Japan Should Consider Allowing Medical Cannabis, Health Panel Says
- Growing, selling, possesion is a criminal offense in Japan
- Study shows less than 2% of the population has used cannabis
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Japan — which has strict laws against the use of marijuana — should consider approving the import, manufacture and use of medicines derived from cannabis, subject to the same approval process as pharmaceuticals, a health ministry panel said.
At the same time, the country should do more to discourage recreational use of the plant, the committee said in its findings following a meeting Thursday. Possession of cannabis is illegal but not its use; the panel recommended that unsanctioned use should also be made a criminal offense.