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Law Japan

momofthegoons

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Japan to criminalize cannabis use, but allow medical marijuana: expert panel report


TOKYO -- Marijuana use will be criminalized under revisions to Japan's cannabis control law, a health ministry expert panel stated in a report released on June 11.

The expert panel, headed by Shonan University of Medical Sciences professor Tsutomo Suzuki, made the decision due to concerns about young people's abuse of the drug. Meanwhile, the panel also concluded that marijuana-derived medications -- currently restricted in Japan -- should be permitted. The expert panel will now begin deliberating specific measures ahead of revisions to the Cannabis Control Act next year.

While the current law enacted in 1948 prohibits the possession and cultivation of cannabis, there is no criminal punishment for its use, such as smoking it. The introduction of a provision banning using the drug had previously been put off as farmers who cultivate the plant, which is used to make hemp "shimenawa" ropes for Shinto shrines and other uses, can inhale it as they work.

In February, the health ministry presented test results to the expert panel showing that no cannabinoids had been detected in the farmers' urine. In response, the panel concluded that "there are no reasonable grounds for not imposing penalties on (marijuana) use." The report raised the need to set up a punishment for using the drug, in addition to the current penalties for possession (imprisonment with work for five years or less) and cultivation (imprisonment with work for seven years or less).

During discussions, three out of the panel's 12 members objected to establishing new criminal penalties, voicing views such as "it goes against the global trend of focusing on supporting recovery," and "it cannot be said that cannabis use is causing social harm, and there are no factual grounds for implementing (criminal penalties)." Other parties, including an addicts' support group, had also called for "support" as opposed to "criminal punishment," and were demanding that the provision be scrapped.

As a result, the expert panel also mentioned efforts to prevent relapses, including drug addiction treatment, and enhancing support for social rehabilitation.

In 2020, 5,273 people were involved in cannabis-related cases logged by police and the health ministry's Narcotics Control Department, among other bodies, according to preliminary figures. Case numbers have doubled over the past five years to a new record high, in step with growing internet use. Individuals aged below 30 accounted for 65% of the total.

Meanwhile, medical use of cannabis-derived drugs, which are currently restricted in the country, would be allowed under the report. The expert panel concluded that in addition to imports, production and sale of medical cannabis should be permitted if authorized by the national government.

Medical cannabis has been approved in numerous countries, including the United States, and has been used to treat intractable epilepsy and curb cancer pain, but their import and use is currently banned in Japan under the Cannabis Control Act. An increasing number of doctors and others in Japan had been demanding that the usage ban be lifted.

The expert panel reviewed the current cannabis law, which imposes regulations based on the parts of the cannabis plant, and deemed it appropriate to adjust them to focus restrictions on a substance called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a hallucinogen. The panel called for a review of the law to organize distribution and management structures, including a license system, to enable medical marijuana use.

(Japanese original by Hidenori Yazawa, Lifestyle and Medical News Department)
 
Its surprising japan is like this to me.. i mean they are not china or korea.. they are a smart, developed county...
But then look at the uk government, still claiming its harmful and deadly...
But have never EVER provided the source of the study that gained this information..

And because of that, cannabis possession, (even large amounts), is not technically illegal... no one is being prosecuted anymore..

The main argument is that its not a controlled substance, meets none of the criteria.. all you have to do is demand they provide evidence that its illegal.. and they cant.. its not even listed on the gov drugs website.. hash and concentrates are.. but just cannabis is not...

Its a really interesting time for cannabis law in uk right now.. it was never actually illegal..

Loopholes ay...
 

Japan to criminalize cannabis use, but allow medical marijuana: expert panel report


TOKYO -- Marijuana use will be criminalized under revisions to Japan's cannabis control law, a health ministry expert panel stated in a report released on June 11.

The expert panel, headed by Shonan University of Medical Sciences professor Tsutomo Suzuki, made the decision due to concerns about young people's abuse of the drug. Meanwhile, the panel also concluded that marijuana-derived medications -- currently restricted in Japan -- should be permitted. The expert panel will now begin deliberating specific measures ahead of revisions to the Cannabis Control Act next year.

While the current law enacted in 1948 prohibits the possession and cultivation of cannabis, there is no criminal punishment for its use, such as smoking it. The introduction of a provision banning using the drug had previously been put off as farmers who cultivate the plant, which is used to make hemp "shimenawa" ropes for Shinto shrines and other uses, can inhale it as they work.

In February, the health ministry presented test results to the expert panel showing that no cannabinoids had been detected in the farmers' urine. In response, the panel concluded that "there are no reasonable grounds for not imposing penalties on (marijuana) use." The report raised the need to set up a punishment for using the drug, in addition to the current penalties for possession (imprisonment with work for five years or less) and cultivation (imprisonment with work for seven years or less).

During discussions, three out of the panel's 12 members objected to establishing new criminal penalties, voicing views such as "it goes against the global trend of focusing on supporting recovery," and "it cannot be said that cannabis use is causing social harm, and there are no factual grounds for implementing (criminal penalties)." Other parties, including an addicts' support group, had also called for "support" as opposed to "criminal punishment," and were demanding that the provision be scrapped.

As a result, the expert panel also mentioned efforts to prevent relapses, including drug addiction treatment, and enhancing support for social rehabilitation.

In 2020, 5,273 people were involved in cannabis-related cases logged by police and the health ministry's Narcotics Control Department, among other bodies, according to preliminary figures. Case numbers have doubled over the past five years to a new record high, in step with growing internet use. Individuals aged below 30 accounted for 65% of the total.

Meanwhile, medical use of cannabis-derived drugs, which are currently restricted in the country, would be allowed under the report. The expert panel concluded that in addition to imports, production and sale of medical cannabis should be permitted if authorized by the national government.

Medical cannabis has been approved in numerous countries, including the United States, and has been used to treat intractable epilepsy and curb cancer pain, but their import and use is currently banned in Japan under the Cannabis Control Act. An increasing number of doctors and others in Japan had been demanding that the usage ban be lifted.

The expert panel reviewed the current cannabis law, which imposes regulations based on the parts of the cannabis plant, and deemed it appropriate to adjust them to focus restrictions on a substance called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a hallucinogen. The panel called for a review of the law to organize distribution and management structures, including a license system, to enable medical marijuana use.

(Japanese original by Hidenori Yazawa, Lifestyle and Medical News Department)
Japan has always had a rather draconian approach to MJ criminalization.
 

Japan Amends Cannabis Law Allowing for Medicinal Products, Criminalizing Rec Use

The previous law prohibited administering or taking cannabis-derived medicines.

Like many other Asian countries, cannabis in Japan is illegal for both medicinal and recreational use. Though even with some of the world’s strictest cannabis-related laws, the future for cannabis in Japan looks just a little brighter as a recent move has opened the door to potentially usher in a new medicinal cannabis and industrial hemp industry in the country… though it doesn’t come without its caveats.

On Wednesday, a majority vote in Japan’s House of Councillors passed a revision of the country’s Cannabis Control Law. It effectively lifted the ban on cannabis-derived pharmaceuticals along with establishing new criminal penalties for the use of cannabis, first reported by Japan News.

The previous law prohibited administering or taking cannabis-derived medicines, but the revised law deleted this provision and reclassified cannabis under the “narcotics” category within the Narcotics Control Law. This effectively made it legal to use medicine derived from cannabis in Japan, once efficacy and safety are confirmed and approved by the pharmaceutical affairs bodies. Previously, pharmaceuticals derived from cannabis were only allowed to be used in clinical trials.

Given the efficacy of cannabinoids in treating epilepsy, among many other conditions, there have been increasing calls in the country to lift the previous ban. However, the revised laws also introduced a prohibition on unauthorized cannabis use, setting a prison sentence of up to seven years for violations, per Japan Times. The country previously only criminalized the import, export, cultivation, transferring and possession of cannabis.

The lack of criminalization for cannabis use was partially to protect farmers who may inadvertently adsorb plant compounds while growing it for use in hemp products.

This change was due in part to growing concerns around cannabis use in young people, as arrests for cannabis (particularly among younger demographics) have increased more than for any other drug in recent years. In 2021, Japan saw a record number of arrests with 5,783 and approximately 70% of those individuals were in their 20s or younger.

While they supported lifting the ban on medicinal cannabis, the left-leaning political party Reiwa Shinsengumi opposed the amendments to the Cannabis Control Law that created new criminal penalties for cannabis use.

“What previously had no penalties will now be harshly punished, with a maximum of seven years in prison. I opposed the bill because there is a serious problem here,” said Rep. Taro Yamamoto, leader of the party.

It’s likely that the government will also define permitted levels of THC in cannabis-derived products over time. Currently CBD and other hemp-derived products can be legally imported into Japan, so long as there is no observable level of THC and it’s been derived through “stalks and seeds.”

When it comes to the country’s already-booming CBD and hemp industries, the amendment will likely allow for products derived from flower to be imported into Japan legally so long as THC content falls within the newly defined limit.

The new amendment also requires the government to establish a framework to promote hemp cultivation within Japan, which could lessen the country’s reliance on imports. The government is set to increase the number of cultivation licenses in the country by changing the current Cannabis Control Act to the Law Concerning Regulation of the Cultivation of Cannabis Plants.

With that, Japan will issue two types of grower licenses: One, which is already available, allows for farmers to grow and harvest industrial hemp, and the other will allow for cannabis production pertaining for medical or pharmaceutical use. The latter license type will be new for Japan.

The revision is expected to be enacted within a year of promulgation, and changes surrounding cannabis cultivation licenses are expected to come in two years.
 

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