CBD has been present for a long time, and CBD was first extracted from marijuana in 1940, and its structure was reported in 1963. However, CBD was made famous in the last decade or so, but it took off when the US government passed the legalization bill of CBD in 2018. The passage of the CBD Act in the US marked a significant step towards clarifying the legal framework for hemp-derived products containing minimal THC.
Since that day, the CBD industry has been on a constant rise and is expected to be worth around $47 Billion by the end of 2018, growing at a mind-blowing CAGR of 21.20%. Even after this bill was passed by the US government, many states still have strict rules and regulations regarding CBD, some states don’t even allow them, and in other states, it is pretty easy to get your hands on CBD products.
This legalization made the headlines, but the US isn’t the only country where CBD is legal because after this law was passed, many countries followed this and legalized CBD under certain conditions. The reason why CBD took so long to be legalized is because the studies were still going on, and in 2018, scientists were able to prove that even though it was first extracted from marijuana, CBD these days can be derived from hemp plants and carries amazing therapeutic benefits.
CBD has the potential to help with chronic pain, stress, anxiety, epilepsy, sleeplessness, joint pains, and many other problems that humans are facing. Now that we have told you CBD is legal in some other countries as well, you must be wondering what countries is CBD legal in. Well, this is what we are going to tell you about in this blog, and also about certain conditions that have to be followed by CBD brands to ensure that they don’t fall into some serious legal issues. If that sounds interesting, then let’s dive right into it.
Countries Where CBD Is Legal
We know that some of you might be excited about learning about the rules and regulations regarding CBD products, but before that, you need to know about the countries where CBD has been legalized. Given below is the list of those countries.
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North America
Let’s first start with the place where it all started, and the CBD industry became this big, and that place is the USA. The US was the first country where CBD was first legalized under a farm bill in 2018 because of its therapeutic benefits and because of the research that backed the fact that CBD has exceptionally good benefits.
However, not all kinds of CBD are legalized, and CBD products must have less than 0.3% THC in them, which is a compound that is responsible for giving you that “high” sensation. However, when it comes to CBD derived from marijuana, it is still illegal at the federal level but is permitted in certain states where medical and recreational cannabis use is legal.
The next country in North America that has legalized CBD is Canada. In Canada, CBD has been legalized for both medical and recreational use. As long as these products are obtained from licensed producers and adhere to regulatory standards, they are legal to purchase and use.
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Europe
Many European countries have followed in the footsteps of the US and Canada and have legalized CBD products, but it can vary from country to country because different countries have different views on the legality of CBD. In many countries, CBD products derived from industrial hemp containing less than 0.2% THC are legal.
However, you need to be aware of the laws in the area of your residence because the CBD law and regulations vary from place to place. The European Union has also impacted the CBD industry, requiring certain CBD products to undergo approval before being marketed as food or food supplements.
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Latin America
Latin America is the next name on the list of countries where CBD is legal. Several Latin American countries have adopted lenient stances on CBD. Uruguay, for instance, has fully legalized cannabis, including CBD products. Mexico has decriminalized the possession of small amounts of cannabis, and CBD products containing low THC content are generally allowed.
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Asia
Asia is the place where selling CBD is tricky and can get you in some serious trouble. Countries in Asia like Japan, South Korea, and Thailand have legalized medical cannabis to certain degrees. Many Asian countries have strict drug policies, which may include severe penalties for cannabis-related offenses.
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Oceania
Australia and New Zealand have taken different approaches to CBD products. In Australia, CBD products can be obtained with a prescription and are available for medical use. However, in New Zealand, CBD is legal and can be obtained without a prescription as long as it meets the criteria.
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Africa
Just like other continents, different countries in Africa have different rulings on CBD products. Countries like South Africa have decriminalized personal cannabis use and possess relatively liberal CBD regulations. However, in the majority of African countries, the use of CBD or any other cannabis-related product remains illegal.
CBD Legalization Criteria
Now that you know about the countries where CBD is legal, let me tell you about the CBD legalization criteria that have to be followed.
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THC Content
The number one thing that has to be followed by CBD brands is the THC content in their CBD products. Countries like the US say that a CBD product needs to have less than 0.3% THC and some European countries say that the THC content in CBD products has to be lower than 0.2%.
This is why hemp-derived CBD products are more likely to be legal because they don’t have THC in them. Ensure that you are aware of the legal way to ship CBD products depending on the country you are shipping to.
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Medical Research
Countries with a growing body of evidence supporting the medical benefits of CBD are more inclined to legalize it for medical purposes.
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Consumer Demand
Public demand for CBD products, often driven by anecdotal evidence of their effectiveness, can influence regulatory decisions.
