Is Hemp Legal in Russia?

Industrial hemp cultivation is legal in Russia under a tightly licensed regime, reflecting the country's Soviet-era history as one of the world's largest hemp producers. Government Resolution No. 460 of 12 July 2007 set the framework for cultivation of low-THC industrial hemp varieties, requiring that approved cultivars contain no more than 0.1 percent THC in the dry mass of leaves and inflorescences — one of the strictest thresholds in the world. Permitted varieties must appear on the State Register of Selection Achievements maintained by the Ministry of Agriculture and trace their lineage to non-narcotic breeding lines such as the yuzhnyi (southern) and surskaya cultivars developed by the Penza Research Institute.

Cultivators must obtain a licence from the MVD and are subject to inspections, THC testing by accredited laboratories, and reporting to Rosselkhoznadzor. Cultivation of unregistered varieties or any plants exceeding the 0.1% threshold falls under Criminal Code Article 231, with penalties of up to 2 years for standard quantities and up to 8 years for large-scale operations. Federal Law No. 3-FZ continues to govern any derivatives containing cannabinoids: hemp seed, fibre, and hurds are unrestricted, but extraction of CBD or other cannabinoids from licensed hemp crops is not authorized for civilian commerce.

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