Cannabis Laws Across Asia and Key Global Markets, 2026: East Asia, South Asia, Israel and Europe (Part 2 of 2)

GOOD_BUDS · October 21, 2026, 4:09am

This guide sets out the legal status of cannabis, CBD and hemp across Asia and in the overseas markets that trade with Asian growers. Part 1 covers Thailand and Southeast Asia. Part 2 covers East Asia, South Asia, Israel, Germany and the Czech Republic, and ends with eight regional trends.

This is Part 2. Part 1: Cannabis Laws Across Asia and Key Global Markets, 2026: Thailand and Southeast Asia (Part 1 of 2)

Before you read

THC and CBD. THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) causes the high. CBD (cannabidiol) does not. Many laws set a THC limit by weight.
Hemp is cannabis grown for fibre, seed or CBD, with THC below a legal limit.
Decriminalised usually means a small amount brings a fine instead of a criminal case. It does not mean you may buy, sell or grow.

Each country section ends with a translator’s note that gives you one step you can take.

Japan

Status: strict prohibition, with a narrow opening for medicines

Japan has some of the strictest cannabis laws in the world under its Cannabis Control Act. In December 2024 that changed in one area.

December 2024: an amendment to the Act allowed pharmaceutical-grade medicines made from cannabis. The example given is Epidiolex, a CBD medicine for epilepsy.
This is the first legal medical use of cannabis in Japan’s modern history.
Recreational use, possession and growing remain strictly illegal. Penalties go up to 7 years in prison.
CBD: the original article said CBD is legal only with 0% THC. That is out of date. Since 12 December 2024 Japan sets maximum residual THC levels instead: 10 ppm for oils and powders, 0.1 ppm for water-based products such as drinks, and 1 ppm for other products. A product above these limits counts as a narcotic.
CBD products are widely sold in major cities. The market is estimated at more than US$200 million.

Translator’s note: a Thai CBD product can carry traces of THC that break Japan’s limit. Before you send any CBD product to Japan, get a certificate of analysis that reports THC in ppm, from a lab whose detection limit is below Japan’s threshold. A report showing only “below 0.2%” cannot prove compliance.

South Korea

Status: limited medical use

In 2018 South Korea became the first country in East Asia to legalise medical cannabis.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) approves cannabis-based medicines case by case.
Approved medicines include Epidiolex, plus Marinol and Sativex. Marinol (dronabinol) is a lab-made THC. Sativex (nabiximols) is a mouth spray with THC and CBD. See approved cannabinoid medicines.
Patients apply through the MFDS. There is no domestic growing and no dispensary system.
Recreational use remains strictly illegal, with up to 5 years in prison.
CBD: legal only inside pharmaceutical products approved by the MFDS.

Translator’s note: South Korea’s Ministry of Justice has warned that Korean citizens who use cannabis abroad, including in Thailand, can face criminal charges when they return home. If you have Korean staff, partners or patients, ask them to check this before they handle or use cannabis in Thailand. A legal act in Thailand may still be prosecuted in Korea.

China

Status: strict prohibition — but the world’s largest hemp producer

Cannabis is classed as a narcotic. Recreational and medical use are both strictly illegal.
Penalties include detention and long prison terms. Under Article 347 of the Criminal Law, trafficking large quantities of drugs, which can include cannabis, can bring 15 years, life imprisonment or death.
China is the world’s largest producer of industrial hemp, mainly in Yunnan and Heilongjiang provinces.
CBD: banned for consumption, and banned in cosmetics since May 2021. The National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) added CBD, and cannabis fruit, seed oil and leaf extract, to its lists of prohibited cosmetic ingredients.
China holds more cannabis-related patents than any other country.
Hemp fibre and hemp seed products form a major industry.

Translator’s note: China’s large hemp industry does not make CBD legal there. If you buy hemp seed or fibre equipment from China, confirm in writing that the goods are cleared for export. Then check what Thai import rules apply before you pay, so the shipment is not held at customs.

Hong Kong

Status: zero tolerance — CBD banned since 2023

Cannabis is illegal under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance.
1 February 2023: CBD was reclassified as a dangerous drug. CBD products that were legal before are now completely banned.
Trafficking: up to life in prison and a fine of HK$5 million.
Possession or consumption: up to 7 years in prison and a fine of HK$1 million.
There is no medical cannabis programme.
This is one of the sharpest tightenings in Asia. Hong Kong went from an active CBD market to a complete ban on a single date.

Translator’s note: if you sell CBD or hemp products online from Thailand, remove Hong Kong from your shipping list. Do not carry these products through Hong Kong airport in transit, because CBD is now treated like any other dangerous drug there.

Taiwan

Status: strict prohibition — very limited CBD

Cannabis is a Category 2 narcotic under the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act.
Use: up to 3 years in prison.
Possession: up to 2 years in prison.
Trafficking: 10 years to life in prison.
CBD: legal only on a doctor’s prescription, with THC below 0.001%. That limit is extremely strict. No CBD product is approved for local production, so supply comes only from imports.
Hemp: growing it is illegal.
There is no medical cannabis programme.

Translator’s note: Taiwan’s 0.001% THC limit is 200 times stricter than Thailand’s 0.2%. Do not send Thai CBD products to Taiwan unless an importer holds the required approval and your lab report shows THC below 0.001%.

India

Status: complex — varies by state

India’s cannabis rules mix ancient tradition with modern drug law.

National level: cannabis is controlled under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act 1985.
Bhang, a traditional drink or paste made from cannabis leaves, is explicitly excluded from the Act’s definition of cannabis.
States differ in how much they tolerate. Uttarakhand became the first state to legalise hemp growing, in 2018.
Hemp: more and more states accept it. Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur and Himachal Pradesh have approved hemp growing, with a THC limit of 0.3%.
CBD: a legal grey area. There is no specific regulation, but hemp-derived CBD products are on sale.
Ayurveda, India’s traditional medicine system, and other traditional medicine rules give cannabis-based medicines a legal route.

Translator’s note: India’s rules differ by state, so national summaries can mislead. If you plan to trade hemp genetics or products with an Indian partner, ask for the state licence and check its THC limit. Thai and Indian limits differ (0.2% and 0.3%), so agree on which limit applies before you sign.

Nepal

Status: banned nationally — provinces are moving toward reform

Cannabis has a long history in Nepal, but modern law is strict.

The Narcotic Drugs (Control) Act 1976 bans growing, producing and selling cannabis.
July 2026: the Gandaki Provincial Assembly passed a law on growing cannabis for medical and industrial use. The province chief authenticated it on 3 August 2026. No licence can be issued until the provincial government makes rules.
The law caps THC at 0.3%.
CBD and hemp: no separate legal status yet. National law still treats every cannabis derivative as a controlled substance.
The provincial bills conflict with the national Narcotic Drugs Act. The conflict has not been resolved.

Translator’s note: a provincial law in Nepal does not override national law yet. Do not treat Gandaki Province as an open market. Wait until the conflict with the 1976 Act is formally resolved.

Sri Lanka

Status: banned at home — licences for export growing

Recreational and medical use both remain illegal inside the country.
August 2025: Sri Lanka’s Board of Investment approved seven foreign investors, chosen from 37 applicants, to grow medical cannabis for export only. Their first licences were temporary, for six months.
The minimum investment is more than US$5 million.
No product may leak into the domestic market.
Cannabis has historical roots in Ayurvedic medicine in Sri Lanka. Ancient texts dating to 341 AD record its use, in King Buddhadasa’s Sarartha Sangrahaya.

Translator’s note: Sri Lanka’s scheme shows how much it costs to enter an export-only market (more than US$5 million). Thai growers who plan to export should count the full cost of certification and security in the business plan. Do not count only the growing cost.

Pakistan

Status: recreational use illegal — an industrial and medical framework is emerging

Recreational cannabis is illegal under the Control of Narcotic Substances Act 1997.
September 2020: the Federal Cabinet approved a framework for growing industrial hemp and medical cannabis.
The Ministry of Science and Technology leads the programme.
Commercial roll-out has been slow, but the policy direction is set.
Cannabis, especially hashish, has deep cultural roots in parts of Pakistan, particularly in the north.
CBD and hemp: the framework exists on paper, but commercial activity remains limited.

Translator’s note: before you deal with a Pakistani hemp company, ask to see its approval under the 2020 framework. A cabinet framework does not prove that a company holds a licence.

Israel

Status: a full medical programme — one of the largest per person in the world

Israel has led cannabis research since the 1960s. Professor Raphael Mechoulam, an Israeli chemist, isolated THC in 1964.

About 140,000 patients hold medical cannabis licences. That is one of the highest rates per person in the world.
The Israel Medical Cannabis Agency (IMCA) runs the programme. It follows the cannabis agency model.
Imports: Israel imports much of its medical flower, mostly from Canada (about 80% of imports by weight in 2020–2023).
Exports: Israel exports medical cannabis to Germany, the UK, Australia and other regulated markets.
Israel has investigated Canadian imports for dumping. Duties of up to 165% were proposed in 2025 but not imposed. A new complaint was filed in July 2026.
In May 2026 a Health Ministry committee recommended phasing out smoked medical cannabis over three years. The Health Minister halted work on the recommendation days later.
Recreational use: decriminalised for personal use since 1 April 2019. A first offence brings a fine of 1,000 shekels instead of a criminal case.

Translator’s note: Israel both buys and sells medical flower, and its import rules have their own quality standards. Israel uses its own standards, IMC-GAP for growing and IMC-GMP for production, and foreign growers have obtained IMC-GAP or recognised equivalent certification to supply it. A Thai farm that wants to supply Israel should ask an Israeli importer for the exact certification list before it plans a crop for that market.

Germany (key trading market)

Status: legal for adults — Cannabis Social Clubs

Germany’s Cannabis Act (CanG) took effect on 1 April 2024. It is one of the biggest legal changes for cannabis in Europe.

Adults aged 18 and over may carry up to 25 g in public and keep up to 50 g at home.
Each adult may grow up to 3 plants at home.
Cannabis Social Clubs (Anbauvereinigungen, German for “growing associations”) are non-profit clubs of up to 500 members. They grow cannabis together for their members.
More than 400 clubs had been approved by mid-2026.
There is no commercial retail sale. Clubs and home growing are the only legal sources for adult use.
Medical cannabis: fully legal since 2017, from pharmacies with a prescription.
Germany is the largest medical cannabis market in Europe. It imports mainly from Canada, which supplied about half of its imports in early 2026, and also from Portugal and other countries.

Translator’s note: Thai flower reaches Germany through the medical system, not through clubs. Under section 19 of the Consumer Cannabis Act (KCanG), clubs may pass on only cannabis they grew together on their own premises, so they cannot buy imported flower. A Thai farm aiming at Germany needs GACP for growing (a quality standard for medicinal plants) and EU-GMP for processing (the European manufacturing standard). The first step is a gap check of your farm against GACP. It shows what you must change before an audit.

Czech Republic (key trading market)

Status: decriminalised — established medical programme

The Czech reform is covered in more detail in this topic.

Since 1 January 2026 (Act No. 270/2025 Coll.), people over 21 need no permit for personal use within three limits. They may keep up to 100 g at home and 25 g elsewhere, and grow up to 3 plants.
Holding more than 200 g at home, more than 50 g elsewhere, or more than 5 plants is a criminal offence. Amounts in between (100–200 g at home, 25–50 g elsewhere, or 4–5 plants) are a misdemeanour (přestupek), punished by a fine.
Medical cannabis: legal since 2013, through the State Agency for Medical Cannabis (SAKL).
Health insurance has covered it since 2020, up to 30 g per month.
CBD products with less than 1% THC are legal and widely sold.
The Czech Republic is actively building its hemp industry.

Translator’s note: the Czech 1% THC limit for CBD products is higher than Thailand’s 0.2%. This does not change Thai rules. A product made in Thailand must still meet the Thai limit before it leaves the country, so test it against both limits.

East Asia, South Asia, Israel and Europe at a glance

allowed · limited or with conditions · prohibited

Country	Medical	Recreational	CBD	Hemp	Death penalty risk
Japan	Medicines only (2024)	Strict	Residual THC limits (10 ppm oils/powders)	Limited	No
South Korea	Case by case	Strict	Medicines only		No
China		Strict	Banned (cosmetics too, since 2021)	World’s largest	Large-scale trafficking
Hong Kong		Strict	Banned 2023		No
Taiwan		Strict	Prescription only, below 0.001% THC		No
India	Traditional medicine / state rules	Varies by state	Grey area	Several states	No
Nepal	(provincial reform)			(reform pending)	No
Sri Lanka				Export only (2025)	No
Pakistan	2020 framework		Limited	2020 framework	No
Israel	About 140,000 patients	Decriminalised			No
Germany	Since 2017	Home growing and clubs (2024)			No
Czech Republic	Since 2013	Home growing, 3 plants (2026)	Below 1% THC		No

Eight trends to watch in 2026

Medical access is widening. Japan’s 2024 reform for medicines, Nepal’s Gandaki provincial law and the Philippines’ medical cannabis bill all point toward more acceptance in Asia.
Thailand has tightened its rules. Between 2025 and 2026, Thailand moved from open sale to a structured, medical-only system. This shows that relaxed rules can be reversed.
Some places are banning CBD. Hong Kong banned CBD in 2023, after it had been legal. Not every trend points toward looser rules.
CBD rules often change first. In the original article’s view, legal CBD often comes before wider reform. Japan’s CBD market of more than US$200 million and India’s hemp industry are the examples given.
Export-only models are appearing. Sri Lanka licenses export growing with a minimum investment of more than US$5 million. Thailand exports flower grown to GACP and GMP standards. In both models, production goes abroad while home rules stay strict or prohibitive.
Trade routes are forming. The main routes are Thailand to the European Union (GACP and GMP flower), Israel and Canada (medical flower both ways), and Sri Lanka to world markets (Ayurvedic exports). Germany is the main import destination.
The death penalty remains. Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia keep extreme penalties for trafficking. Malaysia made the death penalty discretionary in 2023. China and Vietnam also allow it for large-scale trafficking. Anyone working in these countries must be extremely careful.
ASEAN countries are split. Thailand has a medical framework, the Philippines is moving a bill forward and Laos is exploring hemp. Indonesia, Myanmar and Singapore keep strict prohibition.

Translator’s note: trends 2 and 3 show that rules can tighten quickly. Review every export market and supplier country in your plans every six months. Keep a date on each check, so you notice when a rule you rely on has changed.

Questions and updates

Has a rule changed in your country? Post it below this topic, with the date and a link to the official source, so other growers can check it. Questions about export markets are welcome too.

This article is for information and education only. Cannabis laws change often. Always check the current rules with official government sources in your country before you act. This forum does not give legal advice.

References

Japan: Cannabis Control Act amendment 2024
South Korea: Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) medical cannabis regulations
China: Criminal Law, Article 347; NMPA Inventories of Prohibited Cosmetic Ingredients (May 2021)
Hong Kong: Dangerous Drugs Ordinance amendment 2023
Taiwan: Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act
India: NDPS Act 1985; state hemp cultivation policies
Nepal: Gandaki Province Act to Regulate the Cultivation of Cannabis for Medicinal and Industrial Use, 2026
Sri Lanka: Board of Investment export cultivation licences 2025
Pakistan: Federal Cabinet framework 2020
Israel: Israel Medical Cannabis Agency (IMCA); Israel Police, cannabis fines (gov.il)
Germany: Cannabis Act (CanG) 2024
Czech Republic: State Agency for Medical Cannabis (SAKL); zákon č. 167/1998 Sb., § 5, a trestní zákoník, § 285, ve znění zákona č. 270/2025 Sb.; zákon č. 262/2019 Sb.
General: Cannigma Asia Cannabis Legal Map 2026