CBD is now a «dangerous drug» in Hong Kong»

In a departure from the global approach, Hong Kong has decided to ban CBD and classify it as a dangerous drug. The ban on consumption and marketing is now in place.

From now on, severe penalties and huge fines - usually associated with narcotics such as heroin - will be applied to those caught possessing, producing or smuggling CBD in Hong Kong.

In the wake of the measures implemented in mainland China, the’ban on CBD in Hong Kong announced last year, when government officials cited the difficulty of distinguishing pure CBD from THC and the possibility of contamination during the production process. They also cited the way CBD can be converted to THC - for the production of delta-8 THC or other minor cannabinoids.

According to the Hong Kong Free Press, In August, the Hong Kong authorities began cracking down on CBD shops. Residents were given three months from October 27 to dispose of their CBD products in special boxes set up around the city.

Public garbage cans for CBD in Hong Kong

«From February 1, cannabidiol, aka CBD, will be considered a dangerous drug and will be supervised and managed by the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance,» said Customs Intelligence Officer Au-Yeung Ka-lun at a press briefing.

«From then on, transporting CBD for sale, including importing and exporting, as well as producing, possessing and consuming CBD, will be illegal,» said Au-Yeung.

Those caught importing, exporting or producing CBD are liable to life imprisonment and a fine of 5 million Hong Kong dollars (€650,000). Those caught in possession of CBD are liable to up to seven years' imprisonment and a fine of one million Hong Kong dollars (€130,000).

«We will tackle all types of dangerous drugs from all angles and all ends, and intelligence-led law enforcement is our main objective,» Chan Kai-ho, divisional commander in the ministry's Airport Command, told reporters on Friday.

Chan said the authorities would apply the law on a case-by-case basis and «seek legal advice from our Department of Justice to determine what further action will be taken.»

The South China Morning Post reports that since 2019, the department has reported seizing more than 4,100 CBD products containing traces of THC. Between January 2018 and December 2022, authorities arrested 38 people for their alleged links to 68 cases where CBD products were believed to contain THC.

In January 2022, Hong Kong customs officials arrested nine people and seized 25,000 CBD items worth 14.6 million Hong Kong dollars for the same reasons.

However, in 2020, the Hong Kong's first CBD café opened, selling a full range of CBD products, including bottles of CBD oil for personal use, powders to add to foods such as oil and butters, and other products, including pain relief for pets.