Japan's Diet enacts laws banning use of cannabis except for medicinal purposes

TOKYO, Dec 06 (NHK) - Japan's Diet has enacted laws banning the use of cannabis except for medicinal purposes.

The Upper House passed the revised cannabis and narcotics control laws on Wednesday, with support from the ruling parties and others.

Under the revised laws, cannabis will be dealt with as a narcotic. Its use will be banned to prevent young people and others from abusing it.

Japan already prohibits possessing and giving cannabis to other people.

But the revised laws will allow the use of medicines derived from cannabis plants. Growing the plants to produce medical products will also be allowed.

Medicines derived from cannabis plants are used in the United States and Europe to treat illnesses, including intractable epilepsy. Patients in Japan have been calling for such medicines to be legalized.

Source: Kyodo

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