Not yet medically reviewed, information on this site is in preparation and has not been verified by a medical reviewer.
Legality · CBD

CBD in South Africa: not individually verified

Not individually verified

We have not confirmed that CBD specifically is scheduled in South Africa, so this page gives no legal status. Publishing a guess here would be worse than publishing nothing. What we do know is the governing national drug law, below.

What is on record
Not confirmed. This substance is not printed in Schedule 1 or Schedule 2 of the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act 140 of 1992, and two available readings of the isomer limb point in opposite directions.

Confirm directly with South Africa’s national drug authority or your own embassy before you rely on anything.

What South Africa HAS confirmed for related substances

These are related compounds, not CBD. Their status may or may not reflect CBD’s. Confirm CBD directly with South Africa's national drug authority or your embassy.

  • Cannabis / THCa related compound, not CBD

    Controlled as an undesirable dependence-producing substance under Schedule 2 Part III of the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act 140 of 1992, but the use or possession of cannabis by an adult in private for that adult's own consumption in private is not a criminal offence.

    Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act 140 of 1992, Schedule 2 Part III, printed name, with the Prince reading-in into section 4 (b) · Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act 140 of 1992, ss 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 13, 17 and 19, with Schedules 1 and 2 · justice.gov.za · read from the cached text at research/instruments/south-africa/za-drugs-act-140-1992.txt, 84,091 bytes, against the.pdf beside it at 127,460 bytes · the consolidation is dated 29 May 2025 and carries the Act 14 of 2022 substitution of both schedules with effect from 14 December 2022 · Verified September 21, 2026

  • Delta-8-THCa related compound, not CBD

    Controlled as an undesirable dependence-producing substance under Schedule 2 Part III of the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act 140 of 1992.

    Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act 140 of 1992, Schedule 2 Part III, printed class name, with paragraph 2 (a) · Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act 140 of 1992, ss 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 13, 17 and 19, with Schedules 1 and 2 · justice.gov.za · read from the cached text at research/instruments/south-africa/za-drugs-act-140-1992.txt, 84,091 bytes, against the.pdf beside it at 127,460 bytes · the consolidation is dated 29 May 2025 and carries the Act 14 of 2022 substitution of both schedules with effect from 14 December 2022 · Verified September 21, 2026

  • Synthetic Cannabinoids (K2 / Spice)a related compound, not CBD

    Controlled in part: Schedule 2 Part III of the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act 140 of 1992 names ten synthetic cannabinoid designations, and the class is wider than those ten.

    Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act 140 of 1992, Schedule 2 Part III, ten printed designations · Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act 140 of 1992, ss 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 13, 17 and 19, with Schedules 1 and 2 · justice.gov.za · read from the cached text at research/instruments/south-africa/za-drugs-act-140-1992.txt, 84,091 bytes, against the.pdf beside it at 127,460 bytes · the consolidation is dated 29 May 2025 and carries the Act 14 of 2022 substitution of both schedules with effect from 14 December 2022 · Verified September 21, 2026

This page is deliberately excluded from search indexing and from our sitemap. Only confirmed, individually verified statuses are published as indexable pages.

Before you travel

Verify current rules with the destination country’s official drug authority and your own country’s embassy before traveling. Find the destination’s U.S. embassy & official country guidance →
Non-U.S. travelers: check your own government’s travel advisory and embassy.

If you’re detained or arrested abroad

Contact your own country’s embassy or consulate in the destination immediately, not the destination’s authorities. U.S. citizens: contact the nearest U.S. embassy/consulate and the U.S. State Department at +1-202-501-4444 (from abroad). If a U.S. citizen is arrested or detained abroad →

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