According to a report by Agence France-Presse on December 6th, the Japanese Parliament (known as the "Diet") has passed a legislative amendment aimed at legalizing medicinal derivatives of marijuana. The amendment seeks to address the existing legal loophole regarding the punishment for recreational use of the drug.
Previously, Japan only permitted drugs derived from cannabis for use in clinical trials. However, patients have consistently been requesting access to these drugs, specifically cannabidiol products derived from this plant. These products have already been approved in Europe and the United States for the treatment of conditions such as refractory epilepsy.
According to the amendment, the use of marijuana-derived medicines will be permitted, along with the cultivation of this plant for sourcing raw materials for pharmaceutical and other products. The amendment was passed by the Japanese House of Representatives this Wednesday, with majority support from the ruling coalition.
The revision of the Cannabis Control Law will come into effect one year after its promulgation, and it will entail the formulation of new regulations regarding cannabis and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a psychoactive substance found in the cannabis plant.
In a groundbreaking move for the country, these substances will be categorized as narcotics, according to the national Controlled Substances and Psychotropic Substances Act, effectively prohibiting and penalizing possession, transfer, or consumption of these substances.
Despite the cultivation, possession, and sale of marijuana being prohibited and punished in Japan, the use of these specific substances is currently not penalized. However, this situation is expected to change once the revised law comes into effect, with recreational usage potentially resulting in up to seven years of imprisonment.
The reason why there are no punishments for marijuana use in Japan under this law is due to its widespread traditional uses such as clothing production, seasoning, or significant religious ceremonies associated with Shintoism, a native religion in Japan.
However, due to the increasing number of arrests related to cannabis, especially among young people in their twenties, the Japanese authorities have decided to regulate this issue. These new measures will introduce two different types of cannabis cultivation licenses – one for medical purposes and another for other purposes such as manufacturing cannabis-based products, including clothing.
These legal changes regarding the cultivation of marijuana will come into effect two years after being issued.
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