OUR ACTIVITIES
JAPANESE CBD MARKET
In Japan, various types of CBD products distributed in Europe and the USA are imported, as well as vapes, foods and cosmetics manufactured in Japan.
In 2022, according to the "Research on CBD Products Market" conducted by Yano Research Institute Ltd, the domestic CBD products market size was 18,541 million yen (185.9% of the previous year) on a retail basis in 2021, 25,936 million yen (139.9% of the previous year) in 2022, and in 2025 The market is expected to grow to 82.9 billion yen.
The report states that this is due to the growing health awareness of the new coronavirus and the Japanese Government's efforts to improve the environment, including legislation and regulations.
JAPANESE REGULATION CHANGES
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) established the Study Committee on Measures against Marijuana and Other Drugs in 2021 and the Subcommittee for the Study of Marijuana Regulation in 2022 to discuss the enforcement status of the Marijuana Control Law and other laws and issues.
It is expected that a bill to review the Cannabis Control Law from the current site regulation to component regulation will be submitted at the extraordinary session of the Diet in autumn 2023, and if this happens, the law will be amended for the first time in 75 years.
MEDICAL CANNABIS
Medical cannabis refers to cannabis used for medical purposes. It is generally defined as being cultivated in accordance with WHO (World Health Organisation) GACP (Guidelines for the Cultivation, Collection and Processing of Medicinal Plants), which is the Good Agricultural Practice for herbal medicines, and manufactured in factories that have obtained GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice).
An increasing number of countries around the world have legalised medical cannabis, based on scientific evidence of the medicinal properties of cannabis plants, which have been shown to be effective against a variety of diseases. In some countries, CBD as well as other medically useful components of cannabis grass, such as THC, are prescribed in preparations.
Clinical trials are also being conducted in Japan using a drug manufactured from cannabis for the treatment of intractable epilepsy. In the future, it is hoped that legal measures will be taken to address the needs of patients and improve understanding in the medical field.
INDUSTRIAL HEMP
Industrial hemp refers to cannabis used in industries such as textiles, paper or building materials. Industrial hemp has been used as an agricultural crop since ancient times. In Japan, during the Meiji and Taisho periods, hemp cultivation was used for agricultural development and migration planning in Hokkaido and other regions.
In the world, the Ford Motor Company of the USA is famous for its hemp car in 1941, while in Western countries today, buildings are built using environmentally friendly hempcrete and the apparel manufacturer Patagonia has a hemp collection using hemp, which has a low environmental impact and is durable, comfortable and breathable. The company sells its products.
In Japan, there is a growing movement to revitalise the hemp industry. For example, in Mie Prefecture, the 'Amatsu Sugaso Project', an industry-academia-government collaboration project utilising Ise hemp, has been launched, and efforts are being made to increase the number of hemp farmers.