Hong Kong authorities issued a ban on cannabidiol, also known as CBD, on Wednesday, calling it a "dangerous drug" and ranking it beside heroin and cocaine, following Beijing's lead.
The decision will impose harsh penalties for possession of the cannabis ingredient despite a flourishing trade for the product within the city. The bill came after Beijing passed its ban on CBD cosmetics last year. The decision keeps Hong Kong in line with mainland China's zero-tolerance policy regarding drugs.
Hong Kong Bans CBD
Policies regulating CBD products vary in Asia, such as in neighboring countries Taiwan and Thailand, which is legal. This is similar to how CBD possession is not against the law in the United States and several parts of Europe.
CBS is a non-psychoactive chemical that is derived from the cannabis plant and is marketed as a stress reliever. Before the latest announcement, it was legal in Hong Kong and was available in cafes, retail stores, and beer.
But authorities are now imposing a maximum of seven years of imprisonment and a fine of $127,000 for possessing and consuming CBD. Officials argued that the substance could be converted into tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as THC, which is responsible for cannabis' psychoactive effects, as per the Washington Post.
The president of the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Hong Kong, William Chui, said that the city's ban on the substance is crucial to preventing a "legal loophole" that is potentially used by "illegal traders" to convert CBD into THC using a strong acid. However, converting CBD to THC is highly complex, requires a whole laboratory environment, and is not easily carried out by amateurs.
The first CBD cafe in Hong Kong, founded, and opened in 2020, sold CBD-infused kombucha, massage oil, cookies, and coffee. The store became wildly popular soon after it opened to the public.
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A Missed Opportunity
The Found team posted on Instagram where they bid farewell to their customers, saying that the positive reactions from thousands of visitors to the store, both offline and online, proved that there is a need for a natural health alternative. The company noted that CBS could assist people in coping with the stresses of daily life.
However, Hong Kong authorities dispute CBS's beneficial health effects, saying they lack definitive scientific proof. According to CBS News, other penalties for exporting or manufacturing CBD include a fine of up to $638,000 and life imprisonment.
The global popularity of CBS-infused products has surged in recent years as people put them inside gummies, coffee, beers, and beauty creams. It is an industry that is expected to be worth roughly $47 billion by 2028, which is a jump from $4.9 billion in 2021.
In a statement, the founder of Yardley Brothers Craft Brewery, Luke Yardley, said that implementing the ban was a missed opportunity. His company previously sold four products that contained CBD, a lager, and three non-alcoholic drinks. He noted that any drink that does not get a person intoxicated that helps them relax is a good thing said CNN.
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