Hong Kong authorities have proposed banning CBD products after finding that a third of them sold in the city contained traces of “an illegal active ingredient in marijuana,” local media reported.
Lawmakers on Tuesday said they support the government’s plan to ban CBD products, under which its manufacture, import, export, sale and possession would be illegal. Officials say that although CBD is not considered psychoactive, it is difficult to extract it without THC, a banned substance in Hong Kong.
“We expect a period before the start of the new legislation, for example, about three months, for traders and members of the public who have purchased CBD products to dispose of them before the legislation comes into force.” he said. Kesson Leecommissioner of narcotics.
Lee added that the government would consider setting up collection points so that people could dispose of their CBD.
In January, the Customs Department announced that it had arrested nine people for confiscating some 25,000 CBD products “suspected of containing a dangerous drug.” The operation came after customs officers tested a shipment from the United States that was analyzed and tested positive for THC.
Investigators attacked three warehouses and six stores across the territory. CBD oil, skin care products and snacks for dogs were confiscated at an estimated market value of about HK $ 14.6 million (~ $ 18,606,476).
Photo of Simon Zhu at Unsplash.
