Cannabis and cannabinoids in Asia

Global business and regulatory news covering the cannabis industry

22nd January 2025

Global debate on HHC regulation heats up ahead of UN meeting on narcotic drugs

8th January 2025

US rescheduling, Brazil’s hemp hopes, and the status quo for cannabis in 2025

31st December 2024

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Daily regulatory updates of legal changes in the cannabis sector, including monthly compilations

10th March 2025: Malaysia: Health minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said last week that he welcomes anyone with sufficient scientific evidence supporting the medical use of cannabis-based products to submit a registration application to the Drug Control Authority for approval, press reports. In response to a parliamentary question, the health minister said that current law allows for the marketing of cannabis-based medicines if they are granted marketing approval and comply with relevant legislation on medicines, even though no cannabis-based medicines are currently approved. Malaysia has yet to establish a medical cannabis programme outside of pharmaceutical drugs and prohibits the cultivation of cannabis for any purpose.
18th February 2025: Pakistan: Chairman of the Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority (CCRA) Muhammad Ali is set to brief the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariate regarding the authority’s operations and performance. As the regulatory body overseeing cannabis cultivation, processing and sales in Pakistan, the CCRA is responsible for issuing licences, establishing industry standards and enforcing regulations to ensure compliance with both national laws and international conventions.
7th February 2025: Philippines: During a plenary session on 5th February, the author of the Cannabis Medicalization Act (Senate Bill 2573), senator Robinhood Padilla, defended the bill and highlighted the safeguards included to prevent misuse. He emphasised that the Philippine Medical Cannabis Authority (PMCA) will prevent the abuse of medical cannabis, assuring that the law is intended solely for medical use. The PMCA will be established under the Department of Health (DOH) and will serve as the main regulatory body for medical cannabis. The bill has been pending its second reading since March 2024. Other bills with similar subjects are also being discussed in Congress.
31st January 2025: Pakistan: Zafarullah Khan has been appointed director general of the Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority (CCRA). The CCRA was established in March 2024, following the official promulgation of a presidential ordinance. Shortly after, in September 2024, the National Assembly passed the Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority Bill to regulate the cultivation of cannabis and the sale of its extracts for medicinal use.
27th January 2025: India: The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet has approved the report of a committee recommending the controlled cultivation of cannabis for industrial, scientific and medicinal purposes, setting the stage for its legalisation in the state, following the beginning of a pilot project in October 2024. Other states in India that have approved medical cannabis cultivation are Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir, marking a significant step towards national legalisation.
12th December 2024: Japan: The law criminalising recreational cannabis use and legalising medicinal cannabis products enters into force today. Medicines will require approval before becoming available to patients. Following a public consultation launched in May, the government has issued guidance on THC limits for CBD products.
28th November 2024: Philippines: The Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) are open to reclassifying cannabis as a less dangerous drug, according to senator Ronald dela Rosa, who is also the proponent of the budget for the two agencies, press reports. However, dela Rosa also said he believed the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, Republic Act 9165, would need to be amended first because under it, cannabis is still classified as a prohibited substance. Further reclassification by the DDB can only proceed if cannabis is not included in the annex of the act, dela Rosa said. He added that the DDB and PDEA are in “full support” of efforts to reclassify cannabis as a low-risk drug.
27th November 2024: Philippines: The primary sponsor of the Cannabis Medicalization Act, senator Robinhood Padilla, said he would work with the Philippine Dangerous Drugs Board and its enforcement arm – the Philippines Drug Enforcement Agency – to bring Philippine law in line with international recommendations on CBD, referencing a 2020 UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs decision, to reclassify CBD to recognise its potential medical value. The bill has been pending its second reading since March 2024. Other bills with similar subjects are also being discussed in Congress.
25th November 2024: Pakistan: The Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) informed the National Assembly Standing Committee on Science and Technology about the development of 36 cannabis-based products. The committee agreed to review advancements in the country’s scientific research, particularly in cannabis product development. Hussain Abidi, chairman of the PCSIR, highlighted potential challenges in exporting these products. Earlier this year, Pakistan passed legislation to establish the Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority, legalising hemp cultivation to support this emerging sector.
22nd November 2024: Israel: The Medical Cannabis Unit has announced that patients who are currently unable to reside at the address listed on their cannabis licence can receive their prescriptions from any licensed pharmacies. The unit instructed pharmacies to supply medical cannabis to patients upon proper identification and by maintaining updated records accordingly.
29th October 2024: Pakistan: On 31st October, the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) will hold a meeting of its implementation committee for the agriculture sector to discuss establishing the Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority (CCRA). This follows the passage in September of related legislation in the parliament. The committee will address the processing of cannabis policy, approval of the CCRA’s organogram and other related matters.
21st October 2024: India: In Himachal Pradesh, a state in the north of the country, a pilot project has been launched to explore cannabis cultivation. This comes following the state assembly's expression of interest in legalising cannabis for medical and industrial purposes through the approval of a report advocating on the matter submitted by the revenue minister, Jagat Singh Negi. The project will be overseen by Palampur Agricultural University and Horticulture University Nauni in Solan. This initiative marks a significant step as more Indian states are beginning to consider the legalisation of cannabis for both medical and industrial purposes.

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