CBD pushes to change classification from hemp to psychotropic drug
Domestic raw material production and drug development possible…Expectation of supply stability
[Seoul = Newsis]
According to the medical community on the 27th, it is necessary to prepare improvement measures for safety management, such as approval of cannabidiol (CBD) ingredient medicines, such as expanding treatment opportunities for patients and establishing a stable supply system for essential medicines.
(Photo = Provided by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety) 2026.10.27.photo@newsis.com*Prohibition of resale and DB
[Seoul = Newsis]Reporter Song Jong-ho and Lee So-heon = Cannabidiol (CBD), which is currently severely restricted in import, manufacturing, and distribution in Korea, is designated as a psychotropic drug, opening the way for developing and producing CBD-based drugs in Korea. It is expected that the supply of medicines, which used to depend on foreign imports, will be stabilized and opportunities for the treatment of patients with rare and incurable diseases will be expanded.
According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the National Assembly on the 28th, a partial amendment to the ‘Act on Narcotic Drug Management’ proposed by People’s Power Representative Kim Hyeong-dong is being reviewed by the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee.
The amendment excludes CBD and other substances from hemp and classifies them as psychotropic drugs, allowing them to manufacture CBD-based drugs in Korea and apply for product approval. It also included the creation of a new hemp grower for pharmaceutical raw materials and a specialized agency for raw material management.
The current Narcotics Control Act defines cannabis, its resins and products manufactured from it as hemp. Even if it is chemically synthesized rather than directly extracted from cannabis, it is classified as hemp if it is the same ingredient as specified by law. Presidential decrees classify tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabinol (CBN), and CBD as hemp.
Import, export, manufacture, and sale of hemp are strictly restricted except when approved by the Minister of Food and Drug Safety for official, academic, and medical purposes. For this reason, there are no cases in Korea where CBD-based medicines have received product approval.
[출처] – 뉴시스
