On May 30, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) began accepting public comments regarding cannabis regulations.
The primary objective of this law is to expand the industrial use of hemp and enable its application for medical purposes. However, specific regulations have not yet been thoroughly considered.
Therefore, the MHLW is currently seeking wide-ranging public opinions to determine these regulations. Opinions can be submitted online, and the submission period is until June 28.
Public Comment Categories
①Comments on the Draft Guidelines for Reviewing First-Class Cannabis Cultivation License Applications
②Comments on the Draft Ordinance for Implementing the Amended Cannabis Control Act and the Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Act
③Comments on the Draft Enforcement Order for Regulations on Cannabis Cultivation
④Comments on the Draft Standard Methods for Analyzing Δ9-THC in Cannabis-Derived Products
⑤Comments on the Draft Guidelines for Reviewing Second-Class Cannabis Cultivation License Applications and Cannabis Research Cultivation License Applications (Comments for this category are accepted until June 12 only)
②Comments on the Draft Ordinance for Implementing the Amended Cannabis Control Act and the Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Act
③Comments on the Draft Enforcement Order for Regulations on Cannabis Cultivation
④Comments on the Draft Standard Methods for Analyzing Δ9-THC in Cannabis-Derived Products
⑤Comments on the Draft Guidelines for Reviewing Second-Class Cannabis Cultivation License Applications and Cannabis Research Cultivation License Applications (Comments for this category are accepted until June 12 only)
The preliminary evaluation reports released by the MHLW also indicate detection limit for THC in CBD products.
Currently, considerations are being made to establish two types of detection limit standards: one for agricultural crops and another for final products. The latter is further divided into three categories.
Detection Limit Standards
Agricultural Crops
- The detection limit for hemp as an agricultural crop will be set at 0.3% by government ordinance.
Final Products
- Oils: 0.001% = 10 ppm
- Beverages: 0.00001% = 0.1 ppm
- Other (such as edibles, vapes, cosmetics, etc): 0.0001% = 1 ppm
THCA to Narcotics List
Considerations are being made to add Δ9-THCA and Δ8-THCA to the list of narcotics. Currently, Δ9-THC and Δ8-THC are already designated as narcotics, but their precursors, THCA, were not previously listed.
The basis for the detection limits for final products, set at 10 ppm, 0.1 ppm, and 1 ppm, respectively, is explained. According to the explanation, the European food safety standards were referenced, using a baseline of 1 μg/kg. The estimated intake for a person weighing 50 kg was calculated, resulting in the above specifications
Many businesses were hopeful that this legal revisions would allow the use of full-spectrum products, commonly utilized in many countries around the world. Consequently, there is widespread disappointment expressed on social media, particularly on X (formerly Twitter). However, at the same time, numerous experts and business owners have indicated their intention to submit their opinions through public comments.
In Japan, X (formerly Twitter) is a primary platform for gathering information about the cannabis and hemp market. It serves as a valuable resource for opinions from various business owners and experts. This platform plays a role similar to LinkedIn in North America and Europe, facilitating professional networking and industry discussions.
