The government plans to ban cannabidiol products, groups question whether it is not the only treatment method, and the laboratory can detect it

Cannabidiol products (CBD) are becoming more and more common, and the government has repeatedly found in related products the drug tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is controlled by the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance.

Huang Ziwei, director general of the Community Drug Education and Guidance Association, pointed out that discussing legislation to regulate CBD is a good start, but to include non-psychoactive CBD into the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, "I believe many citizens, like me, wonder if this is the only way to deal with it. method".

Huang Ziwei said that referring to foreign practices, some countries have legislation to completely ban CBD, and some local legislation requires testing to ensure product safety first, and a legal license can be sold before it can be sold, and there are age restrictions on sales.

He believes that if Hong Kong adopts the latter approach, it is estimated that local private laboratories will also be willing to cooperate in providing local testing services. 

Huang Ziwei said on the Hong Kong TV program "Hong Kong Family Letter" today (18th) that the THC contained in marijuana is addictive and a substance that brings immediate, short, medium and long-term health and personal safety hazards.

But cannabis also contains other non-psychoactive elements, such as pure CBD, which are not addictive, delusional, or hallucinogenic when used alone.

However, it is very difficult to extract pure CBD. According to figures released by law enforcement agencies, among the CBD products seized and tested since 2019, one out of every three products was found to have THC.

He pointed out that an online poll was conducted on the "International Cannabis Day" on April 20, and half of the more than 4,000 respondents knew about CBD products, but more than 60% of the respondents did not know and despised the benefits of CBD products. potential health scourges and legal risks.

He said that a large department store once held a CBD market. At that time, his organization planned to purchase related products and send them to a local laboratory for testing, but found that it took more than two months to perform such tests. The high laboratory fees for the test will eventually be forced to retreat.”

Cannabis is regulated under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance in Hong Kong and is classified as a drug.

(file picture)

Regarding the submission of the Narcotics Division of the Security Bureau to the Legislative Council, it is recommended that CBD be included in the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance.

Huang Ziwei believes that discussing the regulation of CBD is a good start, and the discussion process has provided opportunities to promote public education. For example, the content of the documents submitted by the authorities to the Legislative Council has given the society a chance to decompose the possibility of THC from CBD.

If the Government can introduce those research findings in more detail, it will help the public to enhance their awareness of protection.

Huang Ziwei said that the world is facing the threat of CBD doped with THC, and the international laws governing CBD are also different. Some countries have legislation to completely ban CBD, and some countries prohibit the addition of CBD to food; some local legislation Testing is required to ensure product safety first, and a legal license can be obtained before it can be sold, and there are age restrictions on sales.

He hopes that legislative discussions to regulate CBD will lead to a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the scourge of marijuana and safe drug use.

The government researched amendments to regulate CBD and included it as a dangerous drug in the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance.

(File photo/Photo by Hong Yeming)

The government aims to regulate cannabidiol within this year. Tang Jiabiao suggested to use MIRROR to publicize the government's plan to ban the sale of cannabidiol (CBD) this year. Before the law comes into effect, the last clearance in Hong Kong has no registered pharmaceutical products that contain cannabidiol.

Not yet regulated, consumers should use with caution