CBD Oil and UK Law: Legal or Illegal?

There has been a lot of buzz about CBD and how it affects people. CBD comes from the same plant as its cousin THC; one might wonder, is it legal or illegal? This article discusses what you need to know about CBD and what the law says about CBD oil and its benefits.

The cannabis plant, particularly marijuana, has been in many discussions lately, with many wanting the plant to be legalized while some are suggesting that it still should stay illegal. The plant has been a part of man's daily life for over 5000 years, although much of the plant is still unknown. Governments worldwide have different views on cannabis, with many still putting it under strict measures as a dangerous drug. In contrast, some have taken the step of legalizing it for recreational use. However, it can be confusing as to which part of the plant is still illegal and which part is still legal. This article will talk about the legal issues of the Cannabis plant and its legality issues.

What Is CBD?

Find out more about CBD before diving deeper into whether CBD is legal. Cannabis is popular worldwide, but many people don't know that there are two plant classifications. The Marijuana plant and Hemp, these two plants have a lot of similarities, but they have their differences too.

The Marijuana plant, the female plant, is known amongst its users because of its psychoactive effects. Many users report a 'high' effect when they smoke or ingest plant products. This 'high' feeling is because of the high percentage of THC, one of the hundreds of compounds found in the Cannabis sativa plant, and low in CBD.

Hemp, which is the male plant, is a little different. Hemp has a low percentage of THC and a high percentage of CBD, which is why it doesn't have the psychoactive effects that the marijuana plant has. CBD is believed to have amazing effects on the health of humans, which is why it has recently been under extensive research to find out what the full effects of CBD products might be.

What Does The Law Say About CBD?

The cannabis plant has remained illegal under many laws in different countries around the world; however, in the more recent years, the relaxation on the plant has allowed more research to be done on the plant. CBD has no psychoactive effects and is non-toxic, as it is legal in many countries, including the UK and USA. Because Hemp has a high percentage of CBD and a low percentage of THC, it is preferable when extracting CBD to be used in different programs.

Gibbs et al. (2019) stated that CBD is legal in the UK, although still under strict guidelines as follows that CBD products are used to contain a percentage of THC that is less than 0.2% and that it is obtained from industrial hemp variant that s recognized and approved by the UK government. A person is on the safe route as long as the CBD is under these two guidelines. However, it is important to note that although hemp CBD with a low percentage of THC is legal, citizens are not allowed to grow their hemp plant, and flowers and buds are not legally available for selling and buying.

Most CBD products are sold as food supplements; however, these products can be classified and advertised as medicine if used for various ailments in man. However, these products have been put under strict restrictions in the UK; they must have a license that shows their safety, efficacy, and quality., it's important that you carefully look at the contents of the products before using them or consult your doctor for advice if a person wishes to venture into the world of CBD products for medicinal use.

Benefits of Using CBD

CBD product usage has been on the rise lately due to its various benefits that many might benefit from the usage of CBD. According to Baswan et al. (2020), CBD has been potentially helpful for those with acne, eczema, and other skin conditions because of its anti-inflammatory and pain reduction capabilities. According to Kachru et al. (2021), CBD has also been discovered to have out-of-this-world potential to be a way to help those with high blood pressure, nausea and vomiting, sleeping difficulties, memories, and depression. When shopping for CBD products online, it is important to be careful to check the legitimacy of the CBD products, as some sites might have mislabeled CBD products.

Its relationship to THC, CBD is sometimes confused with having the same properties as THC. According to Miller & Miller (2017), CBD doesn't have any psychoactive effects, and it is perfect for usage because it doesn't cause any addiction meaning you can use it for anyone regardless of age. How can a person take CBD? Here is the form in which CBD is available.

CBD oil Forms

CBD has three main forms: full spectrum, broad-spectrum, and isolate.

Full-Spectrum

Full-spectrum is a CBD form where all parts or compounds of the Cannabis plant are present. This might be because all parts of the plant are used, and CBD might be extracted using CO2 or a solvent to get the cannabinoids and terpenes from the plant. Although Full spectrum CBD might contain a traceable amount of THC, this is regulated to be under the legal percentage meaning that it won't make a person high in the same way as smoking marijuana.

Broad-Spectrum

A broad-spectrum is a form of CBD that includes some parts or compounds of CBD but not all. This common form in the UK might not necessarily contain any THC, although it might contain other compounds found in the Cannabis plant.

Isolate CBD

Isolate CBD is a form of CBD where the products contain only CBD compounds in a pure form; this highly concentrated form of CBD doesn't have any THC or other products in it.

Many CBD products are made from various options for ingesting CBD from these three forms. CBD might be available in edibles, topicals, tinctures, and CBD oil. However, these products need to be in the legal amount of THC to be legally used in the UK.

Conclusion

CBD oil is legal in the UK. However, these oils should have a low level of THC and shouldn't break from other restrictions by the UK government as per the Food standards Agency. Consider purchasing your CBD oil either online or from retailers that are licensed and enjoy the many benefits of CBD. However, keep CBD usage under legal terms and don't break any restrictions or laws. It is advisable to check with your doctor if the usage of CBD might pose some side effects to your health. Consider the side effects of using CBD products before taking one to Avoid serious health issues that may occur.

References

Baswan, S. M., Klosner, A. E., Glynn, K., Rajgopal, A., Malik, K., Yim, S., & Stern, N. (2020). Therapeutic Potential Of Cannabidiol (CBD) For Skin Health And Disorders. Clinical, Cosmetic And Investigational Dermatology, 13, 927.

Gibbs, B., Yates, D. A., & Liebling, J. (2019). CBD In The UK. London, UK: Centre For Medicinal Cannabis.

Kachru, R., Perry-Lunardo, C., & Thompson, L. A. (2021). CBD Use In Children—Miracle, Myth, Or Mystery?. JAMA Pediatrics, 175(6), 652-652.

Miller, R. J., & Miller, R. E. (2017). Is Cannabis An Effective Treatment For Joint Pain? Clin Exp Rheumatol, 35(5), 59-67.