Is CBD Legal in Japan? Exploring the Legality of CBD Products in Japan

CBD, short for cannabidiol, has gained significant attention worldwide for its potential health benefits. However, each country has its own set of laws and regulations governing the use, possession, and sale of CBD products. Japan, known for its unique cultural and legal landscape, has its own approach to CBD.

In this blog, we will delve into the specifics of CBD legality in Japan. We will explore the current laws and regulations, discuss the difference between CBD and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), and shed light on the permissible uses of CBD products in Japan. Additionally, we will provide insights into the practical aspects of purchasing and using CBD in this country.

Get ready to explore the fascinating world of CBD legality in Japan and gain a deeper understanding of the legal framework surrounding CBD products in this captivating country. Let’s begin our journey into the topic of “Is CBD Legal in Japan?”

What Is CBD?

CBD, short for cannabidiol, is one of the many active compounds found in the cannabis plant. It is a naturally occurring substance that is extracted from the hemp plant, a variety of cannabis with low levels of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the psychoactive compound responsible for the “high” commonly associated with marijuana.

CBD has gained significant attention in recent years due to its potential therapeutic properties and its non-intoxicating nature. Unlike THC, CBD does not produce psychoactive effects, making it an appealing option for those seeking potential health benefits without the euphoric or mind-altering effects.

CBD interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), a complex network of receptors found throughout the body. The ECS is involved in regulating various physiological processes such as pain sensation, mood, appetite, sleep, and immune system responses. CBD is believed to interact with these receptors, potentially influencing these processes and promoting balance and well-being.

Is CBD Legal in Japan?

On 3 May 2023 in Dublin, GLOBEE NEWSWIRE The study “Japan: CBD and Cannabis Regulation 2022” has been added to the collection on ResearchAndMarkets.com.

This research provides a thorough analysis of Japan’s legal framework for marijuana, CBD, and hemp, covering all relevant policy areas and outlining potential future revisions to the legislation.

Cannabis is now prohibited in Japan for both medical and recreational use. CBD is legal as long as it is synthetic or taken from mature stalks and seeds, and THC-free products with hemp extracts from mature stalks and seeds are also permitted.

How to buy quality CBD products safely in Tokyo and Japan

100% THC-free certification is required for all CBD products sold in Japan by a registered producer or distributor. However, quality control rather than accidental intoxication is the true problem. Despite the fact that CBD is expensive, a 2017 study found that 26% of tested CBD products had less CBD than claimed.

It is better to stay with reliable producers, well-known brands, goods that publish test results on their websites, or goods that are accredited with a third-party mark, such as the JCA CBD. It may seem like a lot of detective work, but keep reading; we’ve got you covered.

To be safe, avoid getting relatives or friends to mail you anything that contains CBD. This goes for utilizing postal forwarding services as well. Regardless of what the labels say, if you ‘import’ these items, you risk prosecution for any (incidental) THC content.

Relax and chill in Tokyo CBD cafés

In recent years, cafés serving CBD-infused beverages and treats have proliferated around Tokyo. Some localities are short-lived, while a few are more enduring:

1. Mes by CBD (Coffee)

A customer-focused CBD experience is CBD Coffee. A location named Mes by CBD (Coffee) is currently open in Minato City at 1-6-5 Mita, about ten minutes’ walk from Azabu-Jban Station. They formerly had a little corner coffee shop near Komaba-Todaimae Station.

However, they provide more than just coffee; you may order fruit- or veggie-based smoothies and select the brand and concentration of CBD for your beverage. While you’re there, pick up some Mes brand CBD goods, including the water-soluble CBD-infused decaffeinated “night” coffee packets.

Restaurant name	Mes Cafe by CBD coffee (Mes Cafe by CBD coffee 麻布十番店)
Categories	Cafe, Bar
TEL/reservation	03-6887-0302 (+81-3-6887-0302)
Addresses	1-chome-6-5 Mita Minato City Tokyo 東京都 港区 三田 1-6-5 Show larger map
Transportation	286 meters from Akabanebashi.

2. Green Store

In Chuo Ward, Green Store is a 3-minute stroll from Higashi Nihonbashi Station and a 5-minute walk from Bakurocho Station. They aren’t a café per se, but rather a cool shop where you can buy and test a variety of CBD products in a calm setting.

Product tastings may only be scheduled online (website in Japanese). You may sample items from an à la carte or set menu for prices starting at 1,000 yen ∼ 6,95 USD. This is a terrific way to identify items you really enjoy because CBD may be pricey.

Restaurant name	Green Store
Categories	Shop
Transportation	3-minute stroll from Higashi Nihonbashi Station and a 5-minute walk from Bakurocho Station

 3. Hemp Café Tokyo

A short distance separates Hemp Cafe Tokyo from Ebisu Station. It is a cozy room with wooden furniture and a little terrace. Select CBD products are available in their store.

There are burgers, yakiniku spring rolls, sushi, and some of your favorite Korean and Mexican meals on the menu, but the majority of the food is vegan or vegetarian and some of it is gluten-free. Together, vegetarians and meat eaters may purchase CBD products at this fascinating location.

Restaurant name	Hemp Café Tokyo
Categories	Restaurant
TEL/reservation	+81 3-6427-1984
Addresses	3-17-14-8F Higashi, Shibuya 150-0011 Tokyo Prefecture
Price	from 20 yen ∼ 0.14 USD to 7000 yen ∼ 48,62 USD

4. Healthy Tokyo

Healthy Tokyo was the first company to launch their own CBD brand in Japan and bills itself as “Japan’s CBD pioneer and vegan innovator.”. They provide pet snacks, gluten-free treats, and CBD beverages that you may personalize. What else is there to ask for?

Visit their vegan café store in Haneda Airport Terminal 2 on the third floor, which is accessible for free. In addition, they have a sizable factory storefront in Edogawa and cafe outlets in posh Daikanyama and fashionable Harajuku (the latter of which features a pet patio with CBD dog treats).

Restaurant name	Healthy Tokyo
Categories	Cafe
TEL/reservation	050-5305-1331
Addresses	3-4-2 Haneda Airport, Terminal 2, Third floor, Ota, Tokyo

Where to buy CBD online in Japan?

In Japan, there are two options for purchasing CBD online: either directly from the brand website or via a generic merchant like Healthytokyo or MUKOOMI.

Although general shops tend to be picky about what they sell, you may compare brands with them, and occasionally they have excellent specials. Some foreign brands may only be sold via a general shop in Japan as they lack a local website. On the other hand, a lot of tiny and distinctive Japanese companies solely do online sales.

Japan’s top-selling CBD brands

Pharma Hemp, CBDfx, and Koi were the top three CBD brands in Japan as of 2019, followed by Cannapresso, Endoca, Aztec CBD, Hemp Touch, and Organi CBD. All of them are international names, although Japanese producers are beginning to proliferate.

1. Pharma Hemp — manufacturing CBD in Japan

Slovenia is the home country of Pharma Hemp. Three minutes’ walk will get you to their factory storefront from Denenchofu Station on the Tokyu Toyoko Line in Tokyo. Their Japan website is excellent for finding more ‘pro-user’ items like CBD pastes, crystal oils, and water-solubles with CBD concentrations of up to 40%.

Additionally, they produce OEM goods for companies like Mikka Cosmetics. The website has a small amount of English, but the translation is adequate. They are stocked by several stores.

2. CBDfx – the most popular American brand in Japan

You may examine all of the product test certifications for the California-based firm CBDfx (Japan) on the website. For baskets of goods, they provide coupon discounts, and delivery is free for purchases above 10,000 yen ∼ 70,12 USD. Their goods are also readily available from mainstream shops.

3. Aztec CBD — best brand for (THC-free) Full Spectrum

Top UK brand Aztec CBD hails from London. The greatest Full Spectrum CBD for vapes, tinctures, and edibles can be found at Aztec. They provide several unique goods on their Japan website, including CBD incense, and all of them proudly exhibit the results of their laboratory testing. In their Rakuten store, Aztec collaborates with CBD-Online, and other stores carry their goods as well.

4. Hemp Touch — discounts for subscribers

A CBD skincare company based in Slovenia is called Hemp Touch. In addition to conventional tinctures, they also make CBD sprays, which are also worth noting. Several products have been chosen for the Beauty Shortlist award even though they don’t show any lab testing.

On their website for Japan, you may select to buy CBD products on a monthly subscription basis and receive free shipping as well as a 15% discount.

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5. Mukoomi – shop Japanese cosmetics in English

After learning that CBD worked wonders for her personal skin issues, Miss World Japan 2016 Priyanka Yoshikawa launched the Mukoomi cosmetics line. Mukoomi offers the sale of body soap, whitening masks, toothpaste pills, and oil tinctures. You may shop in English and each product has a lab test certificate. Orders of 10,000 or more receive free shipping, and goods are dispatched from Osaka.

6. Healthy Tokyo — Japan CBD pioneer

Broad spectrum CBD is available from Healthy Tokyo, and their gummies are special. The website is available in both English and Japanese. The percentage levels are medium to low, and you may simply browse by CBD category, usage, or in-house brand. They provide a wide variety of vegan and gluten-free treats in addition to those made with special Japanese ingredients and tastes. Each item has a detailed description of its components.

Even better, you may place an online purchase and pick it up in person, or you can have the goods delivered to your Airbnb or hotel.

7. Ataracia — a rising star in Japan

Japanese company Ataracia is becoming well-known. They provide unflavored vape cartridges as well as 5% and 10% unflavored tinctures. They occasionally provide skin care kit promos so you may test out their selection of cosmetics. Their whole product line includes lab test results, and a few general stores carry their goods as well.

General online CBD retailers in Japan

Here are some general online CBD retailers that operate in Japan:

• HealthyTOKYO: HealthyTOKYO offers a wide range of CBD products, including oils, capsules, topicals, and edibles. They focus on providing high-quality, organic CBD products sourced from reputable brands.
• The Hemp Shop: The Hemp Shop is an online retailer that specializes in CBD products in Japan. They offer a variety of CBD oils, tinctures, topicals, and other CBD-infused products from both domestic and international brands.
• CBD Lab: CBD Lab is a Japanese CBD retailer that provides a selection of CBD oils, capsules, and cosmetics. They prioritize quality and transparency in their product offerings.
• Rakuten Ichiba: Rakuten Ichiba is a popular Japanese online marketplace that features a wide range of products, including CBD items. Many CBD retailers have storefronts on Rakuten where you can find different CBD products and brands.
• Amazon Japan: Amazon Japan also offers a selection of CBD products, including oils, creams, and supplements. You can browse through various brands and read customer reviews to help make an informed decision.

It’s important to note that regulations regarding the sale and purchase of CBD products in Japan are subject to change, and the availability of CBD products may vary. Always ensure that the products you are purchasing comply with local laws and regulations.

When buying CBD products online, be sure to check the brand’s reputation, product quality, customer reviews, and any third-party lab testing they may provide. It’s also advisable to consult with a healthcare professional before using CBD products, especially if you have any underlying health conditions or are taking medications.

CBD craft beer in Japan

Depending on the CBD level, CBD Beer typically costs between $1,200 and $1,450 per bottle, which is more costly than the normal craft beer. Here are few to test out:

The greatest range of CBD craft beers in Japan may be found at Shizuoka’s West Coast Brewing, an actual US-style brewery. 15 mg, 40 mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg of CBD terpenes are available. Although availability is erratic, the Bubbles craft beer online store is a fantastic way to purchase West Coast beer. Additionally, you may shop at their Shizuoka storefront, on the West Coast website, or at a specialty beer stockist.

Produced in association with Yokohama Craft Beer is Ataracia Craft Beer. Available at the Ataracia shop on Rakuten or Amazon Japan, it is a German-style Weizen brew containing 20mg CBD.

Calms CBD Beer is a joint venture product of Mitaki City’s Oga Craft Beer and Bright CBD. They make use of the US state of Oregon water-soluble nano CBD. The American pale ale features 15mg CBD, whereas the German pale ale contains 30mg CBD.

Selling CBD Oil

If you can prove that your CBD oil is made from the right sections of the cannabis plant, is free of THC, and is exclusively promoted as a dietary supplement and not for medical use, you are permitted to sell it.

• Your product is made using cannabis plant materials that have been properly extracted.
• Contains hardly little THC
• We advise you to thoroughly investigate your hemp provider because it is not promoted for medicinal purposes but rather as a nutritional supplement. As previously stated, in order to sell CBD products, they must have almost little THC.

We suggest Essentia Pura if you want to buy CBD oil from a reputable source. We are a new Slovenian business that specializes in CBD oil wholesale. We take pleasure in being compliance-focused and carefully studying the regulatory environment of the business nation. Please visit our website for additional information. Do not hesitate to get in touch with us if you have any queries. Our knowledgeable team will respond to you as soon as they can.

Exporting CBD Oil To Japan

Many well-known western companies want to sell their CBD oils to emerging nations like Japan. As we now know, Japan has somewhat stricter CBD regulations than Europe. It might be challenging to ship your CBD goods from the west to Japan.

Of course, you should adhere to all Cannabis Control Act rules. Additionally, you must take into account your product’s rules, which vary depending on the product. The licenses you need to get depend on whether you’re exporting cosmetics or selling food supplements.

Is Japanese Military Use of CBD Oil Legal?

People from all walks of life are experimenting with CBD as it gains popularity globally to assist with their problems. As long as it’s legal, a person’s occupation normally has nothing to do with what they eat, but if you’re in the military, things can be a little more complicated.

There are many US service personnel stationed in Japan who, like many other individuals, want to purchase CBD; but, is this legal?

According to information from the US Defense department, using CBD-containing products while employed by the US military is prohibited since doing so might lead to a false-positive drug test.

Is it legal to purchase products in Japan that contain more than 0.2% THC for recreational use?

No. THC is largely forbidden. Even in nations where THC is allowed, the law prohibits Japanese residents from smoking it recreationally outside of Japan. As previously mentioned, consuming or having THC may result in a fine of up to $3 million and a maximum jail sentence of 10 years.

FAQs

1. Is it acceptable to import CBD into Japan?

It is crucial to remember that even CBD extracted from leaves or flowers is unlawful to import into Japan because the country views cannabis as a controlled substance. Only CBD that has been produced from hemp stalks or seeds is permitted under Japanese law.

2. Is Japanese law legal full spectrum CBD?

CBD isolate and CBD broad spectrum, provided they are produced in accordance with Japanese legislation, are both legal in Japan. CBD full spectrum is not. Let’s examine the contrasts in more detail.

3. Can I bring CBD on an airplane?

What are the restrictions on CBD use while flying? CBD products are allowed in both checked baggage and carry on. You must bring all CBD products with you in their original packaging. Information about the THC content must be included on the product label.

4. Does Tokyo have a CBD?

Tokyo, however, is ahead of the curve; during the past eight years, the Tokyo CBD industry has grown by around $56 million. CBD is now available in a variety of places, including specialty shops, drinks, health food stores, and even the Tokyo airport.

5. Can I bring a CBD vape on a trip?

No, using a CBD vape pen while flying is prohibited. The Transportation Security Administration states that all battery-operated electronic smoking products, including vape pens, e-cigarettes, and other similar products, are not allowed in checked baggage and may only be taken in carry-on luggage.

6. Can I bring CBD gummies on a plane to another country?

Yes, to answer briefly. As long as the gummies have a THC content of less than 0.3%, you can generally travel with CBD gummies.

7. Which medications are prohibited from entering Japan?

In Japan, it is illegal to use heroin, cocaine, MDMA, opium, cannabis (including CBD oils), and some prescription drugs like Adderall, Vyvanse, and Dexedrine. Even if a forbidden medication is bought lawfully outside of Japan, there are no exceptions.

8. Which substance is prohibited in Japan?

Methamphetamine or heroin use or possession has a maximum 10-year prison sentence; MDMA, cocaine, or magic mushrooms carry a potential seven-year prison sentence. For the possession of solvents like paint thinner, Japan imposes a fine of up to USD $4,000 or a sentence of up to one year in prison.

9. What happens if one is busted in Japan with drugs?

Stimulant use, possession, transfer, or receipt carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in jail and a maximum fine of JPY 5 million.

Conclusion

We hope after reading this blog post, you can have an answer for the question: “Is CBD legal in Japan?”. Navigating the legality of CBD in Japan requires a careful understanding of the laws and regulations in place. While CBD is legal in certain circumstances, it’s important to be aware of the specific conditions and restrictions.

Throughout this blog, we have explored the legal landscape surrounding CBD in Japan. We have discussed the current regulations, the distinction between CBD and THC, and the permissible uses of CBD products. It is crucial to adhere to these regulations to ensure compliance and avoid any legal issues.

We hope this guide has provided valuable insights into the topic of CBD legality in Japan. Remember to do your due diligence, seek legal advice if needed, and stay informed about any legal developments related to CBD in Japan.