When you buy CBD oil online, it’s important to make sure you’re not doing anything illegal. It’s legal to buy CBD online in the United States, but you have to make sure you’re doing things the right way, so you don’t break the law.
For example, a product must, at the very least, contain less than a 0.3% THC concentration and be derived from hemp instead of marijuana to be legal on a federal level. The easiest way to understand the rules and regulations is to make sure you know the difference between the two most popular cannabinoids: CBD and THC.
Hemp Vs. Marijuana, CBD Vs. THC
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a lot different from tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), even though both are cannabinoids. A cannabinoid is an organic compound that occurs naturally in cannabis or hemp plant flowers. Because the distinction between CBD and THC is so important, people even refer to plants based on the THC content, so there is less confusion about effects and legality.
The big difference between CBD and THC boils down to the effects of each cannabinoid. THC is known to be psychoactive and is responsible for the feeling of being “high” that people experience after consuming marijuana. CBD, on the other hand, is not psychoactive or intoxicating, and CBD alone typically doesn’t show up on drug tests. To help separate plants and products with THC, we discuss things in terms of hemp and marijuana.
Marijuana is any type of cannabis plant with more than a 0.3% THC concentration. Marijuana is still illegal on a federal level in the United States, even though some states have legalized it for either recreational purposes, medical purposes, or both. Hemp plants contain no more than a 0.3% THC concentration, and they’re legal on a federal level in the United States if grown under a qualified state hemp program. To be legal on a national level, CBD oil must come from hemp and must not contain THC at levels greater than 0.3%.
Is It Legal to Buy CBD Oil Online
Since CBD oil itself is legal in the United States, it’s legal to purchase the oil product online and have it shipped to you. In other words, it’s legal to buy CBD online as long as it’s made from hemp and contains 0.3% THC or less. When you buy from a reputable and legitimate company, they’ll have their own way to ensure compliance and make sure they’re not fulfilling illegal orders. That being said, depending on the form of the CBD, state regulations could prohibit the use or possession of CBD.
It’s important to make sure you’re getting a well-tested CBD product because sending marijuana across state lines is still a federal offense. Sending cannabis oil with high levels of THC can lead to significant criminal charges even for first-time offenders.
Can You Mail CBD Products?
You can mail CBD products through the mail. Private couriers like UPS, FedEx, and DHL may ship CBD oil throughout the United States as long as the product contains less than 0.3% THC and is produced using hemp instead of marijuana. That being said, some private carriers like FedEx have restricted or prohibited the shipping of CBD through its network. You can however send CBD oil through the United States Postal Service (USPS).
The USPS released guidelines for shipping hemp-derived products in the mail back in March of 2019. The release is intended to help businesses and individuals ship CBD oil safely and legally without running into any problems. There are a few primary guidelines to consider:
Industrial Hemp
The industrial hemp or hemp-derived products must not contain more than 0.3% THC concentration by weight.
Industrial Hemp License
The company must have an industrial hemp production license from the Department of Agriculture for the state where the shipment will be accepted. The CBD oil should be mailed with a signed certification statement showing legal authorization to ship CBD products.
This certification should also include a lab report confirming the THC concentration within the oil. The documentation must identify the producer and show that the mailer is authorized to market and ship all products contained.
Signed Certification
The signed certification statement must be printed on the mailer’s letterhead and signed by the mailer. This statement will be subject to the False Statements Act and must include the following verbiage: “I certify that all information furnished in this letter and supporting documents are accurate, truthful, and complete.
I understand that anyone who furnishes false or misleading information or omits information relating to this certification may be subject to criminal and/or civil penalties, including fines or imprisonment.”
To safely ship CBD oil, it’s a good idea to follow those guidelines carefully, even when using a private courier.
Is It Legal to Mail CBD Internationally?
Shipping CBD internationally is more complicated than shipping within the United States because now there are multiple sets of laws to consider. Some countries, like the United Arab Emirates, Russia, and Malaysia, have banned CBD, which makes it illegal to ship there.
Shipping to Australia may be complicated because of their unique regulations. Even when shipping to countries like Canada and Mexico with more relaxed CBD laws, it’s always best to make sure you do enough research to comply with all the relevant laws.
How to Make Sure CBD Is Legal
The best way to make sure you buy legal CBD online is to get it from a trustworthy vendor. Don’t take a company’s word for it that their CBD has “no THC” or is legal unless they can prove it with legitimate lab results. The results of a lab test are often presented on something known as a Certificate of Analysis (COA). The best CBD brands publish their COAs publicly and make sure all of their products are accurately labeled.
When you’re looking at a COA, there are a few things of special importance:
- THC Concentration – This is critical when you want to make sure your CBD oil is legal. Make sure the THC concentration is no more than 0.3% by weight.
- CBD Concentration – This might not have a big impact on legality, but it will tell you a lot about the quality of the product. Some companies take advantage of lax regulation to act like their products contain more CBD than they really do.
- Other Materials – See whether the product was tested for heavy metals, residual solvents, pesticides, and other contaminants to ensure safety.
Buy CBD Online Legally
RYTE CBD was founded to make premium CBD more accessible. We control our entire process from farming to order fulfillment so we can maintain high quality. All of our CBD oil is tested by independent labs, and we follow all federal laws to ensure legality.