CBD is prohibited in Hong Kong, where it ranks with heroin and cocaine

• Importing, exporting, or producing CBD is forbidden in Hong Kong now.
• Possession or consumption might result in a seven-year prison sentence.
• CBD is legal in the United States, sections of Europe, and certain Asian countries, including Japan and Thailand.

HONG KONG – A new law in Hong Kong that criminalizes the possession, consumption, and sale of cannabidiol (CBD) went into force on Wednesday, putting the substance on par with heroin in terms of legal classification.

Users of CBD, a non-psychoactive component of the cannabis plant, claim that it relieves pain, tension, anxiety, and inflammation.

Hong Kong officials, on the other hand, have stated that the claims “lack authoritative scientific support” and have justified their ban by claiming that the items might be transformed into the psychoactive component THC, which is already outlawed in the city.

Importing, exporting, or producing CBD, which joins more than 200 other “dangerous medicines” forbidden in the territory, is punishable by life imprisonment and a fine of up to HK$5 million ($638,000).

Possession or consumption might result in a seven-year prison sentence and a HK$1 million ($128,000) fine.

CBD-infused goods have grown in popularity in recent years, with gummies, coffee, beers, and cosmetic creams all contributing to a sector that is estimated to be worth $47 billion by 2028, up from $4.9 billion in 2021.

CBD is legal in the United States, sections of Europe, and certain Asian countries, including Japan and Thailand.

Authorities in Hong Kong gave businesses and residents three months to dispose of any possible contraband before the stringent penalties went into force on Wednesday.

Take a step back

According to official data, around 77,400 things have been offloaded at government bins as of Sunday.

Customs officials warned shoppers last week to be wary of products emblazoned with hemp leaves, and on Wednesday, full-page newspaper advertisements stated: “Is there anything with CBD in it? No way!”

The new laws have had an impact on vendors in the recession-hit financial hub, pushing some to close completely.

“We had to cease selling a best-selling beer, and we still receive customers phoning to ask about the product on a regular basis,” said Chris Wong, co-founder of the HK Brewcraft store.

When it launched in 2020, Cafe Found advertised itself as the first in the city to provide a variety of CBD-infused dishes and drinks, while Yardley Brothers Craft Brewery stated it was compelled to discontinue a popular line.

“It feels like a step backward for HK,” the company’s founder, Luke Yardley, told.

While many countries have legalized the substance, mainland China will outlaw it in 2021.

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