Legal status of CBD in the UK
CBD oil is a food supplement which is growing in popularity in the UK. However, there are still uncertainties whether you can buy CBD oil legally because it is neither an illegal drug nor a medicine. Let’s do the i’s and cross the t’s:
Although regulations surrounding CBD in the United Kingdom are pretty firm, there has been a lot of movement in the industry. What we do know is that:
- CBD capsules, oils, edibles, and topicals sold in the UK are not for medicinal use. The supplements are considered to be a food supplement.
- CBD oil is only legal in the UK if it is made from certain approved strains containing less than 0.2% THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) in the growing plant. THC is the compound which is responsible for the “high”.
- Selling CBD supplements processed outside of the UK is legal in the UK, if they contain no controlled substances such as CBN or THC.
- CBN is considered to be a controlled substance in the UK.
- THC is still illegal. The maximum legal limit is 1mg per container.
- Medicinal cannabis is legalised for prescription in the UK for special cases.
- Brands selling CBD supplements in the UK must submit a Novel Food Application by March 2021.
- The Misuse of Drugs Act (MODa) makes no distinction between cannabis, hemp, or marijuana.
