The Japanese health ministry on Tuesday decided to ban six synthetic cannabinoids with structures similar to HHCH, which was recently designated an illicit drug after gummies containing the compound made a number of people fall ill.
Japan's parliament passes a bill to legalize medical products using substances derived from cannabis while also plugging a loophole in existing prohibitions against the drug by criminalizing use.
A Japanese health ministry panel decides to ban HHCH, a synthetic cannabinoid, from Dec. 2 after many people who consumed gummies containing the compound had to go to the hospital.
Japan's health ministry says it is planning to ban HHCH, a synthetic substance derived from cannabis, as soon as this week after people who consumed gummies containing the cannabinoid had to go to the hospital earlier this month.
Gummies allegedly containing substances derived from cannabis are under police investigation after nearly 10 people who ate them were taken to hospital recently in Tokyo, investigative sources say.