Is CBD legal in North Korea?
David ReichUpdated:The essentials at a glance:
Is CBD legal in North Korea? Reliable information is lacking. Some reports suggest that cannabis is not explicitly prohibited there. Specific regulations on CBD have not been confirmed, so the legal status remains unclear. Travellers are generally advised not to take or purchase CBD products. Laws may change, and enforcement is difficult to predict. Common CBD formats include oils, capsules, edibles, vape products and skincare items.
Which products contain CBD?
When asking “Is CBD legal in North Korea?”, it helps to know which types of products usually contain CBD. These are some of the most common categories:
- CBD oils and tinctures: Liquid extracts, usually taken under the tongue for relatively quick uptake.
- CBD capsules and tablets: Pre-measured doses of CBD, taken similarly to food supplements.
- CBD edibles: Gummies, chocolate, drinks and other food products that contain CBD.
- CBD vape products: E-liquids and vape pens used to inhale vapour containing CBD.
- CBD skincare products: Creams, ointments, lotions and balms applied to the skin for local use.
CBD can appear in many forms, including oils, capsules, edibles, vape liquids and skincare, and all of these may be relevant when considering CBD law in a particular country.
Is CBD legal in North Korea?
The legal situation for cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive compound derived from the cannabis plant, differs widely from country to country. In some places CBD is fully permitted, in others it is allowed only under strict conditions, and in some it is completely prohibited.
CBD legality in North Korea is especially difficult to assess. The country is highly isolated and its laws and regulations are not transparent. As a result, there is no clear answer to the question “Is CBD legal in North Korea?”.
General cannabis law in North Korea
Some external reports suggest that cannabis itself may not be explicitly illegal in North Korea. However, these reports are not based on detailed or official legal texts that are publicly available.
Key points to bear in mind about cannabis law in North Korea:
- Very little reliable information is available from official sources.
- The exact legal status of cannabis and its derivatives is unclear.
- North Korean law is generally opaque and difficult to verify from outside the country.
North Korea’s position on CBD
There is no specific, publicly available information on whether CBD is legal or illegal in North Korea. No clear CBD law in North Korea has been confirmed by official sources.
In light of the reported general stance on cannabis, some observers might assume CBD is not automatically treated as a prohibited substance. However:
- this assumption is speculative, and
- there is no concrete evidence or official statement confirming that CBD is allowed.
Because of this lack of clarity, it is not possible to state a definitive CBD THC limit for North Korea, nor to describe any formal CBD regulations in the country.
There is no reliable public information or official guidance on CBD law in North Korea, so its legal status remains unclear and cannot be confirmed as either legal or illegal.
What does this mean for travellers?
The uncertainty around CBD legality in North Korea has practical consequences, especially for visitors who use CBD products elsewhere. If you are wondering whether you can bring CBD to North Korea, it is important to understand both the lack of clear law and how the system operates in practice.
CBD travel rules and risks for North Korea
Available reports describe law enforcement in North Korea as highly controlled, with decisions that can appear arbitrary and unpredictable to outsiders. This makes any attempt to rely on unverified assumptions about CBD legality particularly risky.
For travellers, this means:
- There is no official guidance confirming that you may legally bring CBD into North Korea.
- There is no clear information on how customs or border officials would treat CBD products.
- Laws and internal rules can change at any time without public notice.
Because of this, bringing CBD products into North Korea or attempting to buy CBD there could carry legal risks that are difficult to predict or assess from abroad.
For travellers, the combination of unclear CBD legislation and unpredictable enforcement in North Korea makes carrying or buying CBD there potentially risky.
The legal situation in neighbouring countries
CBD law in neighbouring countries is better documented and may be easier to understand. If you are travelling in the region, you can read more here:
Conclusion
The question “Is CBD legal in North Korea?” cannot currently be answered with certainty. There is no precise, publicly available information about the legal status of CBD in the country.
Although some reports suggest that cannabis may not be explicitly illegal, they do not provide specific details about CBD or any CBD THC limit. As a result, CBD legality in North Korea remains unclear.
In this situation, it is prudent to exercise great caution and not to assume that CBD is permitted in North Korea, whether for personal use, travel, or purchase within the country.
Because North Korea provides no clear public rules on CBD, it is safest not to rely on it being allowed and to treat its legal status as uncertain.