The use of cannabis is banned in Japan.
However, when divided into components, CBD products can be used.
It is THC (psychoactive) that is banned.
A comparison between Japan and the U.S. in terms of cannabis use shows the following results
The Use of Industrial Marijuana | Medical use | preference | |
Japan | Mostly prohibited. | prohibitions | prohibition |
America | 2014-. | Year 1996- | Available in 11 states. |
In this way, compared to the United States, you can see that the prohibition on cannabis in Japan is very strict.
This is said to be due to Japan’s failure to amend the old post-war laws on cannabis yet.

In fact, cannabis has been used in Japan for a long time, and ingredients and fibers have been useful as food, clothing, housing, medicine, and luxury goods. However, the Cannabis Control Act was enacted in 1948, when Japan was under the occupation of the Allied Command headquarters after World War II. The same laws were imposed not only in Japan, but also in countries around the world at that time.
Since then in Japan, the cultivation of cannabis grass has required the permission of prefectural governors, and the number of hemp farmers has decreased dramatically. In addition, various provisions have been added to the Cannabis Control Act and are continuously adopted in Japan today. A simple summary of the Cannabis Control Act is as follows:
≪The Cannabis Control Act (Simplified Summary)≫
Article 1: Prohibits the use of products using parts of the cannabis plant other than its stems and seeds. (I.e. CBD products extracted from stems and seeds are allowed to be used)
Article 2: Cultivation of marijuana requires a permit from the prefectural governor.
Article 3: All cultivation, delivery, research, possession, etc. of marijuana is prohibited except for those who also hold a permit to grow marijuana.
Article 4: Import and export of marijuana is prohibited.

In this way, the use of cannabis is prohibited in Japan because of the cannabis control law that has continued since the end of the war. Japan is well behind the cannabis market as other countries that used the Cannabis Control Act at the same time are revising their laws one after another.
Medical cannabis has been growing rapidly not only in the United States and Europe, but also in Asian countries such as Thailand and South Korea in recent years.

They also handle drugs and supplements containing THC.
It is said that clinical experiments on epilepsy drugs are currently being studied in Japan, but I would like to pay attention to how they will change in the future.