With the hemp industry currently increasing in popularity across the U.S., the line between perception and reality when it comes to the legality of it can easily become blurry. Of course, you want to have a clear insight of where you’re actually able to use your favorite products. Spoiler alert: At the state-level, it’s not legal to have CBD oil in all circumstances everywhere. So, it should be made evident which states you can purchase and use CBD oil in without consequence; right now, there’s some fogginess surrounding this hot-button topic. Let’s go ahead and start our discussion with the Keystone State – or good ole’ Pennsylvania to those of us not familiar with the lingo. Below, we’ll answer the question that’s been on the forefront of many of the state’s residents’ minds: Is CBD oil legal in Pennsylvania?
What is the difference between THC and CBD?
THC and CBD are like sisters from another mother. You see, they’re both phytocannabinoids. This term that they never teach you in your high school biology class refers to groups of chemical compounds that are found in the Cannabis plant. Both heighten the responses of your endocannabinoid system, which is a fancy term for a complex collection of cell signals that each of our bodies have in order to maintain physical and mental balance/functionality.
Although they’re alike at their core, there are some key distinctions to be made between THC and CBD. To help you better understand the differences between these two phytocannabinoids, let’s delve into the different types of Cannabis: marijuana and hemp. THC is the psychoactive element of Cannabis that gets you “high,” and, as you probably know, marijuana contains quite a bit of it. For this reason, marijuana is illegal federally, as well as in some states. On the other hand, by definition, hemp contains no more than 0.03% THC, so, unlike marijuana, it doesn’t produce any psychoactive effects. You see, CBD finds its origin in hemp. We’ll dig more into the legal mumbo-jumbo of CBD and hemp in the next section.
What is the 2018 Farm Bill?
This recent law legalized hemp products at the federal level; hemp went from being classified as a controlled substance to being considered an agricultural commodity. Hemp hemp hooray, am I right!? Since CBD oil comes from hemp, the 2018 Farm Bill applies to it. However, as is true with anything out on the market, individual states have the right to impose further restrictions on hemp (and some do).
So, is CBD oil legal in Pennsylvania?
Yes, it is! The only requirement is that the CBD oil has to be sourced from hemp. Since recreational marijuana isn’t legal in the state, the oil must contain no more than 0.03% THC (the legal definition of hemp). Basically, Pennsylvania decided to match its stance with that of the 2018 Farm Bill. Residents don’t need any sort of registration cards to be able to purchase CBD oil in the state. As long as someone is 18 or older, he/she should be able to freely purchase CBD products (although some stores do make their customers be 21 or older). In Pennsylvania, CBD oils can be bought either online or in-store.
When it comes to CBD oil, Pennsylvania has certainly kept up with the times. Some states have been known to have harsh restrictions on hemp, but that is not the case with the Keystone State. So, if you’re a Pennsylvania resident, you have nothing to fear when finding your next go-to CBD oil online or in-store. What exHEMPlary news for the people of the state known for its cheesesteaks and chocolate, am I right!?
