Hoodia gordonii is highly sought after for its reputation as a natural appetite suppressant. Because hoodia gordonii propagation (natural reproduction of the species) in the wild is threatened and cultivation is so difficult, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) placed all hoodia species, not just hoodia gordonii, on a list known as Appendix II in January of 2005. Appendix II is a list of species which are not currently threatened by extinction, but have the potential to become threatened if trade is not closely controlled. This means that special permits are required to trade or export hoodia gordonii plants or seeds in raw or processed forms.

The governments of Botswana, Namibia and South Africa requested that all 15 species of the hoodia genus be protected, because they were concerned that the other species could be mistaken for hoodia gordonii and harvested for use as an appetite suppressant. None of the other species were traditionally used by indigenous peoples as an appetite suppressant, but those who have only heard that hoodia is an appetite suppressant may believe that this applies to all species. The government