Japan health panel recommends allowing importation and use of medical marijuana products
Japan thinking about allowing importation and use of medical marijuana products
A Japanese Health Ministry panel recommended Thursday that the country's drug laws be revised to allow the importation and use of medical marijuana products.
The recommendation was based on meeting medical needs and aligning Japan with international standards, the committee said in a report. The revision would apply to marijuana products that have been confirmed to be safe and effective under laws governing drugs and medical devices.
Japan has very strict laws prohibiting the importation, manufacture and consumption of illicit substances. The committee's report notes that only 1.4% of Japanese have ever used marijuana, compared to 20-40% in Western countries.
A revision of the law would be required for the use of the cannabis-derived epilepsy drug Epidiolex, which is currently undergoing clinical trials in Japan, the report says.
