In Liechtenstein, there is no specific law banning CBD, which means that CBD containing less than 1% THC could be considered legal. In the UK, CBD is completely legal as long as it does not contain THC (unless prescribed by a doctor) and comes from an EU-approved or externally sourced strain of industrial hemp. In Norway, CBD is only legal as a medicine that patients can buy with a doctor`s prescription. The THC content is limited to 1% or less. Although CBD contains little in a potentially psychoactive THC compound or is completely free of THC, Albanian law does not distinguish between CBD and cannabis. This means that CBD is considered in a legal gray area and is not banned, but it is not allowed either. However, private and personal use of cannabis is permitted if the user receives only a “single dose”. Cannabis is illegal in Armenia. Those caught in possession of cannabis can face a hefty fine or up to 2 months in jail. Since the cultivation of industrial hemp was legalized in 2014, CBD is also legal in Lithuania if it contains no more than 0.2% THC. However, and this is a legal subtlety, nothing prohibits the marketing of a CBD product (with cannabidiol) as long as it does not contain THC, the psychotropic substance, or in a THC content of less than 0.2%. The indictment was based on French law, according to which only products made from hemp fibers and seeds are legal.
The convicted persons appealed to another court, which had the express task of examining whether there was a conflict between national law and EU law in the present case. A reference has been made to the Court of Justice of the European Communities for a preliminary ruling in this case. Hemp-derived CBD products are legal in Poland as long as they do not exceed 0.2% THC at any time during production. CBD is legal in Luxembourg if it is derived from industrial hemp and the THC concentration does not exceed 0.3% at any time during production. While cannabis is allowed in North Macedonia for medical purposes with a prescription, recreational cannabis is considered illegal. Cannabis is banned in Belarus. Discussions about legalizing hemp and CBD continue and intensify after neighboring Poland legalized medical cannabis, but there are still no legislative changes. For example, in all EU member states and the UK, cosmetic products containing CBD are legal if they comply with applicable cosmetic regulations. On the other hand, medicinal preparations can be made from cannabis from any part of the plant and can contain CBD alone or a combination with other phytocannabinoids, including the psychoactive tetrahdydrocannabinol or THC.
THC is classified as a drug under the 1961 United Nations Convention, but can be legally used as a medicine. The services and products we buy and use today are, or at least should be, well regulated. This includes everything from booking a hotel for your vacation or business trip to buying groceries like milk, personal care products, and cosmetics at your local store or online. The legal status of the items we buy, use and/or consume depends on several factors, such as: However, one big problem remains – there is incredible uncertainty about what is legal and what is not. The above infographic from Elements of Green highlights the inherently complex legal status of CBD products in Europe. On the other hand, supplements with CBD are a bit more complex. In the EU, these products must be approved by the European Commission before they can be legally sold on the market. This is not currently the case in the UK, where authorities have ruled that CBD products currently on the UK market can be sold freely if manufacturers/sellers have a permit for the pending approval of these novel foods. For more information on this topic, check out our previous blogs on novel foods in the EU and the UK. CBD can be found in the CosIng database as Cannabidiol – Obtained from cannabis extract, tincture or resin. CBD products such as CBD oil can be legally marketed with the following properties: antioxidant, sebum protection, skin protection, and skin care.
Currently, the only legal hemp products are hemp seed oil, flour and hemp protein. The legislative proposal has still not entered into force and the CBD in Serbia remains in the legal grey area. Cannabis is illegal in Monaco, and the recreational and medical use of cannabis products is prohibited. Under Slovenian law, the cultivation of industrial hemp and the extraction of derivatives such as CBD oil are legal. Pure CBD in the UK is not a controlled substance. In other words, only CBD isolate products are completely legal. CBD can be purchased in Malta without a prescription from health food stores – it`s technically illegal, but no lawsuits have been filed. In France, hemp with 0.2% THC is legal for cultivation. Until recently, the France allowed the sale of 0.2% CBD products over the counter.
CBD isolates should be legal because they are THC-free. However, the Irish government complies with the European Commission`s new rule on novel foods, so CBD products cannot be sold as foods or dietary supplements. Hemp-derived CBD products can be purchased legally if they contain less than 0.3% THC. CBD products in Greece are legal as long as their content complies with EU regulations of less than 0.2% THC. The current legal framework in Montenegro prohibits the sale and use of cannabis products, which is why CBD is currently banned. CBD is legal in Malta, but only for medical purposes, meaning it is only available with a doctor`s prescription. It is clear from the above that whether a particular CBD product can be legally sold in a particular country depends on its classification. In summary, nothing prohibits you from traveling with a legal CBD product, as long as you meet the 0.2% THC limit, travel to a country that allows this substance, and have more than enough with you. The EIHA proposal and the judgment in Case C-663/18 contributed significantly to clarifying the role of CBD in legislation when the EU decided to legalise its use in cosmetics in all its Member States from February 2021. The Icelandic Medicines Agency considers CBD illegal (unless used as a prescribed medicine). According to the agency, Act No. 65/1974 on Narcotic Drugs does not contain THC limits in cannabis products, prohibiting the possession and consumption of cannabis substances (including THC) in Iceland.
The cultivation, production, possession and sale of cannabis in any form for medical and recreational purposes is prohibited in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Therefore, CBD is called illegal. The legality of CBD is not completely clear-cut. Some countries try to enforce laws to legalize because the benefits are overwhelming in some cases. At the same time, others are still restricting access to CBD products these days. Read on to learn more about the legal status of CBD in European countries. The booming market, as good as it is for the European economy, has triggered reactions at both national and EU level. It is still unregulated and loopholes in the legislation have created favourable conditions for many new businesses. National and European regulators cannot control all companies due to the lack of harmonised legislation.
CBD in Latvia lives in the legal gray area. The Food and Veterinary Service (FVS) prohibits the sale and marketing of CBD as a food and dietary supplement, but officials say that if it is sold as a souvenir, there is no violation of the law. Cannabis use is decriminalized in the Republic of Georgia. However, the cultivation and sale of cannabis is still prohibited, making CBD illegal in Georgia. Growing cannabis is legal, but the THC content should not exceed 1%. There is no limit to CBD and other compounds. Bulgaria is the first EU country to allow the over-the-counter sale of hemp-derived CBD products, meaning CBD is completely legal in Bulgaria if it contains less than 0.2% THC. Currently, CBD is only legal if you buy CBD isolate products.