A Japanese company makes CBD from orange peels

Apparently, cannabis and hemp aren’t the only plants in the world that can produce CBD.

A company from Japan has figured out how to make CBD from orange peels. Hiro International was founded in 1984 to initially import fruit juices and fruit. But they finally discovered in 2020 that orange peels from the United States contained some CBD that had a similar biological structure to CBD made from hemp.

Later, they were able to distill the CBD into an oil that could be used therapeutically. They now make a wide range of CBD oil-infused health products from orange peels, such as lip balms, hair care, makeup removers, and body lotions. “Orange-derived CBD oil has the same ingredients as hemp CBD, similar effects, and no hazard in terms of THC intake and legality. This discovery offers consumers a different CBD story that is better than the current CBD narrative,” stated Ryousuke Koseki, a spokesman for the company.

“Some companies have run into big problems because THC has been detected in their products,” Koseki said. “Many companies are now concerned and consumers are confused.”

Japan still has strict cannabis laws

The stigma of marijuana use in Japan is almost as old as the country, but attitudes are now changing.

The Cannabis Control Act needs a major overhaul as it still criminalizes cannabis use. However, the Department of Health is considering some changes and there are groups fighting to make them happen. Currently, cannabis-derived therapeutics are still limited here, although an expert panel led by Shonan University of Medical Sciences’ Tsutomo Suzuki will review revisions later this year.

The current law was enacted in 1948, so it still reflects archaic attitudes towards cannabis. Before that, processing and growing hemp was legal; Its fibers were commonly used to make rope, cord, and clothing, while its stems were used as building materials. In addition, hemp seeds have been used as animal feed and in food, its flowers have been used in traditional Chinese medicine, and its leaves have been used as fertilizer. But through all of this, they still have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to THC and any product made from cannabis, which is why they are very strict about the source of CBD. Absolutely no traces of THC are approved for export to Japan.

The cultivation and possession of marijuana is illegal, but there are no criminal penalties for smoking it. Despite this, the Cannabis Control Act still prohibits its importation and use, even as other nations around the world are already working to regulate it for its benefits in treating epilepsy, cancer, and many other life-changing diseases.

However, the CBD-infused cosmetics market is thriving in Japan because laws allow CBD oils extracted from hemp; Experts predict that Japan could even be the largest single market in Asia in the next 10 years.

“The market in Japan is small compared to what we see in Europe. However, of all our export markets outside of Europe, Japan is the fastest growing single market. The next fastest growing market is Israel, but Japan is growing almost twice as fast,” said Gavin Ogilvie, managing director of AP Organics, a Swiss-British company targeting the Japanese cosmetics market.

The Japanese CBD Market

According to data from Statista, the CBD market in Japan was worth around $4 million for topicals alone and $2.7 million for cosmetics at the end of last year. They expect the topical segment to grow to $100 million in 2025, although cosmetics may eclipse $100 million.

It is possible to obtain CBD in Japan, although it can be challenging. There are also strict laws and high export costs, so it is not surprising that all the CBD products already on the market are sold at high prices.

What has also been surprising in recent years has been the rise of CBD cafes in Japan. It’s no secret that coffee culture is booming, especially in Tokyo, and while you can still get your favorite drip coffee, local cafes have decided to take things up a notch by offering CBD-infused coffees. Aside from coffee, these stores also offer infused treats like cookies or chocolates with 10 or 15 mg of CBD, which is a fairly low dose that can relax you and melt away stress and anxiety.

Overall, the Japanese CBD market is still very young, but changing attitudes make it very promising. Finally, the Japanese are trendy, but also place a high value on health and wellness, which is why CBD is very attractive to them. Japanese consumers have long been advocates for natural wellness, plant-based health and more. A domestic production still cannot take place, but there is certainly a great demand.

There are also many other factors that make it clear that CBD is poised to succeed in this market. For one, Japan has an aging population, with seniors aged 65 and older making up nearly a third of the population. They also have a culture notorious for long hours and high work stress; Many of the population work more than 60 hours a week and are always looking for new ways to relax.

We look forward to seeing other innovative ways the Japanese will incorporate CBD into their market.

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