Japan is one of the world’s largest economies, and its medical cannabis laws are changing fast. In October, the country became the first Asian country to legalize marijuana for recreational use. By 2020, it will also become one of the world’s biggest legal weed markets.
That leaves many wondering what this means for the future of marijuana in Asia. Will more countries follow suit? And what impact will this have on other countries that currently outlaw cannabis?
Overview of Japan’s New Medical Cannabis Laws
In May, Japan became the first Asian country to legalize marijuana for recreational use. The move came as a huge surprise. Not only was Japan not on many people’s radar as a potential leader in medical cannabis policy, but the country is also one of the most important markets in the Asian region. For details on the new laws and how they’ll affect patients, patients, businesses, and governments, continue reading below.
For a quick overview, though, here are the main points of the new laws.
- Medical cannabis will be legal for patients with any condition for which opioids and/or other painkillers are not an option.
- Patients can grow their own cannabis, or get it from licensed producers.
- Marijuana can only be consumed by patients in the same way as tobacco products and cannot be taken as a replacement for opioids.
- There are no limits on the number of medical cannabis-related businesses that can operate in Japan.
How Did Japan Legalize Recreational Marijuana?
Japan is no stranger to progressive cannabis policies. In 2016, the country launched its first clinical trials using cannabis to treat various conditions. Those trials were for patients who were enrolled in various clinical trials that were run throughout the country. Unfortunately, though, it was illegal to even possess cannabis for those patients.
That all changed in April 2017, when the Japanese government announced that it planned to legalize recreational marijuana. That June, the government released a public consultation on the issue, which received a whopping 35 million responses. The decision to legalize recreational marijuana was popular with the public, with over half of respondents saying they support the move.
That all happened in just a few short years, and it marked a huge shift in public opinion on cannabis. While more Asian countries have started to consider medical cannabis laws, no country had yet legalized recreational marijuana as a consumer product.
And as the first country in Asia to legalize recreational marijuana, Japan has an enormous opportunity to influence international policy and make a mark on the global cannabis community.
The Key Players and Legal Entities Involved in the Japanese Medical Cannabis Trade
With the legalization of marijuana in Japan, the Asian country has become a hotbed for the cannabis trade. In fact, it’s become one of the world’s most important markets for medical cannabis. This massive shift has happened as a result of how the country’s new laws have opened things up for the medical cannabis trade. The new rules have removed most restrictions that limited the number of licensed cannabis producers and suppliers in the market.
Now, anyone who wants to enter the market can do so. There are now hundreds of licensed suppliers, including licensed cannabis cultivators, licensed cannabis manufacturers, licensed cannabis distributors, and licensed cannabis clinics.
The most well-known business in the Japanese cannabis trade is Suntory, a Japanese beverage company that also owns Osaka-based cannabis cultivator/producer The Supreme. Suntory has been at the forefront of cannabis policy in Japan. It was one of the first companies to push for the legalization of recreational marijuana in the country. This has led to a lot of attention on the company’s role in the industry.
What’s Next for Japanese Marijuana?
There’s a lot of interest in Japanese cannabis from international investors. A lot of attention has been paid to how the Japanese government has legalized recreational marijuana. With the Asian country now a major player in the global cannabis trade, more investors may want to get involved. With a growing demand for medical cannabis, and the Asian country now a major exporter of it, there’s a lot of potential in the market.
That’s particularly the case now that the Japanese government has announced plans to build a medical cannabis research industry worth $20 billion. The Asian country has also announced plans to make marijuana available as a prescription drug as early as 2021.
This is likely to cause a surge in demand for medical cannabis. With many big companies now investing in the cannabis trade, and with the Asian country now a major exporter of cannabis, there’s a lot of optimism about the Japanese cannabis trade.
Current State of Medical Cannabis in Japan
After years of debate and change, the Japanese government finally legalized medical cannabis in April. While the new laws opened the door for the sale of medical cannabis, it was still illegal to consume it or grow it at home. The only way to obtain it was to get it from a licensed supplier. The new laws were not without controversy, which led to public consultation and a delay in implementation.
The new laws were first announced in May 2016 and a draft law was released a year later. The public consultation led to a delay as the government was forced to go back and do a lot of revisions. The new regulations were finally published in April 2018, and they went into effect in October.
With recreational marijuana now legal in Japan, there’s a lot of optimism about the growth of the Asian country’s medical cannabis industry. The new laws have created a regulatory framework for the medical cannabis trade in the country. Now, anyone who wants to enter the market can do so.
A Final Word
Cannabis legalization is happening worldwide. With the Asian country now a major player in the global cannabis trade, and with growing demand for medical cannabis, there’s a lot of potential in the market. Japan has become a hotbed for the cannabis trade.
With the growing demand for medical cannabis, and the Asian country now a major exporter of it, there’s a lot of optimism about the Japanese cannabis trade.
