Kumiko Hirayama, 50, a self-employed woman and Yoshihiro Yanagida, 51, a retailer, are accused of cultivating and possessing cannabis in violation of the Cannabis Control Act, and are alleged to have cultivated 53 cannabis plants and possessed 11.81 grams of dried cannabis at Hirayama’s house from Mach to July this year.
At the first trial, an arraignment on possession was held and the two admitted to the charges.
In the opening statement, the prosecution pointed out that Hirayama believed that the oil extracted from cannabis was effective in treating cancer, and that she and her boyfriend, who is charged as an accomplice, began growing cannabis seven to eight years ago. The prosecutors revealed that the cannabis grass they harvested was placed in a Tupperware and used by the thee of them.
The next trial is scheduled for November 21.
