Is Hemp Legal in Philippines?
May 29, 2026
Hemp is illegal in the Philippines under RA 9165. No legal distinction is made between hemp and marijuana; industrial cultivation is prohibited.
Hemp is illegal in the Philippines under RA 9165. No legal distinction is made between hemp and marijuana; industrial cultivation is prohibited.
Hemp is illegal in the Philippines and is not legally distinguished from marijuana under Republic Act No. 9165. All Cannabis sativa varieties, regardless of THC content, fall within the statutory definition of "dangerous drug" administered by the Dangerous Drugs Board. There is no licensed industrial hemp programme, and cultivation of fibre or seed varieties carries the same penalties as recreational cannabis cultivation — twelve years and one day to life imprisonment.
Hemp-derived consumer products, including textiles and hempseed food, are imported under tight customs scrutiny. Hemp seed for human consumption has been seized at ports as a regulated substance, and Bureau of Customs guidance treats hemp seed oil as a controlled product unless explicitly cleared by FDA-PH. There is no domestic hemp licensing framework, and no pending legislation has separated hemp from marijuana classification.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Verify current law with qualified counsel before making compliance decisions.
Illegal
Dangerous Drugs Board; FDA-PH
No legal hemp threshold — all cannabis treated as dangerous drug
Republic Act No. 9165
Import and export of hemp and hemp-derived products is prohibited under RA 9165 unless specifically cleared by FDA-PH and the Bureau of Customs. Hemp seed shipments have been seized at ports.
