What is CBD?

CBD is an abbreviation for cannabidiol, which is a type of compound (cannabinoid) extracted from cannabis.
Cannabis contains more than 142 cannabinoids, the main of which are CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol).

When you hear cannabis grass, you have a strong impression of negative news such as the news that a celebrity is arrested in Japan. What is the treatment of CBD under Japanese law?
Some people may think that cannabis is illegal in the image, but not everything related to cannabis grass is illegal. The difference between what is illegal and what is legal can be clearly seen by looking at the following definitions.

Japanese law makes cannabis leaves and ears and products using them illegal, and products derived from cannabis stems and seeds are excluded. The Cannabis Control Law promulgated in 1948 stipulates that "stems and seeds are excluded."
"In this law, cannabis means cannabis grass (Cannabis sativa el) and its products. However, mature cannabis stems and their products (excluding resins) and cannabis seeds and their products are excluded. ”
Quote: Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare「Cannabis Control Law」

Therefore, it is not illegal to buy or use CBD products that do not use leaves and ears, as they are not prohibited by Japanese law.
Since ancient times, cannabis has been used for multiple purposes in our lives, including textiles, foods, and medicinal properties, so not all cannabis is banned.

Currently, hemp has a bad image as an "illegal drug", but in Japan it has been used for various purposes since ancient times, as hemp seeds were discovered in the remains of the Jomon period. Before the Cannabis Control Law came into force, it was an important industry in Japan, with tens of thousands of cannabis producers.
Popular in Japan, Shichimi peppers contain edible cannabis. The raw material is described as "hemp fruit". "Hemp nuts" are also sold in bird food (heated and processed to prevent germination).

It is also useful as a fiber in paper and clothing, and hemp (cannabis) is used in the same way as linen (flax) and ramie (ramie), which are often seen in clothing.
Even at shrines all over Japan, cannabis fiber is used for the stick coins that the priest shakes when purifying. Cannabis has a long history of being used in Shinto rituals as a sacred plant.

THC is an abbreviation for Tetrahydrocannabinol, which is a type of cannabinoid like CBD.
This THC has a psychotropic effect that is described as "getting high." The effects of hallucinations and delusions are rare and extremely rare. Marijuana as a so-called drug contains a high concentration of this THC and is illegal in Japan.
Cannabis is called differently from hemp or marijuana, depending on its THC content.

There are various names when talking about hemp, but what is the difference in the first place? Since ancient times, "hemp" has been a word for cannabis grass in Japan, but now it includes a wide variety of hemp.

・ Hemp: A generic name for plants such as cannabis, flax, ramie, jute, Manila hemp, and New Zealand hemp.
・ Cannabis: Another name for hemp. Scientific name: Cannabis sativa, a plant native to Central Asia.
・ Hemp: English name of hemp. It means cannabis with a THC content of 0.3% or less by dry weight.
・ Marijuana: Cannabis with a dry weight of 0.3% or more THC. Mainly refers to marijuana cigarettes.

It can be said that marijuana tobacco, which is an illegal drug used for play purposes, has a bad influence on the image of hemp used for other purposes.

In 2017, the World Health Organization (WHO) expressed the view that CBD is safe and human-friendly.（Reference：CANNABIDIOL (CBD) Pre-Review Report）

Experiments and clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of CBD for a variety of conditions including epilepsy, anxiety, pain and inflammation, and post-traumatic stress disorder are being conducted worldwide, and a summary of the evidence to date has been published.

Here are some of the CBD studies from "Therapeutic Efficacy of Cannabidiol (CBD): a Review of the Evidence From Clinical Trials and Human Laboratory Studies" published in 2020.

In a research article published in 2017, the anxiolytic effects of CBD were tested in 60 healthy subjects of both sexes and found to induce anxiolytic effects. (*1) In a study on social anxiety disorder, a placebo (sham) group and a CBD group were tested, and a reduction in discomfort and anxiety was observed with the use of CBD. (*2)

In addition, a research article published in 2014 examined the use of CBD for REM sleep behavior disorder (abnormalities in mental and physical functions that occur during sleep) and found that symptoms were suppressed without side effects. (*3)

In a research article published in 2017, seven kidney transplant patients suffering from chronic pain were evaluated over a three-week period to determine the effects and safety of CBD; two patients had complete pain relief, and four reported partial responses. (*5)

The body's innate ability to regulate itself is called the Endocannabinoid System (ECS).
Although still under study, it is known that this system is involved in the control of functions such as sleep, emotions, appetite, memory, chronic pain, inflammation, and stress.

The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) is composed of endogenous cannabinoids (neurotransmitters produced by the body) and receptors and other substances that synthesize and break down cannabinoids in our bodies.

Just as humans produce cannabinoids in our bodies, cannabis plants contain phytocannabinoids (CBD).

Research is underway to determine the effects of CBD on ECS. (*1)
Research has clearly shown evidence to support the usefulness of CBD in the treatment of epilepsy, and some products have been approved as medicines overseas.

A wide variety of CBD oil-based products have been developed for food, cosmetology, pets (dogs and cats), etc. The most common and popular way to get CBD is CBD oil. It can be taken in a variety of ways, including eating with food, drinking, or hanging directly under the tongue. You don't have to take large amounts.
If you are new to CBD, we recommend starting with 1% CBD oil.

	CBD product name	CBD concentration	CBD content	Price (inc. tax)	Recommended features
	MARITIME CBD oil 10ml (1%)	1%	100mg	￥3,240	CBD concentration 1% for first-time users
	MARITIME CBD oil 10ml (2%)	2%	200mg	￥4,860	CBD concentration 2% for beginners and those who prefer thinning
	MARITIME CBD oil 10ml (3%)	3%	300mg	￥6,800	The most popular CBD concentration 3%
	MARITIME CBD oil 10ml (5%)	5%	500mg	￥7,800	CBD concentration 5% for those who want to try a slightly higher concentration
	MARITIME CBD oil 10ml (10%)	10%	1000mg	￥9,801	CBD concentration 10% for those seeking high concentration

Since each person has a different constitution, it is recommended that first-time users start with a small amount and gradually increase the intake and concentration.
To use, drop a few drops of CBD oil on the back of your tongue, store it for about 90 seconds, and then swallow it. For CBD intake, see MARITIME's CBD Oil Intake Guide .
If you are looking for something other than oil type, we recommend water type. With zero sweeteners, zero flavors, and zero calories, you can use it to your liking, such as before going to bed or carrying it around.

If you personally import a CBD product from overseas, and if THC is detected in the product, you may be punished by the Japanese Cannabis Control Law for importing the product that corresponds to cannabis. Therefore, it is recommended to purchase at a reliable Japanese retailer.
Products extracted and manufactured from parts prohibited by law, such as leaves, spikes, branches, and roots, are illegal even if they are touted as CBD. As a general rule, even CBD products and THC-containing products are regulated.
Don't forget to check the dealer's information to avoid getting into trouble if you accidentally purchase a product that does not meet the standards or a bad product. We recommend that you choose from a specialist that you can rest assured.

In 2017, the United Nations and the World Health Organization (WHO) expressed the view that CBD is safe, and the use of cannabis products and CBD products is expanding overseas in a wide range of fields as food and medical products. I will.
There are reports about the use of medical cannabis abroad, but medical cannabis and CBD are completely different things. This is because cannabis contains THC. Medical cannabis has the effect of suppressing the pain of terminal cancer and is sometimes used for pain that is ineffective with morphine.
Medical cannabis has been legalized in more than 30 states in the United States, and possession and use of cannabis for taste has also been legalized in some states, including Colorado and Washington. (Reference: Business Insider " States where marijuana is legal ")
The legalization of medical cannabis in 2018 in countries close to Japan, such as South Korea and Thailand, was big news.
Currently, the use of cannabis is not permitted in Japan even for medical purposes.

Epidiolex
In the United States, the cannabinoid drug Epidiolex is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a treatment for intractable childhood-onset epilepsy (Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome). (*6)

Sativex
GW Pharmaceuticals' Sativex is an oral mucosal spray approved for the relief of spasticity-related symptoms of multiple sclerosis, such as increased muscle tension, tightness and pain.
It is a cannabinoid drug approved in the United Kingdom and other European countries, Canada, and Brazil. (*7)

CBD products sold in Japan are foods, not drugs. Many of them are made overseas, and some of them have not been tested for their ingredients, so it is not always clear whether to trust the label.
Inadequate refinement can result in the presence of THC, and there are also concerns about additives such as pesticides, heavy metals, and pollutants.

When selecting a CBD product, it is important to choose one that has the following points (*8)

The ingredients have been tested and approved by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.
The ingredients of the product have been tested by a third-party organization and confirmed to be free of THC.

MARITIME uses CBD as a raw material that has been inspected by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, and has an ingredient analysis certificate that has been tested and confirmed to contain no impurities.

If you have any questions or concerns about CBD products, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions and use the Contact Us page.

* This article does not encourage possession or use of cannabis.
* The CBD products introduced on this site are not pharmaceutical products.
* The effects and effects of CBD are introduced with reference to research reports, and do not claim the effects and effects of the products on this site.

The products of MARITIME, a Japanese CBD oil retailer, are safe products that do not contain THC at all. We use safe CBD that meets Japanese legal standards and is imported with formal permission from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.
MARITIME uses CBD isolate with a purity of 99.5% or higher, carefully selected from the United States. CBD isolate is obtained by extracting and crystallizing only CBD from various components contained in cannabis, and has the property of being soluble in oil.
A delicious CBD oil made by processing CBD isolate and Spanish fresh extra virgin olive oil at a factory in Japan. High-purity CBD, no worries about impurities.
The extra virgin olive oil used in MARITIME's CBD oil is 77.3% oleic acid, which has the property of being resistant to oxidation, and is also rich in polyphenols, which are antioxidants that help prevent lifestyle-related diseases, and is said to be good for beauty and health. (Reference: Food functional research on polyphenols that contribute to the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases)
It is a CBD oil that can be used with peace of mind and with safe quality because it is manufactured according to Japanese manufacturing rules. It can also be purchased at Rakuten Ichiba and Yahoo Shopping.

MARITIME helps you use CBD products with peace of mind. See CBD oil list here for MARITIME.

*1 A Simple Guide to the Endocannabinoid System
*2 Inverted U-Shaped Dose-Response Curve of the Anxiolytic Effect of Cannabidiol during Public Speaking in Real Life
*3 Cannabidiol Reduces the Anxiety Induced by Simulated Public Speaking in Treatment-Naïve Social Phobia Patients
*4 Cannabidiol can improve complex sleep‐related behaviours associated with rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder in Parkinson's disease patients: a case series
*5 Chronic Pain Treatment With Cannabidiol in Kidney Transplant Patients in Uruguay
*6 The Impact of Cannabidiol on Psychiatric and Medical Conditions
*7 Clinical efficacy and effectiveness of Sativex, a combined cannabinoid medicine, in multiple sclerosis-related spasticity
GW Pharmaceuticals
*8 3 Things Experts Want You to Know About CBD