This year’s ICBC Barcelona took place in March, in the shadow of uncertainty. The legal cannabis industry has been struggling against several headwinds – lack of regulatory momentum, continued consumer ambiguity and capital constraints – which are collectively clouding the outlook for operators in one of the world’s youngest consumer sectors.
Euromonitor International’s latest research in 2023 reveals a staggering growth in the Japan’s cannabis market over the past four years, expanding approximately sixfold from JPY4 billion (USD26.3 million) in 2019 to JPY24 billion (USD173.8 million) in 2023. This surge is attributed to the rising demand for products offering relaxation, sleep improvement, and stress relief.
今日、日本ではカンナビスに対する知識不足から、多くの消費者がCBD製品の使用を敬遠しています。しかし、2023年12月に可決された改正大麻取締法により、CBD製品の安全基準が明確化される見通しです。これに伴い、食品、飲料、サプリメントなど、さまざまな業界大手企業が市場に参入することが予想されます。
Cannabis has emerged as one of the fastest-growing industries globally. With the legalisation of cannabis spreading across countries, the industry is expected to experience exponential growth over the next few years. In our Emerging Cannabis Markets: A Taxonomy report, we build a classification for all emerging cannabis markets/countries that allows us to understand better the market context, capabilities, and opportunities on both the domestic and global stage.
The impact of regulation across both the tobacco and the cannabis industries is immense, with the former experiencing ever-tightening frameworks, often even on newer, perceived less harmful forms of consumption, and the latter going through a period of rapid, if uneven, liberalisation. This theme examines the key elements of regulatory mechanics in each industry, analysing where one may influence the other in the longer term.
Sober curious culture is a trend that is about drinkers trying to moderate their consumption levels rather than fully abstaining from alcohol. In Japan, the first signs of the sober curious trend are emerging, as “dry” initiatives are beginning to take place.