CBD and Japan – What you Need to Know

It’s finally that time again, summer is just around the corner. If you are already thinking about your next vacation planning during the first soft, sun-kissed evenings in the park, you should – if you don’t want to do without your favorite hobby – pay attention to how things are going in the land of desire when choosing your travel destination the stoner stands. Because the joint, which in this country is often only punished with a small reminder when it is not used in moderately, could even cost you your life in some destinations  . What about cannabis in France? Here’s the right place to learn about legality of CBD in France!

Bong, baguette & bon vivre?

Our French neighbors are generally considered more of a life-affirming people with good food, good wine and the serenity of a cruise ship captain in the port of Monaco. But when it comes to cannabis, the flimsy idyll is deceptive. If you’ve being to France before you may not believe that France exhibits one of the toughest cannabis laws in Europe. It is among the six remaining EU countries that criminalize the mere use of cannabis. And plenty of it! So if you wanna smoke weed in France, you have to be very careful. Because even smoking a joint you can be punished with the maximum statutory penalty of up to a year behind bars and a hefty fine. Like the ban policy in general, this does not prevent anyone from actually giving up cannabis in France.

Cannabis in France: 54 tons annually in preventive detention

The statistics show what inevitably becomes clear after a short time in the land of frog legs cuisine: Over 100,000 arrests of cannabis consumers and also 54 tons of seized buds are carried out by the gendarmerie every year. But this irrational consumer persecution could soon end here too. The French health minister Agnés Buzyn publicly announced a legal review in summer 2018. France is trying all possible for the preparations to legalize marijuana. Patrice Ribeiro, a spokesman for the French police union, supports the proposed change in the law. “It’s a good idea based on reality,” said Ribeiro. “Most cops who catches someone in the act of smoking cannabis tells the person to throw away the joint – but don’t pursue it any further. ” The time and economic expenditure, which ultimately did not lead to a positive result, is too immense.

Coffeeshops Light thanks to an EU loophole

Recently, reports of numerous “coffee shop” openings in restrictive France made the rounds. Behind it are a couple of small shops selling CBD flowers and cosmeticsTrade with vanishingly low levels of THC. There are now about a dozen of them, about half of them in Paris. It was only last year that the shopkeepers discovered that, unlike France, the European Union allows trade in hemp products that contain less than 0.2 percent THC. A legalization of cannabis in France or decriminalization as announced by President Macron remains an unreachable distance. The current work of the lobbyists in the fight against the evil, green haze is too immense. And so on holiday on the Côte d’Azur it will probably continue to be baguette and vino instead of bong and weed.

Many countries around the world still have very strict laws and regulations on cannabis. One that has some of the strictest, is Japan. So if you’re looking to travel, or are currently living there, and are curious about CBD laws, we’ve compiled a list of basic questions that answer some of the current CBD regulations you might need to know. For starters…

Is CBD legal in Japan?

To answer this as short and sweet as possible, yes. CBD is legal in Japan, BUT under strict rules and regulations. CBD products are legal in Japan as long as they’re only made from cannabis stems and seeds, and contain zero trace of THC.

Usually, like in the United States or Europe, any plant that contains 0.3% THC, or 0.2% THC in the case of Europe, is considered to be a hemp product. Whereas in Japan, due to the Cannabis Control Act, regardless of the THC content, CBD must only be made with certain plant parts. The Act prohibits the use of cannabis leaves and flowers in the production of CBD products, to reduce any and all of the psychoactive effects.

THC and cannabis products are illegal in Japan. So all CBD products used must be 100% THC free. There are penalties for cannabis possession, cultivation, sale, or transport. Any of these can result in automatic imprisonment.

Can I travel with CBD products into Japan? 

Since CBD is legal in Japan, yes, you can travel with it into the country. BUT, since most CBD brands outside of Japan contain trace amounts of THC (like in the U.S. or Europe), these are not allowed. The CBD products you take with you into Japan must contain no traces of THC, and be 100% pure. If you’re in need of CBD products, it’s best suggested to buy them once you’ve entered the country, just to be safe.

Is it legal to buy CBD (online or in store) in Japan? 

Since CBD is an unrestricted substance in the country, yes, it’s legal to buy it in Japan. It’s actually rather common, and can be bought both in a store, or online. If you live in Japan, you can have CBD shipped right to your home from local product providers, or, you can use a mail forwarding service to buy from international brands that don’t ship directly to Japan. The government allows credible foreign brands to introduce their CBD products into the country’s market, following their rules and regulations.

Can I use higher THC content CBD products in Japan with a prescription?

Since there is currently no medical cannabis programme in Japan, no. You cannot use CBD products with any volume of THC, no matter how minimal, even with a prescription.

Currently…

Even though it might seem like it’s creeping in slowly, Japan is on its way to advancing its views on cannabis. For now, CBD is currently in the standing as a health supplement, and is luckily permitted throughout the country.