Japan

Japan’s hemp cannabinoid market expanded sixfold to ¥24 billion ($154 million) over the last five years as the country’s demand for CBD products steadily climbed.

Lawmakers in Japan’s House of Representatives have passed a bill to legalize cannabis-derived pharmaceuticals. The bill would also establish legal restrictions on general cannabis use, which was not previously referenced under federal law.

Japan’s government is debating legalizing cannabis medicines, a historic change in Japan’s zero-tolerance drug laws.

Nearly double the rate of people in Japan were involved in cannabis-related criminal cases compared to last year, a record for the country where 70% of offenders are in their 20s or younger.

A former civilian employee for the U.S. Marine Corps was sentenced to four years and four months in prison in Japan after he was arrested last year for illegal cannabis sales.

Japanese company Hiro International has unveiled a new line of CBD products produced using orange peels, not hemp or cannabis.