Japan’s cannabis market growing rapidly amid regulatory shift

The legality of products that contain cannabinoids, a group of substances derived from the cannabis plant, has been somewhat murky in Japan. | GETTY IMAGES

by TOMOKO OTAKE
April 21, 2024

Japan’s cannabis market expanded sixfold over four years to ¥24 billion ($154 million) in 2023, a trend that is expected to accelerate with the amendment in December of cannabis laws, market research firm Euromonitor International said in a recent report.

The growing sales of products using CBD (cannabidiol), a compound found in marijuana, are attributed to the rising demand for products that offer relaxation, sleep and stress relief, the firm said, estimating the current number of CBD users in Japan at 588,000.

Many users see CBD as alternatives to tobacco and alcohol, often using them to relax while watching movies or TV shows, the firm said.