Japan will criminalize cannabis use and legalize medical products derived from the plant under revised laws set to take effect on December 12, according to the health ministry’s announcement on Thursday.
Possession and cultivation of marijuana are already illegal in Japan, but the new regulations will explicitly ban its use, imposing a prison sentence of up to seven years for offenders.
Currently, cannabis use is not penalized, partly to protect farmers who may unintentionally absorb its substances while growing hemp. However, the government has changed its position due to growing concerns that the absence of a ban on use is leading to increased drug abuse among young people.
Simultaneously, the country will allow the use of cannabis-derived medical products, which are currently only permitted in clinical trials. Patient advocacy groups have called for access to cannabidiol (CBD) medicines derived from cannabis, which have already received approval in Europe and the United States for treating conditions such as severe epilepsy.
In 2022, a health ministry panel recommended changes to the country’s drug laws to enable the import and use of medicinal marijuana products, stating that this would address medical needs and align Japan with international standards.
At that time, a report from the panel indicated that only 1.4% of the Japanese population had ever used marijuana, in contrast to 20-40% in Western countries.
