SNPs in CNR2 gene, encodes cannabinoid receptor 2 or CB2, were replicated in Japanese samples with the leading SNP rs2501391 showing a Pcombined = 9.3 × 10–7, and odds ratio = 0.67 in association with DKD associated with T2DM, but not with T1DM, without any significant association with T2DM itself. Here, CNR2 is linked to type 2 diabetes mellitus.