The Japanese government is set to allow the medical use of cannabis to treat patients with incurable conditions, while cracking down on recreational consumers.
The Japanese government plans to submit several bills, including one which would see the revision of the Cannabis Control Act, during the current session of the Diet, Japan’s national legislature, according to local media reports.
Possession, sale and cultivation of cannabis for recreational and medical purposes is currently illegal in Japan, along with the manufacturing of medicines derived from the plant. The proposed revision would enable patients with conditions such as refractory epilepsy to use drugs made from cannabis plants.
The first moves towards legalising medical cannabis in Japan have only concerned the authorisation of Epidyolex, a pharmaceutical CBD oil prescribed for certain types of rare refractory epilepsy, which has been approved for use by the US FDA and European health authorities.
However, the proposed revision would further criminalise recreational cannabis consumers.
Under an original provision of the Cannabis Control Act cannabis consumption is not currently punishable, in order to protect growers from hemp who could involuntarily inhale psychoactive substances from the crop.
The use of cannabis and hemp plants can be seen in Japanese history as far back as 10,000 years ago. As one of the earliest known plants to be cultivated in the country, hemp is ingrained in certain parts of Japanese culture as a source of food and raw material for clothing and items used in traditional Shinto rituals.
By cracking down on the recreational use of cannabis, the Japanese government says it wants to prevent its growing use among young people.
CBD, a market of hope
In parallel with this medical reform, the Japanese CBD market is developing rapidly, with a turnover of around €120 million in 2022.
Currently, products containing CBD, extracted and manufactured only from the mature stems and seeds of the cannabis plant, do not fall into the legal category of cannabis and therefore can be manufactured and sold in Japan.
When importing CBD products, the importer must nevertheless prove that they do not contain THC and that they are extracted only from the stem and the cultivated seeds. Moving from regulations based on plant parts to regulations based on extract composition would increase the potential for imports and provide new market opportunities.
Vaping is the most popular form of CBD consumption in Japan. Its popularity is attributed to Japanese e-cigarette regulations, where vapes containing nicotine are prohibited by law. Liquids containing CBD provide the sensation of vapour inhalation without prohibited ingredients.
CBD topicals are also popular, as Japan has a thriving skincare market.
This article was originally published by Newsweed and is reprinted here with permission,
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