CBD has gone from a niche product to one of the most popular compounds in the wellness space. Even with its growing popularity and visibility, many people still don’t know much about CBD or how it works. The complicated legal situation surrounding cannabis products has also made it difficult to understand what types of CBD are allowed in the United States. In many cases, the state you live in can have a significant impact on what cannabis products you’re able to purchase. If you want to learn more, keep reading for a guide to CBD legalities in the United States.
Is CBD legal in the United States?
Before getting into the current legal situation, it’s important to keep in mind that the laws surrounding cannabis use have evolved significantly in recent years. Given how quickly the legal situation surrounding cannabis products can change, it’s a good idea to keep up with the latest news in the CBD industry. Finding trustworthy websites can be difficult due to the amount of misinformation available online, but CBDNerds is a great resource if you’re looking for CBD news, updates, and reviews of all the top products on the market. It’s staffed by a passionate team of CBD enthusiasts who care about providing reliable information.
Within the U.S., hemp-derived CBD was legalized on a federal level through the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill. The bill’s provisions were focused on allowing the manufacture and sale of hemp and hemp byproducts, including CBD. However, the 2018 Farm Bill doesn’t make all forms of CBD legal in the United States. The legal status conferred by the bill does not extend to many types of CBD, like CBD derived from marijuana and certain types of lab-created CBD.
All CBD oils that contain more than 0.3 percent of THC remain illegal or restricted in many parts of the country. In some states, this type of CBD oil is available only through a medical cannabis program. Just because hemp-derived CBD is legal on a federal level, it doesn’t mean that states aren’t able to restrict which types of products can be purchased, so check the local laws in your area. In Utah, for example, certain types of CBD edibles are banned, even though CBD itself remains legal, while other states require that CBD products sold are FDA-approved.
What exactly is CBD and how does it work?
CBD is short for cannabidiol, which is one of the cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. Consumers rave about its subtle and relaxing effects, and research is underway to determine what applications CBD may have. Progress is already being made in the area. In 2018, the FDA approved its first drug containing cannabidiol as an active ingredient. The drug, Epidiolex, was designed to treat seizures associated with two rare forms of epilepsy. Many advocates and activists are hopeful that both recreational and medical CBD usage will increase in the coming years.
If you’ve never tried cannabis products like CBD, you should consult your doctor before using them for the first time. Your doctor can tell you more about how cannabis products like CBD are likely to affect any health conditions you have or interact with medications you’re currently taking. Your doctor may even be able to provide advice on product selection and dosage.
There’s still a lot left to learn about CBD, but the cannabis compound shows a lot of promise. The hemp-derived versions of CBD remain legal on a federal level and broadly accessible in the United States. Certain states have additional restrictions, like bans on edibles or a limit on the amount of THC that CBD products can contain. It’s important to check your local laws before making a CBD purchase or bringing CBD you purchased elsewhere back to your home state.
