The ultimate guide to CBD in Hong Kong

CBD stands for cannabidiol, an active ingredient in cannabis derived from the hemp plant. Hemp is often confused with marijuana hence the stigma surrounding CBD. Though coming from the same family, these two plants are very different. "CBD is considered non-intoxicating, so individuals will not get high when consuming it," explains Fiachra Mullen, marketing director of Altum International, a cannabinoid innovation platform that distributes various CBD products for the retail, food, and beverage industry. Hemp plants don't produce enough tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to have an intoxicating effect, unlike its cousin marijuana, so CBD derived from hemp is not psychoactive.

"The benefits of cannabidiol are numerous and vary person to person," says Mullen (Altum). "CBD helps moderate the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is the system responsible for regulating mood, appetite, stress, sleep, motor control, immune function, and more. CBD helps balance some of the imbalances in our ECS. In other words, CBD helps balance the system that balances us," he adds. 

The human body naturally produces its own endocannabinoids to support this system, but just like any other nutrient, it can sometimes cause deficiencies, and that's when CBD comes in for support. "Everyone is familiar with the effects of caffeine on their body," says Mullen. "Unfortunately, the caffeine experience usually ends with an 'energy crash' and sometimes an uncomfortable feeling of agitation if taken in high quantity." He then explains that CBD can help balance some of these adverse effects and even prolong the positive ones. "As it promotes homeostasis in the body, CBD helps even out any increased agitation or nerves from caffeine consumption. It also lessens the suddenness of the 'energy crash', allowing the individual to come gently back down to regular energy levels – usually in time for evening relaxation or before bed," he explains. 

People often take CBD to help with anxiety, pain, depression, and sleep. But, there's a much wider use for it on our skin. CBD helps improve skin hydration and reduce inflammation, which helps treat skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and acne. And because of its antioxidant properties, it helps in managing ageing and dry skin.

CBD is considered non-intoxicating, so individuals will not get high when consuming it. "CBD products generally do not cause side effects, but we do advise that anyone already taking significant medication to consult their physician before adding CBD to their daily routine," explains Mullen. "CBD is unlikely to cause someone to fail a drug test (World Anti-Doping Agency, WADA, have announced that CBD is not a banned substance for professional athletes), but we do recommend that individuals who are required to take drug tests – for work or other reasons – clarify whether CBD is considered a banned substance for their particular situations," he says. 

In Hong Kong, pure cannabidiol (CBD) is legal and is not classified as a dangerous drug provided the company importing and distributing the products are licensed to do so. THC and its derivatives are prohibited in Hong Kong, so CBD products coming from proper channels in the city contain no traces of THC. "Hemp has been used as a wellness tool for thousands of years, and its safety has been validated by numerous scientific studies," explains Melany Dobson, founder of Treaty, a premiere CBD company from the US whose edible products are currently being sold at Joyce Beauty in Hong Kong. "We encourage the person to ask questions and educate themselves about CBD; there is a lot of confusion and misconception, and it helps to be informed!" explains Dobson. "Most drug test companies only test for the THC cannabinoid, which is the psychoactive compound in marijuana plants. You can contact the lab to verify what you will be tested for," she adds.

The type of CBD product you choose should come down to what exactly you need to get out of the product. But before deciding, know that not all CBD are created equal. When reading each product description, look out for the following terms: full spectrum, broad spectrum, and isolate. To make it easier to understand let's compare it to a burger, do you want a regular burger with just meat? Or do you want it with cheese and all the other fillings? The same goes for full spectrum, broad spectrum, and isolate. 

Full spectrum – refers to CBD extracts that contain all naturally occurring compounds found in cannabis plants, including terpenes (what gives marijuana its unique smell), flavonoids, and other cannabinoids. In other words, full spectrum has it all, which includes THC. Sometimes referred to as ‘whole plant CBD’, full spectrum CBD oils or tinctures processed from hemp never exceed 0.3 percent THC so it cannot make a person high. Some skincare products label their ingredients as full spectrum if the whole plant is used for the CBD extraction, but if there are zero traces of THC this falls under the broad spectrum.

Broad spectrum – refers to CBD extracts almost the same in full spectrum CBD, except that THC is removed after the compounds have been extracted from the plant. 

Isolate – refers to CBD extracts that only contain CBD. They don't contain terpenes, flavonoids, or any other cannabinoids.

CBD comes in many forms –  If you're ok with the taste of liquid drops under your tongue, then high-grade oil or tincture products are suitable for your consumption. If you want to skip the vegetal and earthy taste, you can opt for pills, capsules, gummies, and food-infused products like chocolates, cookies, and other treats. 

Topical and digestible CBD products

"For customers who are buying CBD for the first time, we recommend starting with a CBD tincture. It is the classic type of CBD product and one of the most straightforward to use," says Mullen (Altum). "One simply uses the dropper to place some CBD oil under their tongue, leave it there for 30 to 45 seconds (to allow absorption) and then swallow the rest of the oil," he adds. 

"We recommend titrating your dose," Dobson (Treaty) shares. "Start low and go slow. Titration is the process of determining the medicinal dose that reduces symptoms to the greatest possible degree. Titrating requires consistently and slowly increasing the daily dose you take. This practice helps to develop mindfulness and strengthens the relationship one has to our health," she adds.  

For topical applications, products with CBD include serums, lotions, creams, balms, or body wash. Choosing depends on what you expect from the product but always opt for high-quality products from reputable manufacturers. As with any skincare products, avoid harmful ingredients, and opt for ones that are free of pesticides, and heavy metals. 

"For CBD, it is important that it is clean and thoroughly tested," says Georgeson (Saint Jane). "The hemp plant, where CBD is extracted from, is a bio-accumulator – which means that it soaks up all the toxins and other harmful chemicals that are often present in the soil. It's essential to use CBD that has been grown with meticulously clean standards from seed to bottle," she explains. "Saint Jane is a clean beauty brand, that means that all of our products and ingredients are 100 percent free of toxins, harmful ingredients, and pollutants," she explains. "We sustainably source our materials and test our formulas for integrity and efficacy. To ensure the highest quality, we publish all of the third party lab tests with complete transparency." 

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