With the planned enforcement of the amended Cannabis Control Act in December 2024, the development and production of cannabis-derived pharmaceuticals will become legal in Japan. Furthermore, from March 1, 2025, the cultivation of industrial and medical cannabis will also be legalized. This legal reform marks a significant turning point for Japan’s medical cannabis industry.

Cannabinoids, known as the active compounds in cannabis, are expected to offer high therapeutic potential for rare diseases that currently have no effective treatments, such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, cannabinoids are anticipated to play a key role in managing pain and reducing nausea in palliative care for cancer patients, as well as addressing mental health conditions like depression, anxiety disorders, and sleep disorders—issues that have become increasingly serious in Japan’s stress-filled society, where 30,000 lives are lost to suicide annually.

In response to this growing need, KISEKI is working to resolve the issues of “drug loss” and “drug lag” by partnering with overseas pharmaceutical companies that have advanced cannabis-based medicines to Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical trials. Through these partnerships, KISEKI aims to accelerate clinical trials within Japan, ensuring that cannabis-derived pharmaceuticals can be delivered as quickly as possible to the patients who need them.