If you’re interested in CBD but worried about its legality, it’s important to catch up on the regulation and law changes since the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill (1). It was passed by the Senate in December of 2018 and changed the way CBD was to be treated under federal law.
Update 1The first update from the 2018 Farm Bill was that hemp became legal at the federal level provided it contains no more than 0.3% THC (the stuff that gets you high). Under the new laws, hemp could be sold, grown, possessed, processed, and transported across state lines in the United States (2). This is important for fans of CBD as that compound is found in hemp.
Update 2Importantly, the 2018 Farm Bill made CBD federally legal, although there are some caveats. While CBD is not generally legalized, the Farm Bill has created a loophole. If your CBD is derived from regulated hemp (i.e., hemp with 0.3% or less THC), then it’s now a federally legal substance!
Update 3Good news for hemp farmers! Thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp farmers began to be considered to be like any other farmer. This change meant that it became way easier to grow hemp, which, in turn, made hemp-derived CBD products cheaper for you.
Update 4The 2018 Farm Bill was also designed to help protect the future of hemp farming and product diversity by recognizing the importance of scientific research and study into this cousin of cannabis (3).
Update 5The standard THC that you’re likely used to is called THC-delta-9. And although other types of THC occur naturally in hemp, the 2018 Farm Bill only restricts the use of THC-delta-9. Because of this, you may have seen a rise in THC-delta-8 products. Found in lesser quantities than their THC-delta-9 relative, THC-delta-8 is harder to produce but can still get you high (4).
