Russia — Cannabis Strictly Illegal / Legal Hemp & CBD Only
Russia maintains one of the strictest cannabis prohibition regimes in the world. Cannabis in any form is classified as a narcotic, and offences related to possession, use or distribution carry severe criminal penalties. Foreign nationals are not exempt and face the same legal consequences as Russian citizens. There is absolutely no tolerance for cannabis use in Russia.
Within this very restricted legal environment, a small number of wellness and natural product shops in Moscow sell hemp-derived goods that comply with Russian law. These products — primarily hemp seed oil, hemp protein supplements and some botanical wellness items — must contain zero detectable THC under Russian standards. The regulatory definition of lawful hemp products is considerably stricter than in the EU, and the market for even these products is very limited.
Travellers visiting Moscow should be aware that the CBD market familiar from Western Europe does not exist in Russia. Products widely sold as “CBD oil” in the EU are not legally available in Russia in the same form. The shops listed below focus on general hemp wellness and botanical natural products that operate within Russian law.
Arbat — Hemp Wellness
Legal hemp seed and botanical products near the historic Arbat pedestrian street
Chistye Prudy — Natural Health
Natural health and botanical wellness centre near the Chistye Prudy boulevard
Patriarch Ponds — Hemp Products
Hemp product specialist in the upmarket Patriarch Ponds neighbourhood
Zamoskvorechye — Botanical Wellness
Botanical and herbal wellness shop south of the Moskva river in Zamoskvorechye
Cannabis is a Schedule I narcotic in Russia. Possession of even small quantities can result in criminal prosecution, substantial fines and imprisonment. Quantities above negligible amounts are treated as drug trafficking, which carries sentences of up to 20 years in prison. Russian authorities actively enforce drug laws and there is no concept of decriminalisation or prosecutorial discretion for cannabis.
Foreign nationals have been arrested and imprisoned in Russia for cannabis-related offences. The Russian legal system processes drug cases swiftly, and consular assistance from foreign embassies is limited in influence over legal outcomes. Travellers are urged in the strongest possible terms not to bring any cannabis products into Russia, including CBD oils, vape cartridges or edibles from other countries, as these may trigger prosecution under Russian narcotic law.
The information in this guide relates strictly to legally available hemp-derived food and wellness products sold in licensed Russian retail establishments. No cannabis-related activity of any kind is endorsed or implied.
Never carry cannabis or CBD across borders. Check drug test clearance times before flying.
Drug Test After Vacation Guide