Last updated: October 2026
CBD is legal in the UK, most of Europe and the US, usually only if it contains no THC or very little. It’s restricted or prescription-only in places like Australia, Finland and Brazil, and banned in others, including the UAE, Hong Kong, Singapore and much of the Middle East and Asia. Rules change often, so check before you travel.
Below: what decides whether CBD is legal, a country-by-country table, and how to check the rules for anywhere not listed.
What makes CBD legal or illegal?
- THC content: the biggest factor. Many countries allow CBD only if THC is absent or below a tiny limit. Some, like Hong Kong, ban CBD itself.
- Product type: a country may allow CBD cosmetics but not oils you swallow, or treat oral CBD as a medicine.
- Source: hemp-derived CBD is treated differently from cannabis in many places.
- Selling vs carrying: it may be legal to carry a personal amount but not to sell, or the other way round.
Broad spectrum CBD with no detectable THC, like ours, is accepted in more places than full spectrum. See full spectrum vs broad spectrum vs isolate.
Is CBD legal in the UK?
Yes. CBD is legal in the UK as long as the product contains no controlled cannabinoids such as THC, or meets strict Home Office “exempt product” rules, including no more than 1mg of THC in the whole container. CBD sold as food must also be linked to an application on the FSA public list. There’s no “0.2% THC” rule for products in the UK, despite what many websites say. Read the full guide: is CBD legal in the UK?
Europe
EU farmers can grow hemp with up to 0.3% THC in the plant. But that’s a farming rule, and each country sets its own rules for CBD products.
| Country | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ireland | Generally available | THC-free products; food CBD needs EU novel food authorisation |
| France | Generally available | Hemp-derived CBD with very low THC; rules on flower have changed several times |
| Spain | Available, with limits | Widely sold, mostly as cosmetics; oral CBD is a grey area |
| Portugal | Available, with limits | Medical cannabis regulated; consumer CBD rules are evolving |
| Italy | Restricted | Rules tightened in recent years; check current status before travel |
| Germany, Austria, Netherlands | Generally available | Low-THC products widely sold; food rules are strict |
| Greece, Croatia, Malta, Poland, Czech Republic | Generally available | Low-THC products sold |
| Switzerland | Available | Allows up to 1% THC, much higher than elsewhere. A Swiss product may be illegal back in the UK. |
| Sweden | Restricted | Products must contain no THC at all |
| Finland, Norway, Iceland | Restricted | Oral CBD is treated as a medicine or limited to THC-free products |
| Serbia, Albania | Restricted or unclear | No authorised consumer CBD products; imports may be seized. Don’t take oils. |
| Russia, Belarus | Don’t take it | Products with any trace of THC can be treated as drugs |
The Americas
| Country | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Legal federally, tightening | From 12 November 2026, hemp products are limited to 0.4mg total THC per container. State laws vary. |
| Canada | Legal, regulated as cannabis | Sold only through licensed cannabis channels. Don’t take CBD across the border. |
| Mexico | Restricted | Regulated as a health product; check before travel |
| Brazil, Argentina, Chile | Medical or prescription | Access mainly through pharmacies or prescriptions |
| Guatemala and Central America | Unclear | No clear framework for CBD; safest not to take it |
| Caribbean | Varies | Some islands allow medical cannabis; others are strict. Check each island. |
Asia and the Pacific
| Country | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Australia, New Zealand | Prescription | CBD is a medicine. Travellers need a prescription and must declare it. |
| Japan | Legal, very strict | The world’s strictest THC limits. A product sold as THC-free elsewhere can still fail. |
| Thailand | Restricted, changing | Cannabis rules have been tightened again towards medical use. Check before travel. |
| Hong Kong | Don’t take it | CBD has been a “dangerous drug” since February 2023: up to seven years in prison |
| Mainland China | Don’t take it | CBD is banned in cosmetics and food |
| Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines | Don’t take it | Very strict drug laws with severe penalties |
| South Korea | Don’t take it | CBD is treated as a narcotic outside approved medicines |
Middle East and Africa
| Country | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi) | Don’t take it | The UK Foreign Office says CBD products are illegal; zero tolerance for drug offences |
| Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain | Don’t take it | Strict drug laws |
| Turkey, Egypt | Don’t take it | Strict drug laws; CBD not clearly permitted |
| South Africa | Restricted | Low-dose CBD allowed in some products; others need a prescription |
How to check a country not listed
- Open the UK Foreign Office travel advice for the country and read the section on local laws and drugs.
- Check the rules for any country you’re changing planes in, too.
- If the advice doesn’t mention CBD, contact that country’s embassy in the UK.
- If you can’t get a clear answer, leave your CBD at home.
If you do travel with CBD, keep it in its original labelled bottle with the batch lab report. See can you take CBD oil on a plane?
FAQs
Which countries is CBD illegal in?
CBD is banned or effectively banned in the UAE, Hong Kong, Singapore, mainland China, South Korea, much of the Middle East and several other Asian countries. Rules change, so always check.
Is CBD legal in Europe?
Mostly, if it contains no THC or very little, but each country sets its own rules. It’s restricted in places like Sweden, Finland and Serbia.
Is CBD legal in Albania?
Consumer CBD products have no clear authorisation in Albania, and imports may be seized. It’s safest not to take CBD oil there.
Is CBD legal in Serbia?
CBD is heavily restricted in Serbia. Oils you swallow are treated under medicines and drug laws, so don’t take them.
Is CBD legal in the USA?
Hemp-derived CBD is legal federally, but from 12 November 2026 products are limited to 0.4mg of total THC per container. State laws vary.
Does broad spectrum CBD make it legal everywhere?
No. It helps where the rules are about THC, but some countries ban CBD itself, such as Hong Kong and the UAE.
Sources
- Home Office. Drug licensing factsheet: cannabis, CBD and other cannabinoids.
- GOV.UK. Foreign travel advice.
- GOV.UK. UAE travel advice: safety and security.
- Hong Kong Government. CBD to be listed as a dangerous drug, January 2023.
- CMS. Expert guide to a legal roadmap to cannabis (country by country).
- Arnold and Porter. Major changes to federal regulation of hemp-derived products, December 2025.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Laws change; always check official sources before you travel.
