Q: I am a United Kingdom resident and will travel to China. I am legally prescribed medical cannabis in the UK by a qualified medical practitioner to relieve nighttime pain and insomnia.

Could you please confirm whether prescribed medical cannabis containing THC, legally dispensed by a UK pharmacy, may be brought into China by an overseas visitor for personal medical use?

If so, what permits or additional documentation must I obtain before traveling?

A: According to General Administration of Customs Order No 43, opium, morphine, heroin, cannabis, and other addictive narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances are prohibited from entering China.

If the product contains prohibited substances, you are advised not to bring or mail it into China. If you have already brought or mailed it, you should declare it to Customs officers at the port of entry.

Under Chinese law, cannabis is classified as an illicit drug and is prohibited from entering China. If Customs suspects that an item you are carrying contains prohibited substances, it will temporarily detain the item and hand it over to the public security authorities for examination to determine whether the item is prohibited or restricted from entering China.

Whether the product qualifies as a health product must also be determined by the health and drug regulatory authorities. If the product is classified as a psychotropic medicine, supporting documents are required to bring limited quantities into China under current regulations. These include a medical diagnosis certificate issued by a medical institution, a doctor's prescription, and proof of identity.

Legal basis: General Administration of Customs Order No 43, concerning the revision and reissuance of the lists of articles prohibited or restricted from entering or leaving China.

Source: Shanghai Customs