Cannabis in China

History of Cannabis in China

China is considered the birthplace of cannabis. Recent genetic research traces the plant’s origins to the northwestern part of the country, where local strains are most closely related to the original strain. Hemp has been cultivated there for millennia for its fiber, which was used to make clothing and rope, and for its seeds, which were used as food and medicine.

A treatise on pharmacology attributed to Emperor Shen Nung—which tradition dates back to 2737 BCE—likely contains the earliest mention of the uses of cannabis. Hemp seeds are still listed in the Chinese pharmacopoeia today, where they are used as a traditional medicine, particularly for constipation and certain blood disorders. For a long time, hemp was primarily a plant used for textiles and food, rather than for recreational purposes.

In the 20th century, China’s anti-drug policy—shaped by its history with opium—classified cannabis as a narcotic and made it a target of law enforcement. Today, this policy remains very strict, even as the country has established itself as one of the world’s largest producers of industrial hemp.

Cannabis Legislation in China

Recreational cannabis: prohibited, with very severe penalties

The Law on the Prohibition of Drugs and the Chinese Criminal Code classify marijuana—that is, products derived from the plant that contain significant amounts of THC—as a drug and prohibit its use in any form. It is prohibited to smuggle, traffic, transport, manufacture, or illegally possess drugs. Trafficking, transportation, and manufacturing are punishable regardless of the quantity. In serious cases, penalties range up to fifteen years in prison, life imprisonment, and even the death penalty, along with confiscation of property. The production, importation, and sale of recreational cannabis are prohibited.

Cultivation: prohibited, except in cases regulated by the government

The cultivation of plants used to produce narcotics, including cannabis, is generally illegal. Illegally cultivated plants are automatically destroyed, and offenders face imprisonment, detention, or judicial supervision, as well as a fine. Possession of seeds or non-inactivated seedlings of narcotic plants is also prohibited. Only companies designated by the government may cultivate mother plants of narcotic drugs for medical use, in accordance with current regulations, and their extraction, processing, and storage facilities are classified as sensitive security sites.

Medical cannabis

There is no medical cannabis program in China. Cannabis, resin, extracts, tinctures, dronabinol, delta-9-THC, and several synthetic cannabinoids are listed in the 2025 edition of the Catalog of Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances for Non-Medical Use. The main exception is cannabis seed, which is listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia as a traditional medicinal material.

Industrial hemp: permitted in certain provinces under license

Of all forms of cannabis, only hemp may be used for industrial purposes, in certain regions and subject to local regulations and licensing requirements. Provincial laws generally define it as cannabis containing less than 0.3 % of THC, which has no value for the extraction of the addictive substance or for direct use as a drug. It is used primarily as a textile material.

The cultivation and processing of industrial hemp are currently regulated in two provinces, the Yunnan and the Heilongjiang, which have included specific provisions in their anti-drug regulations. Businesses and individuals must obtain licenses there. Crops are also grown in other provinces, such as Gansu, which lack corresponding provincial regulations, exposing growers to regulatory risks. Recommended national standards have also been adopted, such as the standard for raw hemp (GB/T 16984-2023), which took effect on March 1, 2024. China ranks among the world’s leading producers and exporters of industrial hemp.

Food and Cosmetics

Industrial hemp seeds have been listed since 2002 as a substance that is «both food and medicine.» They are traditionally used to make oil, alcohol, herbal teas, and hemp seed porridge.

In the cosmetics industry, regulations are very restrictive. The 2025 version of the Cosmetic Ingredients Catalog, in effect since June 23, 2025, now classifies cannabis leaf extract, cannabis fruit, and cannabis seed oil as prohibited ingredients, and cannabidiol has been banned in cosmetics since 2021. Most cannabis-based ingredients commonly used abroad therefore cannot be used in cosmetic products sold in China.

News and Outlook

China combines a repressive policy toward cannabis with a central role in the global hemp industry. Key issues to watch include developments in regulations on industrial hemp beyond Yunnan and Heilongjiang, the status of CBD, and restrictions on cannabis-derived ingredients in cosmetics. Follow our News about cannabis in China See below for updates to the law.