International
Japan must change legislation to make cannabis-based drugs available
A panel of health experts from Japan's Ministry of Health last week recommended reviewing the country's anti-drug laws to allow for the importation and use of cannabis products for medicinal purposes, said the Reuters.
The recommendation was written with the aim of satisfying the country's medical needs while bringing Japan into line with international drug control standards, the committee said in a report.
The legislative review would apply to cannabis products, the safety and efficacy of which are well supported by robust legal frameworks governing pharmaceuticals and medical devices. Japan is a country with very strict legislation on controlled substances, and the importation, production and use of illicit substances, even for medicinal purposes, is prohibited.
The committee's report noted that only 1,4% of people in Japan have ever used cannabis, compared to 20-40% in Western countries.
Revision of Japanese law will be necessary before the epilepsy drug Epidiolex can be made available, as it is derived from cannabis. However the report states that this product is already in clinical trials in Japan.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
[Disclaimer: Please note that this text was originally written in Portuguese and is translated into English and other languages using an automatic translator. Some words may differ from the original and typos or errors may occur in other languages.]____________________________________________________________________________________________________
What do you do with €3 a month? Become one of our Patrons! If you believe that independent cannabis journalism is necessary, subscribe to one of the levels of our Patreon account and you will have access to unique gifts and exclusive content. If there are many of us, we can make a difference with little!
I am one of the directors of CannaReporter, which I founded together with Laura Ramos. I am from the unique Island of Madeira, where I currently reside. While I was in Lisbon at FCUL studying Physical Engineering, I became involved in the national hemp and cannabis scene and participated in several associations, some of which I am still a member of. I follow the global industry and especially legislative advances regarding the different uses of cannabis.
I can be contacted by email at joao.costa@cannareporter.eu
Switzerland: Pacrim takes control of Medropharm and prepares for a new phase of expansion in medicinal cannabis.
Reading Time: 2 minutes. Pacrim has acquired two-thirds of the Swiss company Medropharm, thus gaining control of the company and its operations.
South Africa: Researchers discover rare phenolic compounds in cannabis leaves.
Reading Time: 4 minutes. Researchers at Stellenbosch University in South Africa have discovered that flavoalkaloids are produced in the leaves of the plant...
Covilhã – Dismantling of two cannabis greenhouses
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Castelo Branco Territorial Command, through the Criminal Investigation Unit (NIC) of Covilhã, in...
Tokyo will host the Japan International Hemp Expo on November 14th and 15th, 2025.
Reading Time: 4 minutes. For the first time since the legal reform, Japan opens its doors to the global hemp industry...
Thailand will host GrowZone, the 1st Cannabis Golf and Networking Tournament, on November 4th, ahead of AIHEF.
Reading Time: 3 minutes Bangkok will host GrowZone next week, the first cannabis golf and networking event...
Belvedere Pharma is no longer on the list of entities licensed by Infarmed
Reading Time: 2 minutesBelvedere Pharma, authorized in 2023 to cultivate, import and export cannabis for medicinal purposes, left...
Cannabizetol: New cannabinoid may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits for the skin
Reading Time: 6 minutesA recent study from the Università degli Studi di Milano, in Italy, published in the Journal of Natural Products,...
Thailand: Bangkok hosts the 4th edition of the Asia International Hemp Expo & Forum from November 5th to 7th
Reading Time: 4 minutesFrom November 5 to 7, 2025, the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC) in Bangkok...
"Infarmed is finally going digital, which could change everything for cannabis producers" – Read the best quotes from PTMC25 here
Reading Time: 19 minutesPTMC – Portugal Medical Cannabis 2025 took place in Lisbon on the 25th and 26th of...
Startup Nau Verde aims to revolutionize the hemp textile sector in Portugal
Reading Time: 3 minutesMore than 100 million euros and 250 jobs are the figures for the ambitious...
