Japan’s parliament has passed a bill to legalise cannabis-based medicines in a landmark revision of its stringent drug laws while toughening its ban on the recreational use of marijuana.
The changes to Japan’s cannabis and narcotics control laws passed on Wednesday in the upper house will pave the way for the lifting of a ban on medical products derived from cannabis.
Cannabis-based medicines, produced with the active ingredients cannabidiol, or CBD, are already used overseas to treat various conditions, like severe epilepsy.
This is a win for groups of patients who have campaigned for access to these medicines.
To address a rise in cannabis-related arrests, Japan has closed legal loopholes. Previously, inhaling marijuana was technically legal, but possession could lead to up to five years in jail.
The revised laws now impose harsher penalties, with people caught using or possessing marijuana facing potential prison sentences of up to seven years.
Authorities are responding to a surge in cannabis-related arrests, especially among young people. The government hopes these changes will deter the growing trend of marijuana abuse.
Japan’s CBD market, valued at $59 million in 2019, has flourished. The new laws leave CBD products unregulated, focusing on THC—the substance that causes a ‘high.’
The cultivation of cannabis in Japan will now be regulated by two distinct licenses—one for medicinal use and another for applications like hemp. These regulatory adjustments are set to be implemented two years from the time of the announcement.
Japan’s historical anti-cannabis laws, dating back to 1948, have imposed a lasting stigma on marijuana. The nation’s adherence to strict drug penalties aligns with the prevailing global trend in Asia.
Although this decision holds significance within Japan, it is consistent with the broader regional pattern of enforcing stringent penalties for drug-related offenses across Asia.
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