The Japanese National Diet, during its regular session, has successfully passed a legislative amendment aimed at legalizing marijuana-derived medicines. The amendment seeks to address existing legal gaps regarding penalties for recreational use.

Until now, Japan only permitted marijuana-derived drugs for clinical trials, but patients have long sought access, particularly to cannabidiol (CBD) products derived from the plant. These products, approved for use in Europe and the United States, are known to treat conditions such as severe epilepsy.

Under the new amendment, the use of marijuana-derived medicines will be allowed, and cultivation of the plant will also be permitted to gather raw materials for pharmaceuticals and other products. The amendment received majority support in the Japanese House of Representatives this Wednesday, backed by the ruling coalition.

The revision to the Cannabis Control Act will take effect one year after promulgation, introducing new regulations concerning marijuana and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a psychoactive substance found in the cannabis plant.

In a groundbreaking move for the country, these substances will be categorized as narcotics, subject to regulations under the National Control of Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Act, prohibiting and penalizing possession, transfer, or consumption of these substances.

While cultivation, possession, and sale of marijuana have been prohibited and penalized in Japan, the use of these specific substances has not been punished. This will change after the legal revision, with recreational use potentially leading to imprisonment for up to seven years.

The reason for the absence of penalties for marijuana use in Japan has been the wide traditional uses of hemp cultivation, such as for clothing, seasoning, or significant Shinto-related religious ceremonies.

However, in response to a rise in arrests related to marijuana, particularly among individuals in their twenties, Japanese authorities have decided to regulate this. The new changes will introduce two different marijuana cultivation licenses, one for pharmaceutical production and another for various purposes, including the manufacturing of hemp products such as clothing.

These legislative changes related to marijuana cultivation will take effect two years after promulgation.

Shahram Bakir Ahmed, the proprietor of the “Four Seasons” fruit shop on the central business street of Newport, is facing legal action from the local government. Earlier this year, the Trading Standards Office received information that a teenager under the age of 18 had purchased an electronic cigarette from Ahmed’s shop.

Police officers had previously visited the store to explain regulations regarding the sale of age-restricted products and left detailed information packs for clarification. However, just a month later, the store faced another complaint after a woman purchased a nicotine-containing electronic cigarette, specifically an “Elf Bar” disposable e-cigarette.

Subsequent complaints against the store included allegations of illegal tobacco sales, unauthorized sales, and selling e-cigarettes to minors. As a result, the shop has been issued a closure order under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act and will remain closed until the expiration of the extended closure order on January 25, 2024.

Following a trial at Cwmbran Magistrates’ Court, Ahmed (32 years old, residing on Oaktree Road in Caterham, Surrey) was fined £1,345, encompassing fines, legal costs, and additional fees. He admitted to some of the violations.

James Clarke, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Housing, and Regulation in the city, expressed, “We made it abundantly clear to this shop that selling e-cigarettes to individuals under the age of 18 is illegal, and there is no excuse for selling such products.”

Currently, the UK government is in discussions across its four nations to restrict the sale of e-cigarettes to children, with plans to introduce relevant legislation in the UK in the new year.

Health Secretary Andrea Leadsom informed the House of Commons that legislation regarding tobacco and e-cigarettes will soon become law. The proposed legislation aims to limit the flavors and descriptions of e-cigarettes to ensure they are not targeted towards children.

The Health and Wellbeing Committee of the Westmorland and Furness Council in the UK has thrown its support behind the government’s proposed “Smokefree Generation” plan, aiming to reduce the number of smokers to below 5% of the population by 2030.

The government’s recommendations to curb smoking include criminalizing the sale of tobacco products to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009, and restricting the flavors and descriptions of e-cigarettes to prevent them from being appealing to children.

Additional measures in the government’s plan involve regulating the displays in retail outlets to keep e-cigarettes out of children’s sight and limit the sale of disposable e-cigarettes, a response to the rise of e-cigarette use among children.

Katrina Stephens, the Director of Public Health for Westmorland and Furness Council, previously emphasized that smoking remains the leading cause of premature deaths in the region.

According to the UK Public Health sector, smoking is responsible for 84% of lung cancer deaths and increases the risk of stroke by at least 50%. The government has set a target to achieve a smoke-free England by 2030, meaning that the smoking population should be less than 5% by that year.

Stephens noted that to achieve this goal in Westmorland and Furness, around 10,000 individuals in the region will need to quit smoking, eliminating the need for others to take up the habit.

In a recent development, officials from national public health organizations, dedicated to removing mint-flavored tobacco from the market, have indicated that the much-anticipated ban on mint-flavored tobacco may not be announced by the end of the year and could potentially be postponed until 2024.

The two officials, who have chosen to remain anonymous, disclosed this information ahead of any official announcement from the Biden administration. They hinted that the delay might be officially announced as early as next week.

Concerns are rising among officials in public health organizations that the ban could be delayed until next year, possibly extending beyond the November presidential elections.

One official expressed deep concern, stating that the ban might not be implemented before the 2024 elections. The official remarked, “In election years, everything becomes more challenging because people are more easily distracted.”

The White House has declined to comment on the matter, leaving the timeline for the potential mint-flavored tobacco ban in limbo.

The Health and Wellbeing Committee of the Westmorland and Furness Council in the United Kingdom has thrown its support behind the government’s proposed “Smoke-Free Generation” plan. These measures aim to reduce the number of smokers to below 5% of the population by the year 2030.

The government’s recommendations to decrease smoking include criminalizing the sale of tobacco products to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009, and restricting the flavors and descriptions of e-cigarettes to eliminate those appealing to children.

The proposed government plan also involves regulating the display of vaping products in retail stores to keep them out of the sight of children and prevent them from being attracted to such products. There is also consideration of limiting the sale of disposable e-cigarettes, given the increase in their use among children.

Katrina Stephens, the Director of Public Health for Westmorland and Furness Council, previously stated that smoking remains the leading cause of premature death in the region.

According to the UK Department of Public Health, smoking contributes to 84% of lung cancer deaths and increases the risk of stroke by at least 50%. The government has set a target for England to achieve a smoke-free status by 2030, meaning that by this year, the smoking population should be less than 5%.

Stephens noted that to achieve this goal in Westmorland and Furness, approximately 10,000 individuals in the region will need to quit smoking, with no new smokers starting the habit.