Why is Weed Illegal, But CBD Products Aren’t?




For many years some people are trying to make the use of weed legal, but the federal govt continues to prohibit weed in the US. Though very few states in the US and some other countries legalized weed, it is not federally legal. There are seven lines of reasoning that have been used to outlaw marijuana in the U.S.

On the other hand, CBD products are legal, but under very specific conditions.

If still you are not sure about the legality of CBD, you can go check the 2020 guide to learn about the latest CBD regulation provided by the FDA. Enjoy the benefits of CBD in a safe and legal way.

Why Weed is Illegal but CBD Isn’t

The regulation of Weed and CBD is quite differently maintained by the government. The reason behind this is the difference between their levels of THC content.

Unlike THC, CBD is not intoxicating. It just makes you relax, not make you high like smoking weed.

By the Controlled Substance Act of 1970, hemp is classified as an illegal substance. But, in 2018, the Farm Bill changed it. They made hemp and hemp-derived products that contain max 0.3% THC or less than that,  federally legal.

On the other hand, Marijuana is still considered a controlled substance. That’s why it is prohibited under federal law. In the U.S, the legal status of both CBD and THC is constantly evolving. Not all states allow every form of cannabis. Therefore any form of cannabis is illegal in those states that haven’t yet make them legal.

Though some states make medical marijuana containing high levels of THC legal in their state. So before purchasing either marijuana or CBD, must check your state’s laws first.

The Legality of Hemp versus Marijuana

Hemp and marijuana both are different varieties of Cannabis. From both of these, CBD can be produced.

They have visual similarities. But when it comes to their THC level, these two plants have a vast difference.

Hemp is characterized to produce 0.3% of THC or less than that. On the other hand, marijuana can produce up to 30% THC.

As there is high THC-content in marijuana, it can lead to severe mind-altering effects and that’s why it is federally illegal in the United States and many other countries.

That’s why Hemp-derived CBD is federally legal under some specific condition. And the conditions are as follows.

  • The hemp must 0.3% of THC or less than that.
  • The hemp must need to stick to the shared state-federal regulations
  • The hemp grower must need to have a proper license to grow hemp

And Marijuana-derived CBD is illegal as it contains a high amount of THC. Though some states allow it, it is not federally legal.

Wrapping Up

CBD products have many proven therapeutic benefits. It reduces your problems of anxiety, lack of concentration, pain, inflammation, sleeping problem, etc and people are getting promising results. So legalization of CBD products really helps people to enjoy the benefits of CBD.

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