Is Cannabis / THC legal in Hong Kong?

Also known as: weed, marijuana

Legal status

A dangerous drug in Hong Kong. Part I of the First Schedule to the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (Cap. 134), in the version in force from 18 July 2025 (last amended by L.N. 172 of 2025) as read in the Department of Justice consolidation dated 12 June 2026 prints «11. Cannabis and cannabis resin.», and section 2 defines a dangerous drug as «any of the drugs or substances specified in Part I of the First Schedule».

Consequences if caught

Cannabis and its resin are dangerous drugs under paragraph 11 of Part I, and the cannabinoids cannabinol, its tetrahydro and hexahydro derivatives, and cannabidiol are named in paragraph 1(a). There is no medical or personal use exception in the text read. The plant itself has its own provision, section 9: section 9(1) provides that «No person shall cultivate any plant of the genus cannabis or the opium poppy», section 9(2) and (3) forbid dealing in, importing, exporting or possessing the plant, and section 9(5) sets «liable on conviction on indictment to a fine at level 6 and to imprisonment for 15 years». Trafficking: section 4(1)(a) forbids any person to «traffic in a dangerous drug» except under the Ordinance or a licence, and section 2 says trafficking «includes importing into Hong Kong, exporting from Hong Kong, procuring, supplying or otherwise dealing in or with the dangerous drug, or possessing the dangerous drug for the purpose of trafficking», so bringing it into Hong Kong falls within trafficking, whatever the amount. Section 4(3) sets the maximum «on conviction on indictment, to a fine of $5,000,000 and to imprisonment for life», and «on summary conviction, to a fine of $500,000 and to imprisonment for 3 years». Manufacture: section 6(2), «liable on conviction on indictment to a fine of $5,000,000 and to imprisonment for life». Supply to a person not authorised to possess it: section 5(2), on indictment «to a fine at level 6 and to imprisonment for 15 years». Possession and consumption are each an offence under section 8: section 8(1) forbids a person to «have in his possession» or to «smoke, inhale, ingest or inject» a dangerous drug, and section 8(2) sets «on conviction upon indictment to a fine of $1,000,000 and, subject to section 54A, to imprisonment for 7 years», or «on summary conviction to a fine at level 6 and, subject to section 54A, to imprisonment for 3 years»; level 6 is $100,000. Section 54A requires the court to consider a report of the Commissioner of Correctional Services before passing a custodial sentence for possession, except where section 54A(1A) applies: the person is in the same proceedings sentenced for another offence to imprisonment for more than 9 months, or is already serving a term of more than 9 months. Each of these provisions joins the fine and the imprisonment with the word and, so both may be imposed; the figures are maxima. Imprisonment for life is the highest penalty the Ordinance states. The Ordinance sets no quantity below which possession is lawful, and section 47 is not a quantity rule: a person proved to have had in physical possession «anything containing or supporting a dangerous drug», or the keys of a container holding one, «shall, until the contrary is proved, be presumed to have had such drug in his possession», and is presumed to have known its nature. This is stated as at the consolidations named in this cell, and for the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance as at the consolidation dated 12 June 2026. Section 50(1) provides that «The Chief Executive may by order published in the Gazette amend the First and Third Schedules», so this does not rule out a later amendment. The Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (Amendment of First Schedule) Order 2026, made by the Chief Executive on 24 September 2026 under section 50(1) and scheduled for gazettal on 2 October 2026, adds N-pyrrolidino isotonitazene, N-desethyl etonitazene and MDMB-FUBINACA to Part I, and its section 1 reads «This Order comes into operation on 27 November 2026.» Those three additions are therefore not in force on 2 October 2026.

If prescribed or medical

No prescription route is stated for this substance in the text read. The medical provisions of the Ordinance, section 22 for practitioners, section 25 for patients and section 31 for supply on prescription, authorise possession only of a dangerous drug lawfully supplied by or on the prescription of a registered practitioner.

Documentation

Section 4 makes import part of trafficking unless done «under and in accordance with this Ordinance or a licence granted by the Director», and section 10(1) provides «The Director may issue an import licence authorizing the person named therein to import into Hong Kong, within the period specified therein, such quantity of a dangerous drug as may be specified therein». The text read describes no licence or exemption for a traveller carrying this substance. Do not carry it into or out of Hong Kong.

Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with Hong Kong’s embassy or official drug authority before traveling; penalties can be severe, including imprisonment.