Ahead of an expected total ban on the cannabis-derived compound, the cafe that started Hong Kong's CBD boom announces its permanent closure
Hong Kong's brief dalliance with CBD, the cannabis-derived compound that is claimed to alleviate conditions like depression, anxiety, and chronic pain, is over. It's a phenomenon no better illustrated than the short lifespan of Found, the cafe that first popularised its use in the city. The establishment announced today (August 19) in an Instagram post that September 30, 2022 will be its last day of operation, in anticipation of a proposed law by the Hong Kong government that will ban the use of CBD which is expected to pass in the city's legislature.
Originally opened in July 2020, Found was the first CBD cafe and retail store in Hong Kong, offering cannabidiol-infused coffee, tea, chocolates and pastries, alongside oils, tinctures, capsules, body lotions and balms—and even CBD dog treats. The products capitalised on the supposed medical benefits of CBD which, despite inconclusive scientific research, sparked a global and highly lucrative lifestyle movement that was worth an estimated US$12.8 billion in 2021, according to a report compiled by Global Market Insights.
Found naturally became a locus of CBD culture in Hong Kong, supplying those looking for reprieve from the pressures of urban living while educating the CBD-curious at the same time. "The positive reactions from the thousands of visitors to Found, both offline and online, proved to us that the need for a natural health alternative is real and that CBD could help to cope with the stresses of daily life," the cafe said on their Instagram page.
See also: The Best CBD Beauty Products For Every Skin Concern
Hong Kong's move towards a total ban on CBD was first hinted at on June 7 of this year, with the government signalling its aim “to table the relevant legislation within 2022," citing the possibility of CBD to degrade under sunlight or heat into tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound found within marijuana that is currently illegal. In turn, CBD brands have rejected this point, with a representative of Found's parent company, Altum International, telling Bloomberg that its products are tested by four independent laboratories to confirm the absence of THC.
The proposed ban follows in the footsteps of a similar ban on CBD in mainland China last year, while running counter to a regional trend towards deregulation of cannabis—just this June, Thailand legalised the production and consumption of marijuana, while neighbouring Malaysia is currently studying the feasibility of legalising the drug for medical use.
While Found's closure is a precautionary measure against the expected ban, it marks the swan song of an industry which was allowed to operate briefly in an unregulated grey space—although vendors were restricted from marketing the medical benefits of CBD without the required classification of a prescription medicine. In Hong Kong, cannabis is classified as a dangerous substance under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, and possession is punishable by imprisonment for up to seven years and a HK$1 million fine.
Found, Unit A, G/F, 8 Tai On Terrace, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong; +852 5288 2281
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