CBD Legality – Will I Get Arrested For Using CBD?
Should I be worried about using CBD based products in the US? Will I get arrested for buying or having CBD in my state? In this guide, we’ll take a state by state look at CBD legality.
If you have concerns, the truth is you shouldn’t. Although, there has been a lot of confusion about this topic. There’s a law that allows the distribution and use of hemp in America. It’s new, and some places are still yet to warm up to it.
But if you’re wondering as to how much freedom you have in using hemp and products with CBD, we made this helpful guide for you.
We researched and compiled it ourselves. We have also sought legal assistance from professionals regarding the legalities in the usage of CBD. Here’s what we learned:
The Origin Matters
Let’s review the basics a little bit; CBD or Cannabidiol is a component found in both marijuana and hemp. It’s part of the reason why those two substances produce somewhat similar results when introduced to the body.
The main difference between them is that marijuana is illegal and hemp is not; this is the scope of the Farm Law of 2018. CBDs can be used and sold freely as long as they are extracted solely from hemp.
Hemp vs Marijuana
These two substances are similar in many ways. For one, they’re both variations of cannabis. Another thing is that, they often produce somewhat similar effects.
Legally, if a substance has less than .3 percent tetrahydrocannabinol, it’s considered hemp, but anything that goes above that value falls under the category, Marijuana.
Tetrahydrocannabinol is the one that gives both substances the effects that they have on the body.
To water it down for you, hemp is the mild version of marijuana. Given the low amount of THC in it, it’s not expected to be able to affect the body as much as using marijuana will. That’s why it was made legal.
Don’t worry about accidentally picking up marijuana-based CBDs while shopping around. Marijuana is not even considered a good source of CBD. It has way too much THC and not nearly as abundant in CBD than normal hemp.
It would be extra stressful on the manufacturer’s part to have to reduce the THC in this substance just to be able to use it on their products.
That’s why hemp-based CBDs currently dominate the market. Its low THC and large amounts of cannabidiol make it the best material to use in producing CBD products.
That doesn’t mean that there are no marijuana-based CBDs around. There are some available, and if you happen to live in a place where marijuana is legal, go ahead and try some for yourself.
When a person’s health is a non-issue, it seems like the world aligns in their favor. Is it possible that CBD Oil could be the solution to what’s ailing you?
Q. Where Can I Freely Use CBD?
A. In The World of CBD Legality, As Long As It’s Hemp-Based CBD, Then Everywhere.
The Farm Bill of 2018 gives you the right to distribute and use the product to your heart’s content at any point in the United States. Of course, use it with caution. The law has just been introduced.
Consequently, some states aren’t as willing to conform like the others. Give it a little more time for this CBD legality to grow on them.
So, where can you safely and freely use CBD? If we were to group all 50 states based on their outlook on CBD usage, we end up with four different categories.
The Green States And CBD Legality
These states are the best states to use CBD in. They have easily warmed up to the idea of having the substance around and don’t have any problem with it. You can distribute and use CBD oil in these states as long as its hemp-based:
- Alaska
- Maryland
- North Carolina
- Colorado
- Kentucky
- Missouri
- Oregon
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Rhode Island
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Vermont
- Wisconsin
- New York
- South Carolina
The Blue States And CBD Legality
These are the more tolerant states. They don’t welcome the idea of CBD usage with open arms, but at least they follow the law. Hemp produced from farms that complied with the Farm Bill of 2018, can be freely used and sold within these states.
- The District of Columbia
- Hawaii, Kansas
- Montana
- New Mexico
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
The Gray States And CBD Legality
The states in this category have to constantly be reminded that the law allows the use of CBDs if they’re hemp based. They have laws prohibiting anyone from selling the product openly to the public.
- Delaware
- Arkansas
- Virginia
- Georgia
- Mississippi
- Idaho
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Minnesota
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- Texas
- Florida
- New Hampshire
- Iowa
- Massachusetts
- Washington
The Yellow States And CBD Legality
These states are against the usage and distribution of CBD based products, even if there’s a law that says it’s legal to do so. Every now and then, the police may move against people who use the substance and arrest people who sell CBD based products.
- Alabama
- Nevada
- Wyoming
- Arizona
- Connecticut
- Michigan
- South Dakota
- Nebraska
- Ohio
- West Virginia
- California
What’s The Verdict?
To break it down for you, here are the main points discussed in this CBD legality guide.
There’s a law that allows the use and distribution of CBD based products at any point within the United States as long as they are hemp-based. CBD can be extracted from Marijuana. Although, it’s way too much effort and it is prohibited by the law.
Hemp doesn’t have that much difference with marijuana. But a notable difference between the two is the degree of how much they can affect your body.
Having only .3 % THC, hemp is milder than marijuana and safer to use. That’s why the law allows people to use it. Plus, it has much more CBD than marijuana.
Although the law allows it, you have to be mindful of your current location when using CBD products. Some places still have their reservations against it, so it’s best to stick to the greens or those places that don’t have a problem with it.
Be aware of how your state reacts to users of CBD based products. Some states have laws that move against the sale and use CBD based products.
Even if you have the Farm Bill of 2018 to back you up, state laws may still be effective against it. Many places, especially those states under the yellow category, are still highly against CBD products.
All we can do is give it a little more time. In the future, people will come to understand how Cannabidiol CBD works. For now, let’s understand the laws in refernece to CBD legality and exercise a little more caution when using the product.
