Is there legal marijuana in North Korea?
In the country, known as one of the most closed in the world, the plant is not considered a drug, however, it is necessary to know the rules before consuming or trading the herb there
Published on 03/07/2023
By João R. Negromonte
Some time ago, much was said that the use of cannabis - popularly known as marijuana - would be legalized in North Korea, which caused some confusion among plant consumers.
How could such a closed country not criminalize the use of the herb?
The hemp, a subspecies of cannabis with low levels of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), is cultivated throughout North Korea but, as in other parts of the world, the plant is used solely for the production of industrial and medicinal products.
All this confusion started when a blogger traveled to the special economic zone of Rason, a province located in the far north of the country and the only place in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) where foreigners are allowed to visit private markets.
In these places, it is possible to buy loose tobacco to roll cigarettes and one of the available varieties is hemp tobacco, known as "poor man's tobacco," completely incapable of causing any effect.
Therefore, although it is true that hemp is not considered a drug, with no punishment for cultivation, consumption, or trade of the herb, the active ingredient (THC) is not released, and its use and transport are illegal in the Asian country. Thus, foreigners caught with THC-rich marijuana or derivative products are subject to arrest and, obviously, judicial prosecution.
