Sign Up
Ready to replace complexity with clarity?
Answer your real world compliance questions (limited time) and save thousands in legal fees and avoided fines.
Automate Compliance TodayCountry
Cannabis and hemp laws
North Korea
Cannabis illegal for recreational and medical use; CBD illegal, hemp restricted
Adult use
Illegal
Medical
Illegal
Last reviewed
May 29, 2026
North Korea
Cannabinoid status board
No items found.
North Korea
Latest news and analysis
No items found.
No items found.
FAQ
Common questions
Is marijuana legal in North Korea?
Cannabis is illegal in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), although verifiable detail on enforcement is limited because the state restricts independent legal publication and external research.
Is CBD legal in North Korea?
CBD has no separate legal recognition in the DPRK. The narcotics provisions of the Criminal Code address cannabis as a controlled material without distinguishing cannabinoid composition.
Is hemp legal in North Korea?
Industrial hemp occupies an unusual position in the DPRK. Hemp fiber has a long agricultural history on the peninsula, and outside research, including reporting by the Daily NK and academic studies, indicates that hemp cultivation for fiber and seed continues in cooperative farms, particularly in North Hamgyong and Ryanggang provinces.
Can you travel to North Korea with cannabis or CBD?
Cannabis import and export are prohibited. CBD products may not be imported.
This is general information, not legal advice.
Seed Legality
Cannabis is a listed narcotic; 'legal weed' claims are myth. Hemp is grown only under state industrial plans.
Hemp seeds
Restricted
Marijuana seeds
Illegal
Sale
Illegal
Transacting
Illegal
Gifting
Illegal
The DPRK Narcotics Control Law (2005) lists cannabis and cannabis resin as narcotics, and a 2021 anti-drug law allows penalties up to death for manufacturing or smuggling drugs, contradicting persistent internet claims that cannabis is legal. Criminal Code articles on narcotics criminalize cultivation, production and sale, so any private commerce in viable high-THC seeds is prohibited. Industrial hemp is cultivated for fiber and consumer goods, but only within the state-run agricultural system; there is no private seed market or published licensing scheme, so hemp seed access is state-restricted.
Sponsored by![]()
This section is provided for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Seed laws change frequently — verify current law with qualified counsel before making decisions.