Hong Kong CNN —
Two years ago, cannabidiol was booming in Hong Kong. The compound, known as CBD, has been popping up in cafes, restaurants and shops, with companies eager to join an exciting new market that is already well established in countries around the world.
It all ended on Wednesday, when CBD was criminalized in the city and declared a “dangerous drug” on the same par as heroin and fentanyl.
CBD is a chemical found in hemp and marijuana plants. It’s non-psychoactive, meaning it won’t get you high; Instead, CBD is often marketed for everything from relieving pain and inflammation to reducing stress and anxiety.
It’s grown in popularity around the world in recent years, with brands adding it to shampoos, beverages, body oils, gummies and dog treats. In the United States and Europe, you may find it in coffee shops and farmers markets, corner and high-end department stores, and even the drugstore chain CVS.
But last June, Hong Kong lawmakers were presented with a CBD ban bill that went into effect on February 1.
Under the new legislation, possession and consumption of any amount of CBD is punishable by seven years in prison and a HK$1 million ($127,607) fine. Manufacturing, importing or exporting CBD is punishable by life imprisonment.
Even travelers could face fines as the government warns people not to “buy these products or bring them back to Hong Kong”.
The same penalties and conditions apply to cannabis, also known as marijuana.
The ban has forced CBD-focused companies to shut down, while other brands have had to withdraw or get rid of CBD products.
“It’s a shame because there’s certainly a missed opportunity,” said Luke Yardley, founder of Yardley Brothers Craft Brewery, which had previously sold four products with CBD – a lager and three soft drinks. “I think anything that doesn’t get you high and helps you relax is probably a good thing.”
The health benefits and risks of CBD have long been debated. In the US, most CBD products are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which means people can buy items off the shelf.
Some research has found that the compound can relieve pain and may be beneficial for those who have trouble sleeping. The FDA has approved a drug containing CBD to treat rare, severe forms of epilepsy.
However, concerns have also been raised, with some experts saying that there is not enough scientific research into how CBD works or its possible effects.
In January, the FDA announced that CBD products will require a new regulatory pathway in the US, saying, “We have not found sufficient evidence to determine how much CBD can be consumed and for how long before it causes harm.”
In Hong Kong, which has strict cannabis laws, government concerns revolve around the possible Presence of sister compound THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) in CBD products. THC is also found in cannabis plants and is responsible for the “high”.
In the US and Europe, CBD products can contain as much as 0.3% – a trace amount – of THC, but even that is unacceptable in Hong Kong. And while CBD products could avoid this trace amount by using a pure form of CBD, most manufacturers blend other compounds for greater potency.
From 2019 to early 2022, Hong Kong authorities launched nearly 120 “operations” seizing and testing CBD products from restaurants and shops to warehouses, Security Minister Tang Ping-keung said last year. He added that more than 3,800 products were found to contain THC, but gave no further details on the level or percentage of THC in those products.
In a written response to questions raised in the Legislative Council, Tang suggested applying the government’s traditionally tough stance on THC to CBD “to protect public health.”
“We have adopted ‘zero tolerance’ for drugs and understand that this is a matter of public interest,” he said. “That’s why the government plans to control CBD.”
The Action Committee Against Narcotics, a group of representatives from “the social work, education, medical and community service sectors” that advises the government on anti-drug policy, said in a statement last November that it would support CBD ban and the government supports the goal of a “drug-free Hong Kong”.
Many companies began to prepare for regulatory changes in 2022, ahead of the government’s official announcement in January this year.
Yardley Brothers Craft Brewery stopped making its CBD drinks late last year in anticipation of the ban, and all of its leftover products had sold out by December, Yardley said.
He said the CBD drinks had been “very popular,” accounting for about 8% of the business, as they offered adults a non-alcoholic option to enjoy when out with friends. At some bars, regulars “come in for a pint of CBD soda every weekend,” he said.
Now “there is less choice for Hong Kong consumers. It’s not necessarily a step in the right direction,” he said.
Some companies have had to close down completely.
Med Chef, a restaurant that opened in 2021, once boasted of offering Hong Kong’s “first full menu of CBD-infused cocktails, appetizers and entrees.” In a press release during its launch, the restaurant founder emphasized the health and wellness benefits of CBD.
but through early It closed its doors on November 2022. “We have worked hard in the past to present CBD in its most acceptable form and to integrate our food and beverage concepts,” the restaurant wrote in a farewell post on Instagram. “It’s a shame it didn’t go the way we had hoped. Ultimately, under the latest policies of those in power, we cannot go ahead with everyone.”
Hong Kong’s first CBD cafe, Found, also made headlines when it opened in 2020. It sold a variety of CBD products including Infused coffee and beer, oils for support sleep, powder for sprinkling in food, etc Pet products to relieve stiff joints.
It closed in late September 2022, telling customers on Instagram that their positive feedback showed that “CBD could help cope with the stresses of everyday life.”
“Sadly, despite the proven positive effects, it has now become apparent that the Hong Kong government intends to pass new legislation to ban the sale and possession of CBD,” she wrote.
Yardley said the government’s concerns about THC were valid – but argued they could have introduced better regulations, such as banning them. B. the requirement for certifications or safety standards for CBD samples.
“It’s quite an extreme reaction to just ban it outright,” he said.
And while the brewery continues to operate, with plans for alternative non-alcoholic beverages to fill the gap, Yardley is hoping CBD will make a comeback on the menu. “I hope for the future that maybe it will become legal again,” he said.
This story has been updated to include details of the bill and its implementation.