Cannabis compound CBD now banned in Hong Kong – 7-year jail term for possession to match meth, cocainePosted by MMP News AuthorOn February 1, 2023
Hong Kong has banned cannabidiol, or CBD, adding the cannabis compound to a list of criminalised drugs including heroin and cocaine as of Wednesday.
Hong Kong has banned CBD. Photo: GovHK.
The ban involves the addition of CBD to the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, joining over 200 substances listed in the ordinance, among them fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, ketamine and methamphetamine.
While CBD is not psychoactive, authorities say it is inseparable from tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the compound responsible for the high produced by cannabis, which is illegal in Hong Kong. Supporters of CBD have argued that the small amount of THC found in CBD products is not sufficient to produce its associated effects.
The government has also said that CBD can decompose and be converted into THC.
A CBD product seized by Hong Kong customs and displayed at a press conference on Jan. 27, 2023. Photo: Hillary Leung/HKFP.
With its criminalisation, the trafficking and manufacturing of CBD will now be subject to a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a HK$5 million fine. Possession and consumption of CBD are subject to up to seven years’ imprisonment and a HK$1 million fine.
In recent years, CBD products have gained popularity in Hong Kong, with themed cafes and bars offering CBD-infused food and drinks. Physical shops and online stores also popped up selling…
