Your Guide To CBD In Hong Kong: What To Know About The CBD Ban & More

Wondering what the ban on CBD in Hong Kong means for CBD users? Can you still use CBD in the city? Here’s everything you need to know.

CBD certainly became a buzz word in the city as the hip new natural cure to anxiety, depression, insomnia, eczema and more. We saw it in our coffee, beer, hand creams and even workout leggings! But alas, the cannabinoid product compound is set to be banned in Hong Kong starting Wednesday, 1 February, 2023.

With the impending ban on CBD in Hong Kong, we’ve seen the closure of a number of local cafes offering CBD-infused food and drink like Found, and other physical shops and online business selling CBD products. Hong Kong residents were given three months from Thursday, 27 October to dispose of their CBD products in disposal bins placed around the city. Read on to find out more…

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Is CBD Legal In Hong Kong?
What Is CBD?

Is CBD Legal In Hong Kong?

As of Wednesday, 1 February, 2023, CBD will officially be banned in Hong Kong. The cannabis-derived substance will be prohibited under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance and as such, possession and consumption of CBD will be subject to up to 7 years’ imprisonment and a $1 million fine.

The transporting of CBD for sale (including both import and export), will also be illegal.

What Is CBD?

CBD is one of the 104 known compounds in the cannabinoids group. Unlike THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), CBD does not have any psychoactive effects. This means that CBD won’t make you “high”. The oil is made from different parts of a mature hemp plant (everything from its stalks to its flowers).

Is CBD The Same As Cannabis?

No, CBD is not the same as cannabis or marijuana. Though both come from the same family, the two plants they originate from are very different.

How Does CBD Work?

CBD works through the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) in our body to generate encocannabinoids and process phytocannabinoids. This helps us return to homeostasis (which is the stable norm we’re constantly ebbing and flowing from). CBD combines with the body to adjust our stress response. It’s known as an adaptogen because it adapts uniquely to you.

Editor’s Note: “Your Guide To CBD In Hong Kong: What To Know About The CBD Ban & More” was most recently updated in January, 2023. With thanks to Tania Shroff for her contribution.