In December 2023, an amendment to the Cannabis Control Law was passed by the Diet, coming in to partial effect from December 12, 2024. As a result of this amendment it is now possible to use pharmaceuticals manufactured from cannabis, and startup companies are rushing to fill new business opportunities.

The Kiseki Group, based in Tokyo, cultivates medical cannabis in Thailand for the production of supplements containing CBD (cannabidiol). Representative Kohei Yamada is enthusiastic about the prospects, saying, “if we can make use of Japan's agricultural technology, we will be able to compete on a global scale.”

Mr. Yamada expects that the demand for medical cannabis will grow significantly in the future. With the implementation of the new law, there are high expectations for the development of cannabis-derived pharmaceuticals and the expansion of the market with Japan.

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