Where Does Marijuana in China Come From?

Chinese law enforcement officials have reported negative foreign influence as a factor in the rising use of marijuana in the country. According to the South China Morning Post, authorities link the increase in drug use to the growing number of Chinese citizens traveling abroad for tourism or education. But is marijuana really a new addiction among Chinese people, and is the West to blame?

Police in Chengdu recently raided a student’s apartment and seized marijuana plants. The Nanjing National Prosecutor’s Office reported that since 2017, there have been 10 cases of drug smuggling in Jiangsu Province, 7 of which involved marijuana. In one detailed case, three young people were caught trying to buy marijuana from another student, who had used international mail to obtain both the drug and cannabis-infused edibles. Police found marijuana at customs in Hangzhou (Zhejiang Province) and arrested the recipient.

These young people started using marijuana while studying abroad. After returning to China, they couldn’t quit and bought 9 kg of marijuana from foreign dealers over 18 months. Prosecutors say most smuggling cases are similar: deals and payments happen online, and the drugs are shipped from other countries. Some young Chinese even smuggle marijuana seeds and grow their own plants. In January, postal workers in Chengdu (Sichuan Province) found 460 grams of marijuana in a package from Los Angeles. Police later discovered six marijuana plants being grown by the recipient, a student who had lived in Canada and developed a habit there. He told China National Radio that he decided to grow marijuana at home for personal use after returning to China.

The China National Narcotics Control Commission released statistics showing that in 2018, over 24,000 people abused marijuana—a 25% increase from 2017. The commission noted that the rise is mainly among Chinese returning from Western countries, people in the entertainment industry, and foreigners living in China. The report openly criticizes the legalization of medical marijuana in some U.S. states and in Canada.

“There is a clear surge in marijuana smuggling from North America, which creates a new challenge for drug control in China,” the commission stated.

Strict Marijuana Laws in China

China has extremely strict drug laws. Smuggling, selling, transporting, or producing marijuana in large quantities (over 5 kg of hash oil, 10 kg of hashish, or 150 kg of cannabis leaves or joints) is punishable by 15 years to life in prison, or even the death penalty, along with property confiscation. For smaller but still significant amounts (1–5 kg of hash oil, 2–10 kg of hashish, or 30–150 kg of cannabis), the penalty is over 7 years in prison and a fine. Even small amounts can result in up to 3 years in prison.

According to Chinese criminal law, illegal marijuana cultivation is punishable by imprisonment or a fine if the number of plants is significant (500 to 3,000 plants). If someone grows fewer than 500 plants but destroys them voluntarily when asked by police, they may avoid punishment.

Official statements consistently emphasize: “There are no drugs in China; all this comes from the West, and we are very strict about it.” But is this really the case?

Is Marijuana a New Phenomenon in China?

In reality, cannabis has been known in China for thousands of years. It was valued for its fiber and used in rituals, medicine, and even as food. One of the earliest references to cannabis is found in the classic pharmacological text “Shennong’s Herbal Classic” (神农本草经, shénnóng běncǎojīng), attributed to the legendary Emperor Shennong (3rd millennium BC). The earliest written record of medical marijuana use dates to the 3rd century AD, when the famous physician Hua Tuo used cannabis to create an anesthetic called máfèisǎn (麻沸散), usually dissolved in wine.

Although marijuana was often recommended for memory loss and mental disorders, scientists still debate which properties made it useful as a medicine. Cannabis contains both the psychoactive compound THC and non-psychoactive CBD, which may have anti-inflammatory effects. The levels of these compounds depend on the plant variety.

Marijuana was also widely used in Daoist rituals. The “School of Highest Clarity” (上清派, Shàngqīngpài), a major Daoist sect from the 4th century, included writings by Tao Hongjing about the “magical properties” of cannabis. He wrote:

“Marijuana seeds are not often used in medicine, but magicians say that if you eat them with ginseng, you gain supernatural knowledge of the future.”

However, the main value of marijuana in China was its use for making strong ropes, fabric, and even paper. The varieties used for textiles have very low THC, so farmers mostly grew “non-narcotic” cannabis. The Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in northwest China is an exception, where high-THC varieties have long been grown and used to make hashish, a practice influenced by recipes from the Middle East via the Silk Road. Xinjiang borders Afghanistan, the world’s largest hashish producer.

In 1985, China signed the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, declared cannabis a dangerous drug, and imposed harsh penalties for its production, use, and distribution. Under the Chinese Criminal Code, possession of 150 kg of raw cannabis leaves, 5 kg of processed cannabis, or 10 kg of hashish could result in the death penalty.

Despite strict laws, farmers actively grow low-THC “hemp.” The government legalized “non-narcotic” cannabis cultivation in 2003. Yunnan Province became the main center, with legal cultivation also in Heilongjiang Province near the Russian border.

China’s “Green Gold”

There are no official figures on how much marijuana China grows annually, but the country is estimated to produce over half of the world’s industrial hemp, despite the death penalty for illegal cannabis sales. Legal cannabis trade requires a special government license. Farmers sell hemp to textile factories, pharmaceutical, and food companies. The government closely monitors cultivation with cameras, inspections, and plant sampling.

Hemp has become “green gold” for Chinese farmers: one hectare can earn 10,000 yuan (about $1,500), with little need for pesticides. The government funds research into military uses of hemp, such as for treating soldiers and making uniforms. Hemp fabric is hypoallergenic and naturally antiseptic. In 2018, Russian industrial hemp producer Maxim Uvarov revealed cooperation with China’s Ministry of Defense, saying the military plans to replace 100% cotton uniforms with a cotton-hemp blend.

China is the world’s largest hemp producer, but demand still exceeds supply, leading to imports. China plans to increase hemp cultivation tenfold by 2020 and has developed hybrid varieties suited for cold northern provinces and arid Inner Mongolia. Cannabis is also used in the food and medical industries. Of the 600+ global cannabis-related patents, over half belong to China. Chinese inventors hold patents for “immunity-boosting foods” made with hemp seeds, peptic ulcer remedies, and laxatives. There’s even a relaxing drink called SUTIWA (萨缇瓦, sàtíwǎ) made from hemp seeds available online.

Is Marijuana in China Imported or Homegrown?

Paradoxically, despite strict drug laws, it’s relatively easy to buy hashish or marijuana in China, especially from Uyghur dealers in big cities. In Shanghai, the pedestrian Nanjing Road is known as a place to buy hashish from Xinjiang natives. Some say you just need to visit a massage parlor or kebab shop and ask. The same goes for Sanlitun Bar Street in Beijing. Yunnan is now China’s main “canna-province,” where locals sell marijuana, hash oil, seeds, and even cook with cannabis. In this province, it’s definitely “homegrown.”

In 2014, the Ministry of Public Security reported many unregistered marijuana plantations, especially in Jilin Province and Inner Mongolia. However, the THC content of these plants was not disclosed. Police reports also mention online and international mail purchases, with some Chinese buying marijuana via Telegram messenger. International mail is a clear route for foreign drugs entering China, and police confirm that some marijuana does come from abroad.

China is more open now, with more people traveling abroad for tourism and education. The U.S., UK, and Canada are top destinations, and these countries have very different drug laws—marijuana is legal in some U.S. states, the UK, and all of Canada. It’s not surprising that young Chinese might be tempted to try it. However, there’s no public data on how many Chinese try drugs abroad or continue using marijuana in China, or whether they buy from Uyghur or foreign dealers.

There’s also no clear data on how much marijuana is imported versus illegally produced in China. Still, blaming the West seems to contradict the fact that China is already a “cannabis leader,” with some regions notorious for hashish use and production.

Is Marijuana Really a Problem for China?

Is marijuana really a “new threat” to China, as law enforcement claims? Unlikely. The country faces bigger problems with more dangerous drugs, but these are discussed less often. Parents of students going abroad may fear the image of an American student smoking a joint between classes, a fear fueled by government rhetoric about Western dangers. Add to this the tense relations with the U.S. and Canada, and you have fertile ground for anti-Western propaganda.

Meanwhile, a “marijuana fashion cult” inspired by the West is thriving in China: young people wear clothes and accessories with cannabis prints, and stores use themed signs for decoration. In Qingdao (Shandong Province), one store features stickers of a bulldog on an American flag, SEGA logos, a “Fight Club” poster, neon marijuana signs referencing “4:20,” a Texas cactus, and the Statue of Liberty.

However, many Chinese don’t even know what cannabis looks like, but still wear such clothing because it’s “Western” and therefore “cool and stylish.” In Shanghai, a girl wearing a T-shirt with a marijuana jar and the words “Enjoy Weed” admitted she knew the meaning but had never tried it: “It looks cool, stylish, that’s all.”

Li Shibo, a 36-year-old Shanghai startup employee, said, “I don’t know what it means. I’ve seen it on young people. I don’t pay attention to that. Maybe it means something to those who wear it.”

Many wear such clothes simply because they look “Western.” In 2018, Chinese soccer player Zeng Cheng wore marijuana-themed socks during a friendly match between China and Syria, resulting in fines for several club staff for damaging the sports brand. Still, the socks were stylish and came in many colors.

Returning to the data from the National Narcotics Control Commission: “In 2018, over 24,000 people abused marijuana, a 25% increase from 2017.” But with a population of 1.3 billion, that’s just 0.002%. Are these numbers really “threatening”? It seems Beijing has marijuana use well under control.

Yes, the 24,000 users know what marijuana looks like and probably won’t wear weed-themed socks or shirts—law enforcement is vigilant and might even call for drug tests. For most Chinese, marijuana is just a mysterious but interesting element of distant Western culture.

Moreover, the Chinese learned the dangers of drugs during the 19th-century Opium Wars. Many still associate all drugs, including marijuana, with opium. Every Chinese person remembers from history class that the “century of humiliation” began with drugs. It’s unlikely anyone wants to repeat that experience.