Japanese Cannabis Reform Is Almost Here
In November 2023, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) was tasked with developing rules and standards for THC levels in Japanese cannabis products. This motion was the first cannabis reform since the Cannabis Control Act, which has shaped cannabis rules in Japan for 75 years. CBD is already widespread in Japan, so what will change with cannabis reform?
What Will Change With Cannabis Reform In Japan?
The potential new cannabis rules in Japan would apply to medical products, Japanese cannabis cultivation, and THC levels in products. Currently, the Japanese cannabis market allows for CBD with zero THC content. These regulations confine all CBD products to isolate-based products and not full-spectrum extracts.
The MHLW has already announced it will legalize CBD products that contain traces of THC, as most agree that full-spectrum CBD is more effective than CBD isolate. Japan is widely expected to comply with the international standards of less than 0.3% THC in the final product. With these changes, doctors can prescribe more effective medications, increasing access for the Japanese population.
Will CBD Be A Medicine Or Novel Food Product In Japan?
Another question is whether CBD will be regulated as a medicine or a novel food product. The MHLW appears to be only looking at medical CBD products for now. It seems unlikely that the …