Europe and CBD: The Active Ingredient Is (Almost Always) Considered Legal

The CBD market is constantly expanding. But is it (really) legal in Europe, and can you buy CBD products on Justbob?

Europe and legal CBD: some national laws may deviate from Union guidelines

More and more people are deciding to use CBD to relieve the malaise associated with various ailments, from anxiety to chronic pain. 

In light of this market growth, the number of eCommerce dedicated to this type of business also continues to increase, among which the best online CBD store has stood out in the last period, which competes brilliantly even with online giants such as Amazon. 

But what is the relationship between the laws in Europe and CBD?

Yet, the question often arises whether the intake and marketing of this active ingredient in Europe are considered legal. Furthermore, it is interesting to know that laws about food supplements containing CBD can vary.

In this article, we will see what the position of the Union on the CBD is and which instead is that of the individual member countries.

The CBD market is constantly expanding. But is it (really) legal in Europe?

We have seen how CBD products are having a lot of success and how easy it is to get into the CBD business in a completely legal way, but we still haven’t said what CBD is.

CBD (or cannabidiol) is a natural chemical compound in cannabis Sativa that can be infused into various products.

Although research on its properties cannot yet be said to be complete, the data available so far have shown that CBD products can be beneficial for our bodies in several ways.

Many use this active ingredient to deal with stress, anxiety, lack of sleep, chronic pain and more. Furthermore, given the continuously growing numbers, the CBD market is estimated to reach over one and a half billion euros by 2023.

Does Europe and CBD get along well?

Despite its beneficial effects and the continuous expansion of the market, in numerous instances, it is still unclear whether the use of CBD can be considered legal or not. 

Generally speaking, Europe would ban all products that cause psychotropic or psychoactive effects on those who use them.

But this is not the case with CBD.

Although extracted from Cannabis Sativa, this substance lacks the hallucinogenic effects primarily associated with the plant. In light of these considerations, the Union has therefore decided to exclude cannabidiol from the list of narcotic substances.

Furthermore, according to ongoing studies, CBD does not seem to cause significant side effects nor generate any addiction from its intake.

Europe and CBD: the story of how legalization came about

Yet despite this, the cannabidiol law has not always been so tolerant.

However, the relationship between Europe and CBD was not apparent right away. The European Court of Justice declared itself in favour of its marketing and hiring only in November 2020. From its ruling, CBD is considered fully legal in Europe and, except for public health issues, no state can prevent its sale and consumption.

More importantly, the fact that CBD is now legal in Europe does not mean that it does not have to comply with specific rules for its production anyway. 

The Union provides that all the plants used have been grown within the European territory and extracted only from those that do not contain more than 0.2% THC. The CBD will then have to be produced starting from the plant, without preferring a particular part.

CBD: this is the position of the individual states of Europe

Let’s see precisely what happens in the various territories of the Union.

Ireland: Irish CBD law allows the use of cannabidiol-based products. Following the indications given at the community level, this country provides that CBD must contain less than 0.2% THC.

The Irish example also follows:

• Romania
• Slovenia
• Latvia
• Greece
• Germany
• Denmark

Italy: According to national law, CBD products are completely legal if they do not exceed 0.6% of the THC level.

Lithuania: CBD is legal in Lithuania as long as it does not exceed 0.2% THC. Although the Lithuanian government has legalized cannabidiol, it has banned its production and marketing on the national territory.

Luxembourg, Czech Republic and Austria: According to the national laws of these countries, CBD products are legal as long as they contain less than 0.3% THC.

Estonia, Finland, and Malta: CBD is legal in these countries, provided special permission has been obtained.

Sweden, France: Those countries’ laws allow for the marketing of cannabidiol-based products, but without a trace of THC.

Switzerland: Swiss law allows the sale and consumption of CBD products containing up to 1% THC.

As you can see, there are differences in how it is a nation in Europe and CBD.

Europe and legal CBD, but national laws may deviate from Union guidelines

Although many wonder if the sale and consumption of CBD are legal in Europe, in reality, the Union’s position is apparent: CBD’s marketing and consumption are entirely legal within its borders.

However, there are necessary conditions to be respected regarding its production, so it is essential to always rely on excellent retailers who guarantee its compliance.

In any case, the law of the various states in Europe may be more or less soft towards CBD, so it is necessary to inquire about local laws in advance to be sure not to violate the national legislation of the country of reference.