Products containing cannabidiol oil, an essential part of marijuana, can be found on China’s three major e-commerce marketplaces, even though consumption of marijuana is illegal in the country.
Search results for cannabidiol oil, commonly known as CBD oil, on Alibaba Group’s Taobao, JD.com and Pinduoduo show multiple sellers offering “US-imported” or “authentic imported” cannabidiol oil, claiming their products can help with sleeping, depression, inflammation and even bone growth and cancer-fighting, reported Caixin.
Unlike the US, where the recreational use of cannabis is legal in many states, China strictly bans the use and sale of cannabis, even calling the legalization of marijuana in Canada and parts of the US a “new threat to China,” sparking a spike in the amount of drugs smuggled into the country.
Some sellers on the e-commerce platforms know they are operating in a gray area and try to avoid problems by posting disclaimers. One seller on JD.com says in the product description that the cannabis oil is brought into China through overseas channels. Once buyers confirm their orders, no claims can be made regarding labels, origin or inspection reports, or on the ground that foreign products do not comply with China’s laws and regulations, the seller says..
