With Cannabidiol becoming more prevalent in the world, it can be hard to tell exactly what you’re looking at. This guide to CBD will help you tell what CBD is, what its uses are, and if it’s legal in Europe.
What is Cannabidiol?
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a chemical that can be extracted from the Cannabis sativa plant. The Cannabis sativa plant, called by a variety of colorful colloquial names (pot plants, hemp, Ganja, crazy weed, dank), contains over 80 chemicals with a variety of uses. One of these chemicals, Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is the famous chemical in cannabis that gives people a high, although there's a difference between THC and CBD.
CBD has a wide range of medicinal effects, coming in oils, tinctures, gummies, capsules, lotions, and other topicals so that you can best use them for various ailments.
CBD Versus THC- What’s The Difference?
Although both cannabinoids, THC and CBD, react differently with the body, giving them different effects.
The biggest and most noteworthy difference between CBD and THC is that one produces the high that cannabis is infamous for, whereas the other doesn’t. Although both have medicinal benefits, THC will cause a person to experience a high, whereas CBD has more therapeutic benefits but no high. This is part of the reason that THC levels have a major influence on CBD legalities.
Benefits of Cannabidiol
The benefits of CBD are still being researched and have been found to be so far-reaching that researchers are sure they'll discover more the more they look, ranging from mental health benefits to treating seizure disorders.
At this point, the benefits of CBD include the following:
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Increased Heart Health
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Neuroprotection
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Increased Mental Health
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Treatment for a Wide Range of Health Concerns (See Below)
Side Effects of Cannabidiol
When taken in the correct doses for weight and age, CBD has very few side effects and is considered safe to take. Doses of up to 200mg daily have been used safely for up to 13 weeks, showing that CBD can be used safely for longer terms under the correct circumstances.
Possible side effects include:
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Dry mouth
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Low blood pressure
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Lightheadedness
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Drowsiness
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Signs of liver damage with large doses of the prescription form of CBD
What Can You Use Cannabidiol For?
As our understanding of CBD grows and more countries adapt their laws to accept the multitude of benefits CBD can bring, the list of potential uses also grows. For instance, a prescription form of CBD is used to treat seizure disorder (epilepsy), and CBD's uses for mental health are being widely explored.
CBD can help in the treatment of:
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Anxiety
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Epilepsy
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Pain
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Dystopia (A muscle disorder)
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Parkinson’s Disease
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Crohn Disease
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Mental Health
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Cancer Symptoms
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Depression
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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Is Cannabidiol Legal In Europe?
The European Union considers CBD a "novel food" (which is a sophisticated way of saying it's fairly new). They, therefore, want to limit access to CBD products and have introduced laws around percentages of THC in products. These rules are ever-evolving and changing as more countries experiment with CBD and how it can best be used.
What country you're in will affect the legality of CBD. For instance, if you're in Slovakia or Lithuania, CBD is fully illegal, with no allowances at all. On the other hand, France allows CBD, but only CBD isolate products that have 0% THC.
Most countries in Europe that allow CBD have legalized hemp with 0.2% THC or less; others go as high as 0.3%. Still, others have flat-out outlawed it.
We’ve included a list of what countries have banned CBD, accepted it, or put limits on it.
Banned:
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Albania
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Andorra
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Armenia
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Belarus
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Lithuania
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Moldova
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Monaco
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Montenegro
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Slovakia
Legal Up To 0.2% THC:
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Belgium- CBD flowers with a THC content under 0.2% are considered tobacco products. CBD pills, ointments, and oil can be obtained at a pharmacy with a doctor’s prescription
Legal Up To 0.3% THC:
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Austria- Must be labeled as aroma products
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The Czech Republic- dry cannabis plants must have less than 0.3% THC. However, pure CBD with 0% THC is widely available, and rules revolving around restrictions are constantly evolving. Also, you can obtain medical CBD with a prescription.
Legal For Medical Use:
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North Macedonia- CBD oil with less than 0.2% THC is available over the counter; over 0.2% requires a prescription.
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Norway- Legal only with a prescription, with less than 1% THC. Any other use or import is illegal.
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Portugal- Available at pharmacies with a doctor’s prescription.
Unrestricted:
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Bulgaria- Hemp plants must have less than 0.2% THC, but hemp-derived CBD has no specific threshold.
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Denmark- Hemp-derived CBD is legal up to 0.2%THC. Some restrictions fall on the companies and CBD producers.
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France- CBD isolate products are legal. In addition, hemp up to 0.2% THC may be cultivated.
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Germany- CBD products under 0.2% THC are legal. CBD cannot contain health claims. You can obtain medical CBD through a doctor's prescription.
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Greece- Industrial hemp cultivation is legal. CBD must have less than 0.2% THC.
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Luxembourg- Adults over 18 can purchase as long as THC is under 0.3%
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Netherlands- Cannabis is decriminalized, but CBD is regulated under strict rules. THC content must not exceed 0.05%
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Poland- Legal under 0.2% THC. Medicinal CBD is legal.
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Romania- CBD with less than 0.2% THC is legal.
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Slovenia- CBD oil with less than 0.2% THC is legal.
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Spain- CBD cannot be marketed as a food product, only for skincare or external use. In addition, CBD must have less than 0.2% THC.
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Sweden- CBD isolates are legal. THC is illegal.
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Switzerland- Although cannabis must not have THC levels over 1%, there is no limit on CBD and other compounds.
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Ukraine- There is currently no specific THC limit, although as laws evolve, it will most likely be less than 0.2%.
Legal Grey Area:
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Estonia- Does not consider CBD a psychotropic substance; therefore, it is legal. However, CBD products can't be marketed as a food or dietary supplements.
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Finland- Regulated by several authorities, with several loopholes. Many CBD stores use these to sell "legally". Importing could be illegal.
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Hungary- Hemp must have less than 0.2% THC. Local laws vary and should be checked for your pacific area before buying.
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Iceland- Not entirely prohibited, but highly restricted. THC is illegal, but CBD isolates (99% CBD) are legal. Hemp cultivation under 0.2% THC is legal.
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Ireland- THC is illegal. CBD isolates should be legal but cannot be sold as food or supplements. Check with your local authorities before buying or importing.
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Italy- Hemp can have up to 0.2% THC. However, CBD is illegal unless it is free of narcotic effects. More clarification on evolving laws is needed.
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Latvia- Cannot be sold as food or nutritional supplement, but can be sold as a souvenir. CBD is the subject of many laws.
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Liechtenstein- Legal up to 1% THC. Local laws vary, so consult local laws before importing.
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Malta- Requires doctor's prescription, but can still be found over the counter, although technically illegal. No prosecutions have occurred.
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Serbia- Currently awaiting restrictive CBD laws.
Is Cannabidiol Legal in the UK?
CBD is perfectly legal to buy and sell in the UK. However, there are some restrictions and acknowledgments, as it's viewed as a Novel Food.
CBD is legal in the UK if:
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It’s not sold as medicine.
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The container has less than 1mg of THC, THCV, or CBN.
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The product is not packaged, so it's easy to separate the controlled cannabinoids.
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Capsules, gummies, oils, pastes, and other edibles have received Novel Foods Authorization.
CBD- A Growing Benefit
CBD has a growing list of health benefits that can be applied liberally throughout the medical field. By its nature, CBD isn’t psychoactive, so its benefits have nothing to do with achieving a high. For more information on the benefits of CBD, check out our website.
