Is Cannabis / THC legal in Japan?
- Legal status
- Prohibited (cannabis; cannabinol/CBN prohibited as of 2026-06-01)
- Consequences if caught
- Possession, use, or import → arrest and prosecution, including for recreational users.
- If prescribed or medical
- A foreign prescription does not make it legal; no exemption.
- Documentation
- None — import is not permitted in any form.
Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with Japan’s embassy or official drug authority before traveling; penalties can be severe, including imprisonment.
Before you travel
Verify current rules with the destination country’s official drug authority and your own country’s embassy before traveling. Find the destination’s U.S. embassy & official country guidance →
Non-U.S. travelers: check your own government’s travel advisory and embassy.
If you’re detained or arrested abroad
Contact your own country’s embassy or consulate in the destination immediately — not the destination’s authorities. U.S. citizens: contact the nearest U.S. embassy/consulate and the U.S. State Department at +1-202-501-4444 (from abroad). If a U.S. citizen is arrested or detained abroad →