecution: Why Arresting People for a Plant Makes No Sense
Imagine losing your career, your reputation, and your freedom, all for possessing a plant. This isn't a relic from a bygone era; it's the harsh reality for countless individuals, including public figures like Japanese actor **Kenshin Endo**, whose lives have been derailed simply for having cannabis. In an age where cannabis is increasingly recognized for its medicinal potential and states worldwide are moving towards legalization, continuing to prosecute and shame people for its use is an injustice that demands our collective outrage.
The Absurdity of Cannabis Criminalization: The Case of Kenshin Endo
The arrest of actor Kenshin Endo, a performer who appeared in the NHK historical drama “Reach Beyond the Blue Sky,” is a current, real-world example of this profound injustice. On Wednesday, September 25, 2025, Tokyo police arrested the 24-year-old on suspicion of possessing a small amount—allegedly **0.4 grams of dried cannabis**—at the home of another actor. Despite denying the allegations, stating, "I went to Shimizu's house. I saw something that looked like marijuana, but it wasn't mine. I've never used it,” his arrest highlights the immediate and devastating consequences of these laws.
His situation is one example among millions of people whose lives have been derailed for possessing a plant. How can we, as a society, justify locking up individuals, often disproportionately from marginalized communities, for possessing a plant that is demonstrably less harmful than legal substances?
Where is the Outrage for Tobacco and Alcohol?
Here's a critical question: Where is the equivalent outrage for tobacco and alcohol? These substances are legally available, heavily advertised, and deeply ingrained in our culture, despite their well-documented severe health consequences and societal costs. Tobacco is responsible for millions of deaths worldwide annually, causing cancer, heart disease, and a host of other debilitating illnesses. Alcohol abuse contributes to liver disease, addiction, accidents, and violence, straining healthcare systems and families alike. Yet, these industries thrive, and their consumers face little to no criminal repercussions for possession or responsible use.
The hypocrisy is glaring. How can a society tolerate, even celebrate, substances that cause widespread harm, while simultaneously prosecuting individuals for a plant that is being rigorously studied for its therapeutic benefits?
Cannabis: A Medicine, Not a Crime
Beyond the legal double standard, the criminalization of cannabis completely ignores its burgeoning role in modern medicine. Scientists are continually uncovering the plant's potential to treat a wide range of conditions, including chronic pain, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and nausea. Across the globe, reputable medical institutions are investing heavily in cannabis research, developing cannabinoid-based medicines that are improving patients' lives. To simultaneously acknowledge these medicinal properties while continuing to label its possession as a criminal act is not only illogical but also cruel to those who could benefit from it.
It's Time for Change
The prosecution of individuals for cannabis possession is a failed policy rooted in outdated ideologies. It's time to:
- Decriminalize and Legalize: Shift from a punitive approach to one that regulates cannabis like alcohol, allowing adults responsible access while focusing law enforcement on serious crime.
- Expunge Records: Provide a path for those with past cannabis convictions to clear their names, helping them rebuild their lives and access opportunities unfairly denied.
- Educate: Replace fear-mongering with evidence-based education about cannabis, its risks, and its potential benefits.
The time for shaming and locking people up for a plant is over. It's time to end the prosecution, embrace science, and align our laws with compassion and common sense. Kenshin Endo and countless others deserve better.
