Japan: Market and regulatory data analysis of the cannabis sector

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.
19th September 2024: Japan: The government has released guidance on THC limits for CBD products following a public consultation launched in May of this year. Despite the fact that the Ministry of Health made minor adjustments to the initially proposed limits, they remain among the strictest in the world. Yuji Masataka, one of the first specialists in medical cannabis in Japan, stated that products such as broad-spectrum or vapes might struggle to comply with the new regulations, which could lead to a shift towards isolate products or synthetic CBD.
17th September 2024: Japan: The Ministry of Health has said a law criminalising recreational cannabis use and legalising medicinal products derived from cannabis will enter into force in December. Medicines will need to undergo an approval process before becoming available to patients.
4th June 2024: Japan: The government has launched public consultations for draft legislation set to regulate the hemp and CBD industries. The proposals suggest that CBD will be approved for use in foods, with strict limits on the amount of THC allowed. After passing the legislation in December 2023, the government launched consultations on THC limits, THC standard testing in finished products, and on the enforcement of the new rules, as well as on type 1 cannabis farmers and type 2 cannabis farmers. The deadline to submit comments is 29th June for all consultations except the one on THC standard testing, which has a deadline of 13th June.
11th December 2023: Japan: The upper house of the parliament (House of Councillors) has adopted a proposal legalising cannabis-based medicines and criminalising recreational cannabis use. The bill will enter into force one year from the promulgation date (to be confirmed) and would be Japan's first medical cannabis law.
21st November 2023: Japan: The Ministry of Health intends to ban hexahydrocannabihexol (HHCH) after several hospitalisations due to consumption of gummies containing HHCH, press reports. The ban could take effect as early as 2nd December.
14th November 2023: Japan: Today (14th November), the House of Representatives (lower house) adopted a proposal to legalise cannabis-based medicines and criminalise recreational cannabis use. The bill is yet to be adopted by the House of Councillors (upper house).
27th January 2023: Japan: The Ministry of Health and Welfare has published a review of the Cannabis Control Law, proposing a limit of 0.2% THC in hemp, legalisation of cannabis-derived medicines, and criminalisation of cannabis usage.
3rd October 2022: Japan: A Japanese health ministry panel has recommended amending its laws to legalise the importation and use of medical cannabis. The recommendation includes establishing a distribution control system through licensing and subjecting medical cannabis products to the same testing and approval as pharmaceutical drugs.
27th May 2022: Japan: The Cannabis Control Review Subcommittee – set up by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare to review drug control rules – is considering legalisation of medicinal products based on cannabis. However, it still considers introducing criminal penalties for cannabis use. Recreational cannabis is prohibited in Japan.
25th March 2022: Japan: The number of cannabis offences has increased, media reports. Last year, 5,482 people were caught possessing cannabis and cannabis-based products, according to police records. The only permitted CBD products are those derived from stalks and seeds, while THC is banned.
14th March 2022: Japan: The Health Ministry has published a ministerial ordinance that prohibits manufacturing, importing, selling, possessing and using hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) and HHC-containing products. It enters into force on 17th March 2022.

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