Cannabidiol in Hong Kong: The First Two Years of Cannabisis in the United States and the Effects on Business in the City
Two years ago, cannabidiol was abundant in Hong Kong. Businesses were eager to join an exciting new market already established in countries around the world when the compound, known asCBD, was popping up.
The prohibition took effect on Wednesday but had been announced by the government last year. CBD-related businesses have closed down while others have struggled to remodel their businesses. Consumers dumped what they felt was a cure into special collection boxes around the city.
The owner of a bakery who sells baked goods infused with cannabidiol, or cannabis, said that it’s looking less like an international city.
She said that rumors of the ban affected her business. I was taken offline without being told. It was difficult to get space at markets.
Growing marijuana legal in the US: how much has it been since the CBD ban was lifted? How popular was the CBD beverage in Hong Kong, found, and other high-end stores?
Most Asian nations have strict drug laws that make it illegal to grow or possess marijuana, with Thailand the exception.
The health benefits and risks of CBD have long been debated. The FDA does not regulate mostCannabidiol products in the US, which means they can be purchased off the shelf.
Legal status of Marijuana products in the US is unclear as several states have legalized them or decriminalized them.
It has surged in global popularity in recent years, with brands adding it to shampoos, drinks, body oils, gummy bears and dog treats. In the United States and Europe, you might find it sold in coffee shops and farmers’ markets, mom-and-pop and high-end department stores, and even drugstore chain CVS.
Yardley said the government’s concerns about THC were valid – but argued they could have implemented better regulations, such as requiring certifications or standards of safety around CBD samples.
Yardley Brothers Craft Brewery stopped making its CBD beverages late last year in anticipation of the ban, and all its leftover products had sold out by December, said Yardley.
He said the CBD drinks had been “very popular,” amounting to roughly 8% of the business, as they offered adults a nonalcoholic option to enjoy when out with friends. At some bars, regulars “come in every weekend for a glass of CBD lemonade,” he said.
Hong Kong’s first CBD cafe, Found, had also made headlines when it opened in 2020. There were a number ofCannabidiol products which included infused coffee, beer, oils to help sleep, powder to sprinkle into food and pet products to help ease stiff joints.
It closed due to the positive feedback it had received thatCannabidiol could help cope with the stresses of daily life.