Anti-narcotics committee seeks to weed out ‘wide availability’ of CBD

It backs the proposal to control cannabidiol under the anti-drug ordinance.

The Action Committee Against Narcotics (ACAN) is supporting the government’s proposal to regulate cannabidiol (CBD) under the law, which will end the supply of CBD consumer products in Hong Kong.

ACAN Chief Donald Li warned that the wide availability of CBD products amongst consumers would make it seem that cannabis is not a type of narcotics. 

He also highlighted that there is “no authoritative conclusion on the claimed benefits of CBD products, and such products would most likely contain tetrahydro-cannabinol, which is psychoactive and a dangerous drug.”

Likewise, export and import sectors as well as returning and inbound travellers should be informed of the requirements of the  Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, Li said.

READ MORE: NMPA issues narcotic, psychotropic drug trade rules

Figures from the Central Registry of Drug Abuse (CDRA) showed that the number of drug addicts in the first quarter (Q1) of the year declined by 26% from 1,989 to 1,473 compared to Q1 in 2021.

The number of drug addicts aged under 21 years old also went down by 19% from 329 to 267, the CDRA data also indicated.