Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39926079›Full record

ArticleJMA journal2025

Challenges in Regulating Synthetic New Psychoactive Substances: Lessons from Japan's Generic Scheduling against Hexahydrocannabihexol.

Natsuki Yokoyama, Tatsuki Ikejiri, Hayase Hakariya

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JMA journal, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Natsuki YokoyamaLaboratory for Human Nature, Cultures and Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
Tatsuki IkejiriLaboratory for Human Nature, Cultures and Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
Hayase HakariyaLaboratory for Human Nature, Cultures and Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

On December 2, 2023, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) announced an ordinance regulating the possession, consumption, and distribution of hexahydrocannabihexol (HHCH) except for medical purposes. HHCH, a synthetic cannabinoid, has been linked to central nervous system symptoms, including nausea, dizziness, and numbness, presumably due to its structural similarity to tetrahydrocannabinol. This regulatory action reflects Japan's historical drug regulation approach, which has evolved to address synthetic substances not covered by earlier laws. The emergence of new psychoactive substances has led to increased poisoning cases and necessitated Japan to introduce a generic scheduling system and collectively regulate these compounds. Despite the reduction in designer drug-related arrests following system implementation, recent trends have shown a resurgence in arrests, partly because of the increased online accessibility of these substances. The persistence of HHCH gummy manufacturers highlights the limitations of current regulations. Thus, enhancing health literacy and social responsibility among consumers and proactive measures by healthcare professionals are essential to mitigate the public health risks associated with these emerging substances. Regulatory frameworks should prioritize public health over economic benefits.

Indexed as

cannabisdesigner drugsdrug regulationgeneric schedulinghealth policypublic healthtetrahydrocannabinol

Identifiers

PMID39926079
PMCPMC11799709

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.