Is CBD legal?

Here in the UK, CBD is completely legal, provided the THC content is below 0.2%. The only way to confirm your product is safe and legal is with a certificate of analysis. All good retailers should provide this as standard.

If you are traveling with CBD or planning to purchase it overseas, it gets a little more complicated. While there is Europe-wide legislation for CBD, individual countries can make up their own rules. This is why CBD is completely legal in The Netherlands yet illegal in Belgium. In places like Italy, CBD exists in a bit of a grey area, with authorities choosing to turn a blind eye.

If you’re planning to travel, it’s important to check the rules in the countries you are visiting, and also any countries you might pass through. This will help you to stay on the right side of the law.

Is CBD legal?

Yes, CBD is legal in the UK, provided it does not contain any controlled substances. You are able to buy it online and in shops. The current legal limit for THC is 0.2%. To check that your product is legal, you should always ask to see a certificate of analysis, which will break down the cannabinoid contents of your products.

Who can sell CBD in the UK?

Retailers that want to sell CBD in the UK must apply for validation from the Food Standards Agency. This is the first step in securing a novel food license. Sellers must also abide by certain rules, the most important of which is that they cannot make any medical claims about their product.

If a product is advertised as being able to treat or cure any condition, then it is treated as a medicine and must have the appropriate licensing. So, if you notice a seller claiming their product will treat or cure any condition, or if they make reference to any medical claims or trials involving CBD, then you can assume they cannot be trusted.

Can I drive while using CBD?

CBD should not alter your ability to drive since it is not psychoactive. The only way that CBD could alter your driving ability would be if it contains high levels of THC. This is the mind-altering component in cannabis that is responsible for the “high”. It is also the compound that a drug driving test would look for.

If you have confirmed that your CBD product does not contain THC, you should have no issues using it while driving from a legal perspective. However, it would be a good idea to try CBD and find out how it makes you feel at a time when you don’t have to get behind the wheel. CBD might make you feel more relaxed and even a bit sleepy, so it’s worth checking how it makes you feel before using it while driving.

Will CBD show up in a drug test?

Drug testing is not designed to look for the CBD compound, it is designed to look for controlled substances, including THC. Provided your product is a broad-spectrum product, you should not have any issues while taking CBD. However, if you are using a full-spectrum product and you take a very high dose consistently over a long period of time, there is the chance that THC could build up in your system to detectable levels.

This is why athletes and professionals who are tested for THC and other controlled substances would be wise to avoid full-spectrum THC.