Is CBD Legal in Russia?

CBD is effectively illegal in Russia. The country's drug control framework regulates cannabinoids by source rather than by molecule: any substance extracted from Cannabis sativa L. — including cannabidiol — is treated as a derivative of a Schedule I narcotic plant under Federal Law No. 3-FZ of 1998 and Government Resolution No. 681 of 1998. There is no carve-out for non-intoxicating cannabinoids, no THC threshold below which CBD becomes legal, and no registered CBD-based medicines on the Russian pharmaceutical market.

Sale, possession, or import of CBD oils, tinctures, vapes, edibles, and cosmetics containing cannabis-derived CBD can be prosecuted under Criminal Code Article 228 if the product contains any detectable THC, or under Article 238 (sale of goods not meeting safety requirements) and consumer protection statutes if marketed without registration. Roszdravnadzor has issued repeated warnings that CBD products lack medicinal registration and cannot be legally distributed as supplements or medicines. Rospotrebnadzor blocks online retailers selling CBD to Russian addresses. Customs routinely seizes CBD shipments at the border regardless of declared THC content. Travellers carrying CBD oil have been detained at Sheremetyevo and other airports.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Verify current law with qualified counsel before making compliance decisions.