The ever-increasing popularity of cannabidiol (CBD) comes along with a question; is CBD legal? In this blog, we’ll try to answer this question as well as we can.
Is CBD Legal?
In the United States, CBD is federally legal under the Farm Bill of 2018. But it’s not as simple as that; the bill allows states to determine the legality of CBD on their own. There are a few states that don’t allow residents to use marijuana-based CBD products and then there are a few that don’t allow users to buy and use hemp-based CBD products. Other states allow residents to use both marijuana and hemp–based CBD products if they have a prescription from a healthcare professional. Some states, however, allow residents to use marijuana–based or tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) rich CBD products without a prescription; these states are those that also allow medicinal and recreational use of marijuana. If you decide to use CBD, then be sure to ask a healthcare expert about the legality of CBD in your state as marijuana–related laws are always changing.
Now that we’ve discussed the legality let’s take a look at the definitions of marijuana and hemp-based CBD and other relevant things.
CBD
CBD is the non-psychoactive cannabinoid of the cannabis plant. THC can make you feel high and intoxicate the user, while may CBD relax the user and calm them down. CBD is considered to have several therapeutic properties; that’s why it is becoming a common ingredient in all kinds of health and wellness products. From CBD based bath bombs to CBD based medicine, you can easily find CBD products in the market.
Marijuana-Based CBD
CBD procured from marijuana is marijuana-based CBD. Since marijuana contains higher levels of THC, the CBD products made with this plant may also contain high levels of THC, but this isn’t always true. In any case, marijuana-based CBD isn’t fully legal in several of the US states.
Hemp-Based CBD
CBD procured from the hemp plant is hemp-based CBD. Hemp contains significantly lower concentrations of THC and higher concentrations of CBD. Hemp-based CBD is legal in more states as it may not contain high levels of THC. Most of the hemp derived-CBD products contain less than 0.3% THC.
Types of CBD
There are three main types of CBD:
Isolate CBD
Isolate CBD doesn’t contain any other cannabinoid of the cannabis plant and only contains CBD. This is the most basic type of CBD and can be more processed than the other types since manufacturers have to isolate a single cannabinoid.
Broad Spectrum
Broad spectrum is richer than isolate CBD as it contains 112 out of the total 113 cannabinoids of the cannabis plant. THC is the only cannabinoid it doesn’t include, so it’s best for those who don’t want to consume any THC but still want to have a more enhanced experience.
Full Spectrum
Full spectrum CBD is the richest type of CBD as it contains all the 113 cannabinoids of the cannabis plant. Together, the cannabinoids and components create the entourage effect and provide a more enhanced experience to the user. Usually, the concentration of THC in full spectrum CBD is less than 0.3%, which isn’t enough to intoxicate the user but is enough to improve the effects of CBD.
CBD Products
There are many different types of CBD legal products, including:
CBD Oil
CBD oil is the most popular CBD product as it is very easy to use and provides unmatched flexibility. You can apply it on your skin, add it to your food, consume it directly or smoke it using vapes.
CBD Edibles
CBD edibles are another popular CBD product. You consume these edibles to experience the benefits. Edibles are a highly effective CBD delivery method but can take a bit longer to kick in, so be sure to wait a few minutes before consuming more.
CBD Topicals
There is a large variety of CBD topicals for you to use, including CBD balms, creams, shampoos, arnica CBD salve, etc. You use these topicals just like their non-CBD counterparts but experience the added benefits of CBD. Topicals are most effective for dealing with pain issues.
CBD Vapes
Vapes are the most effective CBD delivery method; however, it may not be entirely safe as health experts linked them with a severe lung injury outbreak.
Benefits of CBD
CBD is considered to provide a ton of health benefits, including:
- Pain relief: According to research, CBD effectively relieves several kinds of pain like MS, arthritis, chronic, injury and muscle.
- Anxiety relief: According to research, CBD effectively relieves anxiety by altering the way our receptors react to serotonin.
- Inflammation reduction: According to research, CBD may effectively reduce inflammation.
- Seizure reduction: According to research, CBD may effectively reduce the frequency of epileptic seizures when combined with a traditional epilepsy treatment.
- Neuroprotection: According to research, CBD may effectively provide neuroprotection and protect against neurodegenerative diseases.
- Acne prevention: According to research, CBD may effectively prevent acne by interacting with the sebaceous glands and altering sebum production.
- Health heart support: According to research, CBD may effectively regulate blood pressure and support heart health.
Side Effects of CBD
The best part about CBD is that it doesn’t have any major side effects and a risk of addiction. So if you use high–quality CBD products, then you may not experience any side effects. In some cases, however, you can experience a few side effects. These side effects usually occur if you consume higher doses of CBD or have a sensitivity to the CBD product you are using. For instance, if you are sensitive to oils and consume CBD oil, then you may experience a few side effects, which may include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Changes in weight and appetite
- Drowsiness
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
Takeaway
The laws regarding natural CBD and other marijuana–related products are always changing, so you must always check with an expert to avoid any trouble down the road. Also, be sure to consult with a healthcare expert before buying a CBD product to make sure it is safe for you. Always check if a CBD product has a Certificate of Analysis (COA) from an independent lab. This way, you can make sure that you are not using any harmful product. So, is CBD legal? Yes.