The government is gearing up to present amendments to the Cannabis Control Act during the upcoming special session of Parliament scheduled for the 20th. These amendments will allow the use of pharmaceuticals derived from cannabis. They’re also planning to introduce a new “possession offense” with penalties to prevent easy misuse. The new bills to be introduced are expected to be fewer, totaling 10, compared to the 22 bills submitted in last year’s special session, as revealed by insiders on the 2nd.
Under the current law, while clinical trials based on appropriate implementation plans are allowed for pharmaceuticals derived from cannabis, their use as pharmaceuticals is prohibited. In countries like the United States, the use of cannabis-derived pharmaceuticals for patients with severe epilepsy has been advancing, and there have been requests from medical professionals in Japan as well.
he proposed amendments will expand the scope of cannabis cultivation licenses for industrial and medical purposes, which were previously limited to fiber and seed harvesting purposes. To prevent the misuse, particularly among young people, they will include provisions for “possession” and “cultivation,” which are already prohibited, along with prohibitions on use and associated penalties. The Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare’s subcommittee compiled a report last September that allows for the manufacturing and use of pharmaceuticals whose effectiveness and safety have been confirmed.
During the special session of Parliament, they plan to submit 10 new bills, including legislation related to the electronic publication of legal notices in the official government gazette.
