Overview
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There have been many changes and improvements in the United States when it comes to the legalization of certain products. Marijuana was first legalized, and nowadays, the most frequently asked question is, “Is CBD now legal in all fifty states?” To set the record straight, CBD oil is legal; however, its legalization has sparked up a few controversies due to a lack of information about what CBD is and how it works. CBD, unlike THC, is not psychoactive and is not addictive as well. As a matter of fact, CBD is being used by those people who have the goal of recovering from addiction. Fortunately, with the emerging studies and scientific discoveries about the incredible health benefits and therapeutic effects of CBD, the stigma surrounding it has been slowly fading over time.
In the United States, the use of medical marijuana is legal in 33 states and recreational marijuana in 10 states. In 2018 the United States Congress passed the amended farm bill, which is also known as the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018. This has pushed the legalization of CBD in all 50 states, as long as THC levels will not exceed 0.3%.
What is CBD oil?
CBD or cannabidiol is one of the major cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. CBD oil can be derived from the hemp plant or marijuana plant, and the source plant typically determined the amount of CBD and THC the product may contain. Hemp plant or industrial plant is the cannabis plant that contains less than 0.3% THC. According to the federal government, this type of source plant has been legalized throughout all fifty states; however, each state will apply its restriction. It is important to note that any cannabis plant producing a product with a THC level of more than 0.3% will not be legal in all fifty states.
Read more about CBD oil and its benefits.
The legality of CBD products
Approximately every five years, the Congress makes it a point to pass a new Farm Bill that makes amendments to the laws and regulations on food and agriculture, and many more. The most recent Farm Bill in 2018 has paved the way for the hemp and CBD industry to flourish, as we are aware of nowadays. It is not a secret that more states are making efforts to legalize marijuana and reduce restrictions around hemp and cannabis. For now, CBD oil is definitely legal in all of the United States.
There is no longer any state that is outrightly banning the use of CBD; that is why you are now noticing that there is an increasing number of high CBD strains of marijuana that are available. However, those types of products should not be considered hemp since they contain over or more than 0.3% THC. Also, these products are only available in states that have legalized medicinal and recreational cannabis use.
The legalization of CBD in the United States is categorized into two, those that are legal and conditionally legal.
The legal status of cannabis-derived products
As mentioned above, the United States has two categories when it comes to the legalization of CBS. The legal states honor the changes in the 2018 Farm Bill in a complete way, and basically, in these legal states, you are given the freedom to purchase, process, and utilize hemp-derived products such as CBD oils and CBD edibles. The conditionally-legal states allow their citizens to buy hemp-derived products; however, there are conditions and limitations. In these kinds of states, you might usually need any additional requirements such as medical cards and prescriptions to be able to buy CBD products. Generally, in conditionally legal states, you might feel that purchasing hemp-derived products can be more difficult.
Legal states
Legal states include Alaska, Colorado, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, The District of Columbia, Vermont, and Washington.
Conditionally-legal states
Conditionally-legal states include Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
The all-new Farm Bill
The Farm Bill that was passed last 2014 started the research efforts about hemp and other similar products. This research program was made to authorize schools and universities to include hemp in their variables and grow them under certain conditions. However, with the new 2018 Farm Bill, the growing and studying of CBD and hemp were further changed and developed.
Upon signing the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp was then erased from the controlled substance list, and some restrictions on hemp were lifted. The new Farm Bill was officially known as the “Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018” and has dramatically helped many Americans, most especially agriculturists and farmers.
We all know how hemp can look very similar for us, but indeed they are very different. These similarities even kept hemp from being restricted for an extended period of time. We all know that hemp has been a vital tool during the olden times. That is why many people are grateful that hemp has found its way to be used today, and a more significant population has opened their hearts and minds to the many benefits and good effects that hemp can offer. Many places and countries have also been slowly working and welcoming the idea of medical marijuana use. Unlike CBD, marijuana is still not legal in all 50 states. The new Farm Bill will be of great help for farmers, scientists, researchers, and patients who are in need of the therapeutic effects that CBD can bring.
Hemp Farming Act of 2018
The Hemp Farming Act of 2018 is the outcome of the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 that removed hemp and cannabis with less than 0.3% THC from the list of Schedule I controlled substances. The Hemp Farming Act of 2018 was responsible for making CBD, with THC levels of less than 0.3% legal in 50 states.
Nowadays, CBD can be easily purchased in the United States since CBD and hemp oil has been legalized in all 5o states. Aside from dispensaries, you can also buy CBD oils online and in some health and drug stores. In 2018, when the bill was passed, there was a surge in the consumer sales of CBD products in the whole United States. This was possible since CBD was very accessible, and buying CBD products would not need any additional requirements, such as a medical prescription or a medical card.
The future of CBD in the United States
As stated above, CBD is now legally available in all 50 states of America, however, with limitations and conditions for some. CBD products are now accessible for most citizens, and some might still need medical cards to be able to buy one. There are even options to get your CBD products in the most discrete way possible, and you can have them delivered to your homes in inconspicuous packaging.
Moving forward, we can see that the acceptance and the full legalization of cannabis products are not impossible in the United States. Most especially now that more studies are proving the incredible health benefits and therapeutic effects cannabis products can provide. They have been known to be effective in relieving pain, help in stress and anxiety, women in the postpartum period, and generally help you achieve better overall well-being and improve your way of life.
Because of its proven safety and effectiveness, the landscape on CBD legality has also been continually changing for the better. We just hope that these very helpful and beneficial cannabis products will continue to be used accordingly without being abused.
CBD Laws globally
CBD oil or other products have been deemed to be legal in other parts of the world as long it contains virtually no THC, similar to the United States. However, its legality has also been based on where or what material the product is derived from and is usually dependent on the THC content in the product. Generally, you will not be allowed to carry any cannabis product from one place or country to another.
Laws have been continuously changing, and improvements and amendments have been made; that is why it is crucial that you keep updated regarding the current CBD laws in your country. However, it is unfortunate that numerous countries in the world have no plans to legalize the use of any cannabis products, even CBD products alone. However, there is an excellent possibility that these countries will eventually realize the medicinal and therapeutic use of cannabis products and will ultimately consider legalization in the upcoming years.
Most of the restrictions done regarding CBD use are not based on science and the published journals and research on CBD. They are, instead, based on the agreements of the United Nations Drug Control agreements that cannabis products must be considered illicit substances, which many countries made an agreement to enforce.
Legal CBD dispensaries
The popularity and usage of CBD have grown rapidly over the years. This expansion has opened an opportunity for many people to venture into this business and capitalize on the trend. CBD gaining popularity over time has resulted in tons of excellent products being created and made, such as capsules, edibles, topicals, and many more. These kinds of CBD products can be purchased online in all 50 states, and in legal states, they can be easily found in dispensaries, health stores, retail stores, and any licensed or authorized stores. CBD is indeed accessible in the states, making it easy for those who need it.
You can also find CBD oils in dispensaries located in areas that allow medical and recreational cannabis use. However, if you desire only to use CBD, you should always pay attention that you are only getting products without a high THC level. THC can cause intoxication and might show up in a drug test. You might want to choose CBD isolatesinstead of the full spectrum or broad-spectrum ones to avoid getting other cannabinoids in your system. Checking the third-party laboratory results will also help you determine and choose which CBD product you should be getting. Generally, you can always buy CBD products in every dispensary or store since more stores are now selling CBD products after it has been legalized in all the 50 states.
However, state laws can differ significantly.
- Hemp-Derived CBD: In all 50 states and Washington D.C., hemp-derived CBD products with up to 0.3% THC are legal. However, in Idaho, only CBD products with 0% THC are allowed. This essentially limits the products to CBD isolate or broad-spectrum CBD without any THC traces.
- Marijuana-Derived CBD: The legal status of marijuana-derived CBD, which typically contains more than 0.3% THC, varies significantly across states.
- In 22 states and Washington D.C., marijuana-derived CBD is legal for recreational use. This includes states like California, Colorado, Illinois, New York, and Washington.
- Several other states allow marijuana-derived CBD for medical use, often requiring a medical marijuana card. These states have specific stipulations for the THC content of CBD products and the conditions for which they can be used.
- In a few states, such as Idaho, Indiana, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, marijuana-derived CBD is illegal for all purposes.
- State-Specific Regulations: Some states have unique laws regarding CBD:
- In Tennessee and Alabama, CBD products are legal only if they meet specific THC levels (below 0.6% in Tennessee and 0.3% in Alabama).
- In Kentucky, only hemp-derived CBD oil is legal.
- South Carolina allows CBD oil with no more than 0.9% THC but only for qualifying epilepsy conditions.
- Conditional Legality: In many states, the legality of CBD is conditional, often depending on the THC content and the intended use (medical vs. recreational).
- Purchasing and Usage: Before purchasing or using CBD products, it’s crucial to understand your state’s laws, as they can significantly impact the types of products legally available to you. Some states have more liberal laws, while others maintain strict regulations.
Final thoughts
CBD oil and CBD products have indeed been declared legal in all fifty states, given that those products are derived from hemp with a THC level of no more than 0.3%. Despite the legalization, there will still be some considerations and limitations for some states. These rules and regulations are also constantly changing; that is why it is vital that you stay updated. Remember, to avoid trouble, and it would be best if you will not be transporting CBD or any cannabis products from one place to another as the rules and regulations of each area may vary.
Indeed, before consuming anything or purchasing some new product. You must have the proper education and have gained enough knowledge regarding the product and the rules that might be applicable around it. Of course, you would like to choose something that will surely do you right and not the other way around when it comes to supplements. Also, make sure that you are not crossing any line or breaking any law when using or purchasing a compound. It is excellent to be sure and confident that you are entirely within the law while achieving an utterly peaceful state of mind and a more relaxed and healthier body.
We hope that this article has dramatically helped you and gave you the information you needed to become confident about CBD oil and other products’ legality.
