No; licorice is made from extract from the roots of the licorice plant, sugar, and a binding agent such as gelatin.

The licorice plant is a legume (related to beans and peas) that is native to southern Europe and parts of Asia.

Licorice extract is produced by boiling licorice root and subsequently evaporating most of the water.

Well sort of yes. Black licorice contains natural licorice root, but the dominant flavouring is usually aniseed. Red licorice is simply made like black licorice but usually has a strawberry flavour.

it can be in large quantities, especially if the licorice is from Europe and direct extract from licorice root. It can cause lethal heart rhythms related to the sodium/potassium shift it causes

Define harmful, most candy companies use natural ingredients to sweeten their black licorice. Red Vines Black Licorice Twist for example uses Molasses, Corn Syrup, Licorice Extract, and Anise Flavor their black licorice. These are natural ingredients and only harmful in excess and that is true of most candies.