Where CBD is Legal

You may be surprised to learn that cannabidiol, also commonly known as CBD, is actually legal in many areas throughout the world. 

As it continues to grow in popularity, more and more countries are legalizing the once-illegal substance, especially due to its many benefits, which include reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression, as well as offering pain relief and even helping protect against certain neurological conditions. 

If you want to know where CBD is legal, keep reading. We offer an extensive guide on what it is, where CBD is legal, and how you can purchase it.

What is CBD? 

As briefly mentioned above, CBD is a common abbreviation for cannabidiol. Cannabidiol is one of the main ingredients found in marijuana, along with tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. 

Tetrahydrocannabinol is the chemical compound in marijuana that generates a “high.” Oftentimes, when it comes to a high, users describe the feeling as euphoric and experiencing a heightened state of joy and relaxation. 

While cannabidiol also triggers receptors that release neurotransmitters that affect your mood, level of pain, and memory, they do not trigger a high like THC. It’s because of this that more and more places are legalizing CBD, as its properties are intrinsically linked to overall feelings of physical well-being.

Benefits of CBD Products

Because CBD products are designed to offer pain and overall symptom relief, they can help with many different ailments and conditions, including but not limited to:

For example, let’s say that you are suffering from chronic pain or nerve damage that makes it difficult to fall and stay asleep. The use of CBD-infused products may be able to offer relief that minimizes your symptoms to the point where you can finally rest. 

CBD products come in all shapes and sizes, too. You can purchase CBD in the form of oil, vape pens, gummies, and lotions. 

Now that we’ve gone over CBD products in depth, let’s take a look at where CBD is legal.

Countries Where CBD is Legal

Legal In United States

Let’s start with the United States. Though CBD has been legal in several states throughout the U.S., it has been increasingly legalized in recent years. 

As of publication, there are 17 out of 50 U.S. states that have fully legalized CBD. These U.S. states include:

Washington D.C. has also fully legalized CBD. However, Washington D.C. is technically a district, not a state. Fully legal refers to there being no restrictions on CBD products. 

However, there are restrictions on CBD use in the remaining 33 states. For example, CBD oil is only legal in Hawaii if it is derived from hemp plants, not marijuana. This is because the growing and cultivation of marijuana plants is largely illegal in most areas throughout the United States. As such, CBD that’s extracted from a marijuana plant is usually against the law. 

Likewise, Iowa grants CBD use as long as there is less than 0.3% of THC in the product.

Countries Where CBD is Legal

The rest of the world isn’t too dissimilar to the United States. In fact, many countries also have conditions for CBD use. Here’s a list of the countries in which CBD is legal, with and without restrictions:

Though these countries do allow some form of CBD, the emphasis should be on the word, “form.” Many countries on this list have restrictions on CBD use. For example, in Australia, CBD is considered to be a controlled substance. As such, it can not legally be purchased without a prescription. The same applies to Brazil, which has approved hemp-based CBD oil for chronic pain, epilepsy, and Parkinson’s disease. 

In Japan, CBD products must be completely free of THC. Users in Spain, for example, must have products with less than 0.2% of THC and only be used externally. In other words, you would not be legally allowed to consume CBD via vape pen in Spain. Denmark, Finland, and Belgium require a prescription for CBD use. In Romania, CBD is only available for medical use, not recreational.

In fact, the majority of these countries prohibit recreational CBD use. The exception is Iceland, which has no legal regulation on CBD, and Malta, which legalizes it for personal use. CBD is illegal in China, Russia, Korea, and the majority of the Middle East. 

In fact, Asia has some of the harshest and strictest laws regarding CBD use in the world. The exception to this is South Korea, which was actually the first country in Asia to make medical cannabis use legal.

Is CBD Legal Where You Live? 

This list can help you know where CBD is legal, but maybe you want further information regarding usage, laws, and regulations. If so, how can you find out if CBD is legal where you live? The easiest way to find this information is to type the question into your search engine, like Google. Type in “Is CBD legal in [state or country’s name]. It’s that easy! You should have accurate results in a matter of seconds 

Your other option would be to visit your state or country’s official government website. These websites should have an overview of the laws and regulations regarding CBD use. Remember, it’s always better to err on the side of caution and find out where CBD is legal before you go ahead and buy or use it.

Where to Legally Buy CBD

In areas in which it is legal to consume CBD products, your best bet is to visit a local dispensary. A dispensary is a brick-and-mortar store that sells CBD-infused products. Since CBD is designated for physical relief, products sold at a dispensary will not contain more than 0.03% of THC. 

Though less popular, you may also be able to buy CBD-infused products at your local retailer. There are also many websites dedicated to the sale of CBD products. These establishments are available in both the United States and Europe. 

In countries, like Australia, where you need a prescription, you can obtain CBD products such as gummies, from your local pharmacy. This applies to the United States and other countries, too.

Can You Bring CBD Internationally/To Another Country?

The answer to this question is that it depends. For example, if you’re traveling to another country that does allow CBD, you’ll want to make sure it has less than 0.02% of THC. This is the standard for CBD products in Europe. In the United States, CBD products must have less than 0.03% of THC. 

The problem with traveling with CBD products internationally is that many countries fail to distinguish between hemp and marijuana-derived CBD. And, since marijuana is considered an illegal substance, this can land you in a lot of trouble. This is why, if you do choose to travel with CBD, it must only be derived from hemp plants. 

If you do wish to travel with CBD for medical purposes, do your research ahead of time to make sure it’s legal to enter another country with it. And, if it is legal, keep your CBD in your checked luggage. Also, if you’re using it for medical reasons, bring a doctor’s note. CBD users traveling to Europe will also need to prove the origin of the hemp, as well as have a tax receipt. 

It’s critical that you remember that things in the CBD industry are constantly changing. Just because something was not legal to travel with six months ago, doesn’t mean it’ll be a problem today. However, the opposite is also true. Just because something wasn’t restricted, doesn’t mean it won’t be the morning of your flight. Be cautious and do your homework if you’re planning on traveling.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re new to using CBD or a long-term user, there’s a reason why it’s so popular around the world. CBD continues to be touted for its physical benefits of reducing pain and increasing overall quality of life. 

If you reside in one of the countries mentioned in this article and you want to buy CBD, you’ve come to the right place. With this guide on where CBD is legal, you can make sure you’re buying it legally. We hope this article helped to serve as a guide to where CBD is legal throughout the world. Though many states and countries do still have restrictions on CBD products and CBD use, times are always changing. What was once illegal has become legal. So who knows – maybe what once had restrictions will get rid of them. When it comes to the CBD industry, you never quite know what to expect.