PSA: HHCH to be declared a controlled substance this week, government to crack down on gummies

From a Mainichi story that I don’t think I can link to without being automodded, translation mine:

>大麻のような成分が含まれたグミを食べた人が体調不良となっている問題で、厚生労働省は20日、大麻由来成分に似せた合成化合物「HHCH」（ヘキサヒドロカンナビヘキソール）を22日にも医薬品医療機器法（薬機法）の指定薬物に指定すると明らかにした。早ければ12月2日から所持や使用、流通が禁止される。

*In regard to the problem of people getting sick after eating gummies with ingredients similar to cannabis, the Ministry of Health/Labor/Welfare revealed on Monday that it will designate HHCH, a semi-synthetic cannabinoid derivative, to be a designated drug (controlled substance) under the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Law (PMD Act) on Wednesday, Nov. 22. Its possession, sale and use would become illegal as early as Dec. 2.*

>厚労省の麻薬取締部は17日、薬機法に基づき、東京都内と大阪市内のグミ販売店計5店舗に立ち入り検査を実施した。そのうち、都内の1店舗でグミが見つかり、成分を調べた結果、グミからHHCHを検出した。

*On Nov. 17, the MHLW’s narcotics division conducted searches of five stores selling gummies. Gummies were found at one store in Tokyo that were later tested and found to contain HHCH.*

>これを受け、厚労省は21日に専門家部会を開く予定で、了承が得られればHHCHを指定薬物にする。武見敬三厚労相は20日の閣議後記者会見で「『大麻グミ』と称するものについては危険ですので、摂取しないよう国民に注意喚起したい」と述べた。

*In response, the MHLW will hold an expert panel on Tuesday which could approve HHCH’s inclusion as a controlled substance. HLW Minister Keizo Takemi said during a press conference on Monday that “(Products) called ‘marijuana gummies’ are dangerous, and we want to warn the public not to consume them.”*

>都内では11月に入り、祭りや電車内でグミを食べた人が体調不良を訴える騒動が3件あり、計11人が救急搬送された。大阪府内でも十数人が搬送されている。

*In November there have been three incidents of people falling ill after consuming gummies at festivals or on trains, with 11 taken to hospitals. There have also been more than 10 people taken to hospitals in Osaka.*

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Just a reminder that weird synthetic weed products can fuck you up in ways that you did not intend — and most certainly aren’t worth going to jail for — and if you take legal CBD gummies then you might want to stock up, as I’m sure even legitimate manufacturers/retailers are going to be a little gunshy in the face of a government campaign.