Is Marijuana Legal in China?

Marijuana is illegal for medical and recreational purposes in China.

The cannabis plant has a long history in the country and was traditionally used for fiber, seeds, oil, and some traditional medicine. Industrial hemp production has resumed in the country in recent years. However, penalties for cannabis use or personal cultivation by citizens remain extreme.

Medical Marijuana Laws in China

Cannabis is not legal for medical use in China. Marijuana is considered a narcotic drug — the same as heroin or cocaine —  and possession for any reason is punishable by prison time or even the death penalty depending on the severity of the offense.

Non-psychoactive cannabidiol (CBD) is not allowed for use in food and medicines despite it being produced in the country and exported to other countries.

Can You Grow Cannabis In China?

The unauthorized cultivation of cannabis for personal or medicinal use by Chinese citizens is illegal in China.

Since the People’s Republic of China (PRC) established a government, they have taken a harsh anti-drug stance. In 1985, China banned all hemp cultivation despite the ancient history of cannabis cultivation in the Yunnan province, in the mountainous region bordering Myanmar, Vietnam, and Laos.

In the past, it was grown to make textiles such as rope and was used in traditional Chinese medicine. However, in 2010 China began to allow the region to resume industrial hemp production. Since this ruling, China has become the world’s leading producer of hemp fiber.

The Bottom Line

While the cultivation and sale of hemp are legal for industrial purposes, cannabis with more than 0.3% of THC content remains illegal for medical and recreational purposes in the country.

Penalties for possession, use, or sale of marijuana are severe and, in some cases, may result in execution under PRC criminal law. Medical marijuana patients should refrain from traveling to China with any cannabis products.