Philippines
Is CBD Legal in Philippines?
Status
Illegal
Covers
Jurisdiction
Last updated
May 29, 2026
The short answer
CBD in the Philippines is illegal for general use and classified alongside cannabis under Republic Act No. 9165. The Food and Drug Administration of the Philippines (FDA-PH) has issued repeated advisories — including FDA Advisory No. 2019-401 — warning consumers that CBD products are unregistered and unauthorised. Online sale, importation, or possession of CBD oils, gummies, and tinctures can trigger prosecution as a dangerous drug offense.
A narrow compassionate-use pathway exists for pharmaceutical-grade cannabidiol such as Epidiolex, accessible through the FDA-PH Compassionate Special Permit programme for patients with refractory epilepsy. Approvals are issued case-by-case to a registered physician and require demonstrated medical necessity. Senate Bill 230 and earlier House Bill 6517 sought to broaden medical cannabis access, but neither has been enacted as of 2026.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Verify current law with qualified counsel before making compliance decisions.
Key facts ·
Philippines
Key facts
Rules at a glance
THC limit
0% — only Compassionate Special Permit access
Regulator
Food and Drug Administration of the Philippines (FDA-PH); PDEA
Key regulation
Republic Act No. 9165; FDA-PH Advisory 2019-401
Effective
June 7, 2002
Adult-use cannabis
Illegal
Medical cannabis
Illegal
For brands and importers
Import and export rules
Consumer CBD imports are prohibited. Only pharmaceutical-grade cannabidiol may enter under an FDA-PH Compassionate Special Permit issued to a licensed physician for an individual patient.
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