Weird Stuff

Is CBD Legal in All States? A National Guide to the Legal Substance

posted by Chris Valentine

The popularity of CBD has exploded over the last few years. Some estimates suggest the CBD oil market alone will see at least 55 percent growth in the next few years.

Others have projected even more optimistic about the continuing popularity of CBD products. Experts have conjectured the 2018 Farm Bill in the US will have a significant impact on the growth of CBD sales.

Is CBD legal in all states though? The answer is a little more complex than it might seem at first glance.

What is CBD Anyway?

CBD is short for cannabidiol, which is one of many cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. Like other substances in this class, CBD appears to have effects on human health.

CBD’s chemical structure is different than that of another famous cannabinoid, THC. It’s why, unlike THC, CBD won’t get you “high.”

CBD’s structure actually allows it to interact with several systems in the body. Scientific studies have found it has an impact on serotonin and other neurotransmitters. These chemicals can influence everything from mood to pain perception.

Medicinal Uses for CBD

We already noted research on the medicinal properties of CBD and other cannabinoids. The CBD wiki page reports it could be helpful for many conditions. These include:

  • Insomnia
  • Pain
  • Epilepsy
  • Anxiety
  • Cancer

New research is investigating other potential uses. Pain relief is one of the best-researched areas for the use of CBD. It’s one of the reasons CBD oil for pain is so popular.

Is CBD Legal in All States?

You may have heard some people proclaiming CBD oil is now legal in all 50 states. Some news outlets were making this assertion in the spring of 2018. The passage of the 2018 Farm Bill only made people bolder in claiming CBD products are legal all across the US.

Is CBD legal in all states though? The answer isn’t quite so clear-cut.

The proposed 2018 Farm Bill moves to make hemp and hemp products legal throughout all 50 states. Under the 2014 Farm Bill, hemp became legal, but only under certain circumstances. For instance, you could grow hemp for academic research.

Some people claimed that this made CBD legal since it can be derived from hemp. Law enforcement and legislatures didn’t always agree. In fact, as recently as 2018, people using CBD oils were being charged for possession of marijuana.

Some people suggest the updated Farm Bill will clear the way for legal CBD in all 50 states.

Going Back to the Source

The Farm Bill might make hemp legal across the United States, but that doesn’t mean CBD products are. While CBD can be produced from hemp, there are also other ways of creating oils and other products.

Under the Farm Bill, only CBD products sourced from hemp would be legal. Those made from other sources would still be illegal under federal law. In fact, most CBD products are classified as Schedule I drugs.

Just as some states legalized marijuana, state governments have moved to legalize CBD. Indiana is one example. CBD products are also legal where cannabis is legal, such as California and Colorado.

Even if it’s legal in your state, you should be checking CBD information on products.

Discover More about CBD

It’s easy to see the answer to “is CBD legal in all states” isn’t cut and dried. The good news is the law is evolving. More states are making exceptions for CBD oils and other products.

Want to know more about CBD, its legal status, and its medical properties? Keep an eye on our blog.

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