Japan's CBD industry had an estimated value of $59 million in 2019, up from $3 million in 2015; the government is discussing approving medicines derived from marijuana, already used in many countries to treat conditions like severe epilepsy
"Rose K" smokes with a cannabidiol (CBD) vape during "Cannabis Open", an event to promote cannabidiol (CBD) products in Tokyo on June 12, 2022. CBD is legal in Japan if extracted from the plant's seeds or fully-grown stems, but not other parts like the leaves. Image: Philip FONG / AFP