Asia: Market and legal data analysis of the cannabis sector

10th October 2024: Thailand: A proposal by the Ministry of Public Health that would regulate the possession, sale, import and export of cannabis extracts has been approved in principle by the Cabinet, press reports. The proposed regulation would impose stiff penalties for dealing in cannabis extracts without a licence. It is not yet clear, however, whether the proposal would regulate extracts with a maximum of 0.2% THC, which were removed from the narcotics list in 2022, or only those with more than 0.2% THC, which are Category 5 narcotics. The proposal will now be presented to the Council of State.
2nd October 2024: India: A Delhi-based startup, Awshad, has identified anxiety, insomnia, and mental endurance as major factors driving the demand for CBD in the country. The founders believe there is a significant gap in the market for mental well-being solutions in India, which CBD products could potentially fill. CBD oil and other products are legal in India, as long as they are produced from approved industrial hemp and contain less than 0.3% THC.
2nd October 2024: India: Indian member of Parliament (MP) Afzal Ansari has questioned the legality of cannabis in the country, citing its role in religious rituals, which resulted in the police filing a First Information Report (FIR) against him for allegedly inciting public mischief. His remarks sparked criticism from Hindu groups, prompting the Samajwadi Party politician to clarify that his intent was to address issues related to drug use and smuggling in his local area, rather than advocating for cannabis legalisation.
19th September 2024: Japan: The government has released guidance on THC limits for CBD products following a public consultation launched in May of this year. Despite the fact that the Ministry of Health made minor adjustments to the initially proposed limits, they remain among the strictest in the world. Yuji Masataka, one of the first specialists in medical cannabis in Japan, stated that products such as broad-spectrum or vapes might struggle to comply with the new regulations, which could lead to a shift towards isolate products or synthetic CBD.
19th September 2024: Thailand: The Ministry of Public Health has issued a draft law to regulate cannabis that will be under public comment until 30th September. Under the draft law, licences would be required to cultivate, produce, sell, import or export cannabis or its extracts, though an exception is made for dealing with cannabis roots, branches, stems, leaves, trunks or seeds. The sale and consumption of cannabis would only be allowed for three purposes: medicinal, research, or as herbal products, medicines, cosmetics or food if regulations for those products are complied with. Therefore, recreational use and sales would not be expressly prohibited, nor would cannabis be relisted as a narcotic. Cannabis extracts with more than 0.2% THC, however, would remain narcotics under the draft law.
17th September 2024: Japan: The Ministry of Health has said a law criminalising recreational cannabis use and legalising medicinal products derived from cannabis will enter into force in December. Medicines will need to undergo an approval process before becoming available to patients.
16th September 2024: Pakistan: The National Assembly has passed the amended Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority Bill, 2024, following its approval by the Senate. Although the National Assembly had initially passed the bill last week, the Senate Standing Committee introduced changes that were later approved by the full Senate. As a result, the amended bill was sent back to the National Assembly for final approval.
13th September 2024: Pakistan: Yesterday (12th September), the Senate passed the Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority Bill, 2024, which aims to regulate the cultivation and processing of hemp for medicinal and industrial purposes. Syed Hussain Abidi, chairman of the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR), said the bill seeks to regulate cannabis cultivation and production for public health protection and to harness its economic potential for industrial and medicinal use, estimated at between $4bn and $6bn. The Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority will be overseen by a 13-member board chaired by the defence secretary, with representatives from various sectors.
12th September 2024: Pakistan: The government is set to introduce the Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority Bill, 2024, in the Senate (upper house of Parliament) during the session scheduled for today, following its approval, with amendments, by the Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology, according to the session’s agenda. Last week, the National Assembly (lower house) passed the bill, which is aimed at regulating hemp production for industrial purposes.
10th September 2024: Pakistan: The Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology has unanimously passed the Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority Bill, 2024, with amendments. The Senate required the inclusion of two members of the Senate, a man and a woman, as members of the Board of Governors of the authority, along with amendments to other clauses of the bill.
9th September 2024: Pakistan: The Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology will review the Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority Bill, 2024, press reports, after it was transferred from the Finance Committee. The bill was redirected to the Science and Technology Committee at the request of its chairperson, senator Kamil Ali Agha, following questions raised by Senate members as to why the bill had initially been assigned to the Finance Committee for discussion.
9th September 2024: India: The Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly has passed a resolution to legalise cannabis in the state, following the recommendations of a special committee that endorsed its cultivation for medicinal and industrial purposes. State revenue minister Jagat Singh Negi said a level of up to 0.3% THC would be allowed for industrial purposes, while medical cannabis would be grown under controlled conditions. The committee’s accepted recommendations include amending the Himachal Pradesh Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act of 1985 to permit, regulate and control the cultivation of cannabis plants, as well as production, possession, transport and interstate movement.

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