Japan: Latest guidelines on THC limits do not address all gaps, experts say
Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) Narcotics Control Division has updated its guidelines on THC limits in CBD products in preparation for new regulations scheduled to take effect in December 2024. However, some industry experts suggest the updated guidelines will address all the gaps.
Dr. Yuji Masataka, Japan's first medical cannabis expert, said business requires revisions to ingredient categories and the definition of oil, in addition to specific THC thresholds for various product categories such as oils, powders, and aqueous solutions. – told Of Cannabis. .
Among the important updates, the oil is defined as containing more than 90% glycerin and fatty acid compounds, which can limit the concentration of CBD oil. The guidelines also set a threshold of 10 ppm for CBD oil, hemp seed oil, cosmetic oils, CBD powder, and protein powder.
Masataka said this 1ppm threshold would likely apply to large amounts of CBD raw materials.
“However, most cannabinoid raw materials have high viscosity, and only a limited number of products, such as CBD isolate powder, are expected to consistently maintain particle sizes below 850 μm as specified by the latest guidelines. ”Masataka said. “If the intent of adding the ‘powder’ category was to reduce restrictions on cannabinoid ingredients, this design is inadequate.”
He also suggested that the oil definition is problematic because once the cannabinoid content exceeds 10%, the product no longer meets the oil definition and the 1 ppm limit automatically applies.
To address some of these issues, Masataka suggested adding a category, for example “solid raw materials.”
Read more about cannabis business.
Related article: Japan convicts marijuana, sentences 7 years in prison, medical marijuana remains legal
Italy: European Commission to investigate efforts to ban hemp products
The European Commission (EC) has launched an investigation into Italy's efforts to ban trade in CBD and hemp flower, writes Hemp Today.
In July, a joint committee of the chamber's Constitutional Affairs and Judiciary committees voted to add an amendment to the security bill that would ban all types of cannabis flower. If passed, this amendment would classify all cannabis and hemp flower as narcotics, regardless of their THC content.
Immediately after the Constitutional Affairs and Justice Committee proposed an amendment that would effectively eliminate the hemp sector, cannabis industry associations such as Canapa Sativa Italia (CSI) and Federcanapa sent a letter to the EC objecting to the amendment. They argued that this could violate “European Union law on free competition and free movement of goods.” The group employs more than 15,000 workers and has sales of 500 million euros ($546 million), the group said.
Read more: Italy's 'grotesque crackdown' on cannabis puts 11,000 jobs at risk, experts say breaches EU law
Italian MEP Valentina Palmisano confirmed that the EC would issue an opinion after its investigation. The amendment, which is being considered in the Italian Senate after being passed by the House of Representatives, “completely erroneously equates 'cannabis lite' with a drug and contradicts, among other things, the judgments of the European Court of Justice (ECJ).” she said.
Get Benzinga's exclusive analysis and top cannabis industry and market news delivered to your inbox every day, free of charge. Subscribe to our newsletter here. If you're serious about your business, you can't afford to miss it.
Germany: Medical cannabis reimbursement expands further
A law went into effect in Germany last week that allows more than 70% of doctors to prescribe reimbursable medical cannabis without prior approval from a statutory health insurance company, Business of Cannabis reports.
Partial legalization of cannabis came into effect in Germany on April 1, allowing adults over the age of 18 to legally possess up to 25 grams of dried cannabis and grow up to three plants at home. One of the biggest advances under this legislation is that it will simplify the use of medical marijuana, meaning it will be regulated in the same way as ibuprofen.
A proposal for the reimbursement of medical cannabis prescriptions under the Statutory Health Insurance (GKV), which covers approximately 90% of the population, was submitted by the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) and approved on July 18.
A new report on the German cannabis market by Prohibition Partners predicts medical cannabis sales to reach 420 million euros ($260.66 million) in 2024 and 1 billion euros by 2028. It is shown that The document states that historically 60% of patients were private healthcare payers, but 40% were covered by statutory health insurance, with private prescriptions rising to 80% after partial legalization came into effect. did.
Despite legalization, only about 2,500 to 3,000 dispensaries dispense medical marijuana. Some companies are reported to be making healthy profits, with some earning up to 50,000 euros per month.
It is said that the change could cause insurers to raise premiums, but overall it would benefit patients who cannot afford to pay for private prescriptions. A formal assessment of the law's impact is expected in 2025.
Read next:
Photo: Courtesy of BestStockFoto on Shutterstock
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.
