-- Japan and the West are divided on the merits of "life-saving options"
Taboo or option? The fluctuating boundary between medicine and ethics
“It’s unthinkable to use marijuana on children.” This reaction is still common in Japan. Even for medical purposes, the image of marijuana causes an immediate rejection. However, this common sense is changing in the medical field around the world. Intractable epilepsy, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), severe anxiety disorder – for cases that modern medicine has difficulty treating, the therapeutic use of cannabis-derived ingredients such as CBD (cannabidiol) is being promoted. This is not just a question of “legal/illegal.” It is a deeply human question: “Is this treatment ethically acceptable for children?”
Western countries: Towards "realistic ethics" based on therapeutic effectiveness
United States (by state):
- The FDA approved the CBD formulation Epidiolex in 2018.
- Clinically used for Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome in children.
- In the medical field, the standard is the balance between “effectiveness,” “side effects,” and “quality of life.”
UK:
- The NHS (National Health Service) allows the prescription of CBD at doctors’ discretion.
- It operates under the principle of “Shared Decision Making,” which respects the wishes of patients and their families.
Israel:
- A system has been put in place to allow medical marijuana to be prescribed to pediatric patients.
- There is a specialized cannabis clinic within the national hospital, where case studies and scientific data are being accumulated.
What these countries have in common is that they do not exclude people simply because they are “drugs,” but rather seek out the “best choice” based on individual cases, scientific evidence, and the wishes of the family. This is their ethics and the result of social consensus building.
Japan: A social structure where image trumps ethics
Meanwhile, what about Japan? As of 2025, medical marijuana is prohibited in principle, and even CBD products are subject to criminal penalties for containing trace amounts of THC. Even if the purpose of use is to save a child’s life, the three letters “illegal” silence the decision. The background to this is
- The postwar education imprinted on us the idea that “marijuana = crime, addiction, decadence.”
- The priority of “precedent” and the “myth of safety” in bureaucracy.
- The absence of a national debate on medical ethics.
In other words, in Japan, ethics are confronted by institutional fear and cultural stigma.
Experts' opinions: Opinions of doctors and researchers
Regarding the introduction of medical marijuana, experts from Japan and abroad have expressed the following opinions:
Dr. Yuji Masataka (Representative Director of Green Zone Japan)
“The introduction of medical marijuana requires calm discussion based on scientific evidence. In particular, there is accumulating evidence that CBD preparations are effective in treating intractable epilepsy. Japan too should have institutional flexibility to improve the quality of life of patients.”
Dr. Toshihiko Matsumoto (National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry)
“As an expert on drug addiction, I believe there is currently little evidence that CBD use increases the risk of addiction. Rather, I believe that promoting medical use under proper supervision will lead to better support for patients.”
Ethics is not about "what not to use" but about "how should we use it?"
Medical ethics is not about “should it be prohibited or permitted?” but rather about asking “is this treatment in the best interest of the child?”
- Verification of effectiveness (Efficacy).
- Understanding side effects (Risk/Benefit).
- Family Intention and Accountability (Informed Consent).
- Social justice and institutional integrity (Justice).
Only after taking these factors into consideration can a decision be made as to whether or not it is medically and ethically appropriate. However, in Japan, the very word marijuana closes the door to discussion. This can even be said to be an “out-of-control law” without any ethics.
Towards a country where the system can ask about the "priority of life"
Originally, the medical system exists to “protect lives.” However, in today’s Japan, the system is selecting lives and suppressing ethics. What is needed is a “social atmosphere that puts all treatment options on the table” and “ethical dialogue based on accurate information.” Without this foundation, no matter how much science advances, the system will only close off the future of patients.
Is there a future for a society where parents become criminals in order to protect their children?
