The United Nations has designated June 26 as the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. To mark this day, Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI) will host an HGPI Seminar to deepen understanding of the latest developments in and current issues surrounding cannabis-derived medicines.

In recent years, various countries starting with those in Europe and North America have begun approving the use of medicines containing a cannabinoid derived from Cannabis Sativa called cannabidiol (CBD) for the treatment of intractable epilepsy. In Japan, there are growing calls from patient groups and academic societies for the approval of medicines with ingredients that are derived from cannabis. In response, partial amendments were made to the Cannabis Control Act and the Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Act in 2023, paving the way for the use of cannabis-derived medicines in Japan.

In the debate over the harmfulness of cannabis and how best to regulate it, opinions in Japan and other countries are currently divided. While some countries are legalizing cannabis, including for recreational use, Japan has maintained a clear stance against habit-forming drugs, starting with cannabis, and continues to have a strict zero-tolerance policy for such substances. The United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), which plays a key role in guiding drug policy at the United Nations, voted to reschedule cannabis and cannabis resin in 2020. This decision is expected to lead to increased development of cannabis-derived medicines in the future. To keep pace with these changing circumstances in society, Japan must build upon the momentum started with recent legal amendments, recognize the significance of cannabis-derived medicines in the modern landscape, and advance discussions on how best respond to their introduction.

This seminar will feature a leading figure in discussions on the aforementioned legal amendments, Professor Ichiro Takumi. Reflecting on the latest developments in Japan and overseas, Professor Takumi will discuss steps leading to the amendments, issues related to cannabis-derived medicines, and how Japan should structure systems for those medicines. We would like to take this opportunity to consider the future of cannabis-derived medicines together with everyone in attendance.

[Event Overview]

• Speaker: Prof. Ichiro Takumi (President, Japanese Clinical Association of Cannabinoids (JCAC); Professor, Department of Neurosurgery, St. Marianna University School of Medicine)
• Date & Time: Monday, June 24, 2024; from 18:30 to 19:45 JST
• Format: Online (Zoom Webinar)
• Language: Japanese
• Participation fee: Free
• Capacity: 500 people

■Profile

Prof. Ichiro Takumi (President, Japanese Clinical Association of Cannabinoids (JCAC); Professor, Department of Neurosurgery, St. Marianna University School of Medicine)
Professor Ichiro Takumi was born in Tokyo, Japan. He graduated from Nippon Medical School in 1992 and was appointed Professor at St. Marianna University School of Medicine in September 2022. In his capacity as a neurosurgeon, Professor Takumi focuses on epilepsy surgery, stereotactic neurosurgery, orthopedic neurosurgery, and the control of secondary infections of prion diseases. He was also early to recognize the importance of the domestic introduction of cannabis-derived medicines, some of which are antiseizure medicines. Professor Takumi is a leader in cannabinoid research and was appointed Principal Investigator of Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) Sciences Research initiatives in this field in FY2020 and FY2024. In addition to his contributions to the development of cannabinoid medicines, Professor Takumi also advocates for the recognition of people living with intractable epilepsy and other parties who can benefit from cannabinoid-containing products classified as foods as eligible cannabinoid users.
On invitation from the House of Councillors’ Committee on Health, Labour and Welfare, Professor Takumi participated in the 212th Extraordinary Session of the Diet as a witness on November 30, 2023. He provided a statement of opinion regarding the bills for the partial revision of the Cannabis Control Act and the Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Act.