CBD has been criminalized by Hong Kong officials and equated to heroin and cocaine.
The government justified its decision by saying that the health benefits of CBD – the non-psychoactive compound in marijuana – have not been scientifically proven.
Officials added that CBD products can be used to create THC, the intoxicating compound in cannabis that makes users feel “high.”
The amendment criminalizes the consumption of products containing CBD, including tea, skin care and chocolate, with up to seven years in prison and a fine of HK$1 million (equivalent to approximately US$127,500).
The decision comes amid a wave of marijuana legalization across the US, with 37 states and DC now allowing medicinal or recreational use of cannabis.
A store in Texas that sells a line of products that contain CBD. Thirty-seven states and the District of Columbia allow the medicinal or recreational use of cannabis in the United States
People who sell or eat products containing CBD, including oils and chocolate, can be sentenced to up to seven years in prison and a fine of HK$1 million, which is about US$127,500 (pictured).
CBD is a chemical found in marijuana that does not contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive ingredient that causes a high.
Proponents have made a variety of health claims about CBD, saying it can treat everything from pain and inflammation to stress and anxiety.
However, the authorities in Hong Kong said that these claims “have not been definitively proven by science”.
In 2016, researchers at the University of Nottingham in the UK analyzed rodent studies on the drug’s ability to reduce anxiety symptoms.
They found that, overall, CBD was not a valuable tool for stopping anxiety.
Some experts have even called CBD products marketed to solve these mental health issues ‘useless’.
In a 2015 report, a Harvard expert wrote, “Medical marijuana is used to treat a wide variety of indications, some with evidence supporting marijuana treatment and many not.”
From February 1, 2023, CBD will be listed as a dangerous drug, meaning people who import or export the substance face life in prison and a fine of five million Hong Kong dollars (about US$637,600).
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And the sale or consumption of skin care products, oils, gummies, chocolate, beverages such as ground coffee or tea, or dietary supplements containing CBD is punishable by up to seven years in prison and a fine of one million Hong Kong dollars (equivalent to approximately US) $127,500). proof ).
The government argued that CBD could be used to produce the intoxicating THC, which is already illegal in the region.
It is difficult to isolate pure CBD from cannabis, the government said.
“Most likely CBD products contain traces of THC, which can be harmful.”
It added that under typical storage conditions, CBD can be naturally broken down into THC and used in its manufacture.
CBD joins more than 200 other “dangerous drugs” that are criminalized in Hong Kong.
The ban brings the city in line with China, which banned CBD cosmetics last year.
Last week, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said CBD does not meet safety standards and called on Congress to step in and pass legislation to regulate it.
The FDA has noted several safety concerns with CBD use, including links to liver damage and male infertility after long-term use.
It was a major setback for the fledgling industry in the US and raised fears that the federal government would crack down on the sale in the coming years.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
