Under the revised laws, cannabis and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a psychoactive chemical found in the plant, will be dealt with as narcotics, the use of which will be banned to prevent young people and others from abusing it.
Growing the plants to produce medical products will also be allowed. In November, Japan’s health ministry approved the ban on a cannabis-derived ingredient named hexahydrocannabihexol, or HHCH, after so-called “cannabis gummies” containing such an ingredient has rendered many ill in the country.
The synthetic compound was designated as a controlled substance. An expert panel of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare approved the plan to prohibit the possession, use and distribution of HHCH, officially taking effect from December 2.
Violators of the ban under the pharmaceutical and medical device law can be imprisoned for up to three years or fined up to 3 million yen, or 20,235 US dollars, the report said.
Source: IANS
