Landed with a bang two years ago in the Chinese special administrative region, CBD is now considered a “dangerous drug”. Many businesses had to close their doors.
From this February 1, consuming a product containing CBD will be a legal point of consuming heroin or cocaine in Hong Kong. The Chinese special administrative region has decided to classify the molecule, which is not considered a psychotropic, as a “hard drug”, reports CNN.
In connection with a law passed by Hong Kong parliamentarians last June and which comes into force on Wednesday, the possession and consumption of CBD is now punishable by 7 years in prison and a fine of 1 million Hong Kong dollars (approximately 117,000 euros). Can people who produce, import or export CBD be given a life sentence.
“There is a chance that you will be arrested”
The decision is also expected to apply to foreign travelers, who carry CBD-based products in their luggage. “Possession of any product containing CBD is illegal, so there’s a chance you’ll get arrested,” said Brian Chan Kai-Ho, head of the air passenger division at Hong Kong Customs. cited by the South China Morning Post.
As the number of air passengers is set to increase in the port city, in connection with the easing of health restriction measures decided in Beijing, local customs have indicated that they will intensify the use of X-rays and ion scanners. to detect the presence of CBD.
This decision comes to put a sudden halt to the CBD business, which has been flourishing in the port city for two years, reports CNN. Sold in cakes, drinks or even in the form of oil, the molecule is presented by its supporters as having relaxing capacities, which can, for example, help people suffering from sleep disorders.
77,000 products returned
The cafes, bars and shops that previously offered these products only had a few months to adapt, or go out of business. “It’s really unfortunate because it’s a missed opportunity for sure”, regretted with CNN Luke Yardley, who marketed certain CBD-based drinks. They represented 8% of its turnover.
Restaurants and bars in the city whose model was based exclusively on the molecule have for their part had to close. the South China Morning Post reveals that since the announcement of the ban on CBD, 77,000 products containing it have been returned to the authorities by individuals.
traces of THC
The Hong Kong authorities justified their decision by possible traces of THC, the main psychoactive substance of cannabis, in CBD products. Since 2019, 120 operations have been carried out by local authorities to measure the THC level of certain products, reports CNN.
Traces of THC would have been discovered in 4100 of them. In January 2022, Hong Kong Customs arrested nine people and seized 25,000 products after THC was found in CBD derivatives.
In France, the Council of State issued a decision last December going in a completely different direction. The judges definitively canceled the government decree which prohibited the sale of the flower and the hemp leaf loaded with CBD.
“It has not been established that the consumption of the flowers and leaves of these varieties of cannabis with a low level of THC would entail risks for public health”, even detailed the highest French administrative court.
The sale of CBD products is also authorized in France, provided that the THC content does not exceed 0.3%.
