It's the naturally occurring substance THC that makes marijuana illegal in many countries.
But now, a café has opened in Hong Kong offering food and drinks infused with cannabidiol (CBD). And this is happening even though cannabis is considered illegal throughout the city.
The cannabis plant, from which cannabidiol comes, is considered illegal, but CBD itself isn't. It's mainly the also naturally occurring substance tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that causes problems for the Hong Kong government, as well as many other governments around the world.
The restaurant, called "Found," offers a selection of coffee, pastries, beer, and fruit juices that contain only CBD and none of the THC that's banned in the country. In a statement, they said that selling these products doesn't break any laws and is completely legal.
You can get a bottle of cold CBD coffee at Found for 80 HKS (EUR 8.79), and a can of CBD beer costs about EUR 7.69. The café had a soft opening in September and will fully open in October.
When it comes to cannabinoids, Hong Kong is actually one of the most progressive markets in Asia. According to Fiachra Mullen, co-owner of Altum International, a major cannabinoid supplier and owner of Found, Hong Kong's cannabinoid laws are much more advanced compared to other regions in Asia like Australia, New Zealand, or Singapore.
Mr. Mullen wants this project to help break down prejudices against CBD products. He especially wants to distance CBD from regular, psychoactive cannabis and its use as a recreational drug.
As long as there's only cannabidiol and no THC in Found's food and drinks, these products can be sold. The Hong Kong government's Centre for Food Safety has ruled that illegally importing cannabis or products containing controlled cannabinoids is a criminal offense. Even though CBD itself is a cannabinoid, it's classified as a non-dangerous drug and is therefore excluded from this regulation under Hong Kong law.
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