No matter where you live, you have probably heard about CBD oil by now. These products are hitting the market strong – local health stores are promoting the best CBD oil products for the treatment of pain, inflammation, anxiety and even seizures. With the increasing popularity of CBD oil products and the significant amount of research available to support the efficiency of these products in the treatment of many chronic diseases, one particular question is often being raised. People are often concerned about the legality concerning the use of these products that contain CBD extracts.
Marijuana is known to be illegal in many parts of the world, including various regions in the United States. Since CBD oil is extracted from plants that are part of the Cannabis plant species, it causes the question about whether or not CBD oil is legal to be raised. The good news is that CBD oil is legal in many cases. The bad news, however, is that the answer to this question and uncovering the legality of CBD oil is a very complex subject. Let’s dive deeper into this topic to help you understand whether you can legally use CBD oil.
Determining The Legality Of CBD Oil
The world is quickly catching up to the CBD oil craze. Many states have already acknowledged the potential medicinal properties that can be offered by these oils. One recent study has proven that a CBD-based drug, known as Epidiolex, can reduce the frequency and severity of seizures in treated patients by as much as 42%. Many other studies have also proven CBD oil to be effective in treating pain and other conditions. Even the Food and Drug Administration of the United States (FDA) has recognized the potential of CBD oil in the healthcare industry. The Department of Justice has also recently announced that they support the manufacturing and sale of products that contain CBD extracts, according to one study.
Unfortunately, many people are still not entirely clear about how the legality of these products is determined. To understand whether CBD oil is legal, it is important to understand where it came from. CBD is also known as Cannabidiol and is one of the many Cannabinoids that are found in plants that form part of the Cannabis plant species. There are different plants in the Cannabis family of plants, and they all contain Cannabidiol, as well as a series of other Cannabinoids.
Two of the most popular Cannabis plants known to most people in the modern world include:
- Marijuana
- Hemp
Generally, Cannabidiol compounds are considered legal. These compounds have been heavily researched and proven to contain many medicinal properties. They can also be extracted from both Marijuana and Hemp plants.
The legal issues with regards to CBD oil come in when we take a look at other Cannabinoids that are also present in Cannabis plants. In particular, THC, or Tetrahydrocannabinol, is a compound that causes psychoactive effects in the body. This is the compound that people are after when they smoke “weed” to get “high”. Tetrahydrocannabinol is considered illegal in most locations in the world at the moment.
Both Marijuana and Hemp contains Tetrahydrocannabinol. The difference between these two plants, however, is that Marijuana contains a much higher concentration of this psychoactive compound than Hemp plants. Marijuana plants can contain Tetrahydrocannabinol levels that make up as much as 30% of the plant. Hemp plants, however, usually contain a maximum level of 0.3% Tetrahydrocannabinol.
CBD oil products usually contain some Tetrahydrocannabinol and that does not necessarily make it illegal. Most states and parts of the world allow a very small percentage of Tetrahydrocannabinol to be present in CBD oil and will still regard the product as legal. This is because an insignificant level of Tetrahydrocannabinol will not cause a psychoactive effect in the user. The Cannabidiol compounds can also help to reduce the psychoactive potency of the Tetrahydrocannabinol.
To answer the question as to whether or not CBD oil is legal, we have to take one step back. To know if a CBD oil product you are interested in buying is legal, you need to consider some facts:
- The plant that was used to extract the Cannabidiol from.
- The level of Tetrahydrocannabinol that is present in the oil.
- The laws surrounding your local government and the use of CBD products.
Final Verdict – Can You Legally Buy And Use CBD Oil?
Cannabidiol, a particular compound in Cannabis plants that have sparked a lot of attention recently, is now readily available at many health stores and even on the internet. Whether you are experiencing joint pain due to arthritis or you have a child that is suffering from frequent seizures, scientific research studies have confirmed that CBD oil can effectively treat many health conditions without causing the side-effects that are usually associated with pharmaceutical treatment options. The legal status of CBD oil in 2018 is still a somewhat confusing subject. Understanding the difference between CBD oil extracted from different Cannabis plants, as well as laws governing both CBD and THC extracts in your local Jurisdiction, can help you identify the potential legality of CBD oil products in your area.
