Is CBD Oil Legal in Connecticut?

Is CBD Oil Legal in Connecticut?

CBD oil is legal in Connecticut, provided it is derived from hemp and contains 0.3% THC by dry weight or less. This follows the Farm Bill of 2018 (known as the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018), which delisted hemp from the list of controlled substances and legalized hemp-derived products. Although Connecticut considers hemp-derived CBD oil legal, the use, sale, or possession of cannabis-derived CBD is completely illegal for recreational purposes but can be taken by patients enrolled in the state’s medical marijuana program.

What are Connecticut CBD Laws in 2024?

The sale of hemp-derived CBD is legal in Connecticut. CBD derived from marijuana can only be taken by cannabis patients under the Connecticut Medical Cannabis Program. So, if a person needs CBD medications with high THC content, they must sign up for the state’s medical marijuana program.

Also known as the Pilot Program For Hemp Production Act, Senate Bill 893 does not consider hemp with THC of 0.3 % or less by dry weight a controlled substance. A license is required for the cultivation of hemp intended for CBD. However, a person does not need a permit to sell hemp-derived CBD products and their derivatives with low THC concentrations, provided the CBD products are legally produced as required by state law. CBD products sold at legal medical dispensaries must not contain more than 10 milligrams of THC. Ingestible hemp-derived CBD products are considered edibles and not controlled substances. Marketing or advertising that claims that these products offer medical or mental benefits is prohibited.

What are Connecticut CBD Possession Limits?

There are no possession limits for hemp-derived CBD in Connecticut. However, a person with a medical marijuana card can only purchase up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis-based CBD products within a 30-day period.

Can Doctors Prescribe CBD Oil in Connecticut?

Doctors cannot prescribe hemp-based CBD oil and other CBD products in Connecticut. They may recommend them. However, Connecticut approves the use of CBD oil as a treatment for certain medical conditions. The following are some of the eligible conditions:

• Cancer
• Cerebral Palsy
• Severe Epilepsy
• Glaucoma
• Sickle Cell Disease
• Uncontrolled Intractable Seizure Disorder
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Chronic pain
• Arthritis

If a person’s condition qualifies for CBD treatment, they can apply for the medical marijuana program in Connecticut.

How Old Do You Have to Be to Buy CBD in Connecticut?

You must be over the age of 18 to buy CBD in Connecticut. This rule applies to both hemp-derived and marijuana-derived CBD products. This age restriction makes CBD inaccessible to minors in Connecticut.

What are the Licensing Requirements for CBD in Connecticut?

The Connecticut Department of Agriculture oversees the Connecticut hemp program. Cultivation, processing, or manufacture of hemp must be carried out by licensed farmers, and application for a license must include the proposed location of the facility and written consent, allowing scheduled and random inspections from the Department of Agriculture. Hemps seeds must also be certified.

Individuals with felony convictions are not eligible to acquire a grower's license. The application fee for the license is $50. Licensed hemp growers are expected to pay a biennial grower's fee of $50 per acre of land, while processors pay an annual fee of $250.

The Food and Drug Agency (FDA) has not yet provided regulations that allow CBD-infused food, drinks, or dietary supplements to be sold. In essence, they can not be labeled with health or medical claims.

CBD product labels in Connecticut must comply with the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) label requirements. This requirement entails an identity statement that indicates product type, the net weight statement, and a list of all ingredients in the product. This must clearly state the presence of hemp and CBD as well as the name and address of the manufacturer or distributor. FDA warning statements that the product has not been evaluated for efficiency and safety must also be indicated. Additionally, CBD product labels in Connecticut must not have any medical or health claims. Furthermore, CBD labels must include a barcode or QR code that scans directly to a third-party lab test result. It must indicate the amount of active CBD per serving (whether it is full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, or isolate), supplement fact panel, including other ingredients.

Where to Buy CBD in Connecticut?

Following the passage of House Bill 5780, CBD products derived from hemp became available for purchase in Connecticut. They are available in retail shops such as convenience stores, health and wellness shops, state-licensed medical and recreational dispensaries, smoke shops, grocery stores, vape shops, yoga studios, and gyms

Consumers can also buy hemp-based CBD products from a variety of online stores. This allows access to detailed information about the product and compares different product types and prices. Some CBD brands have e-commerce shops where individuals can purchase CBD products directly from the brand's online stores.

What is CBD Oil?

CBD oil is made by mixing CBD extract with a carrier oil. When extracted from cannabis plants, CBD appears as a thick paste. To make it easier to ingest, manufacturers mix this paste with coconut oil or hemp seed oil. These carrier oils dissolve CBD paste easily and make it shelf-stable.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a chemical compound present in Cannabis sativa plants. It is known for its non-intoxicating and soothing effect. CBD is chemically similar to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) but does not produce the high sensation traditionally associated with THC. Both of them interact with the endocannabinoid system of a human’s body but to varying degrees.

A few CBD-based prescriptions are approved medications by The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a rare seizure disorder. One such medication is Epidiolex, with purified CBD from hemp. It is considered safe and effective for its intended purpose. Research works are ongoing to investigate the many other benefits of CBD and its derivatives, including the treatment of anxiety, depression, chronic pain, insomnia, obesity, schizophrenia, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, and epilepsy.

Using CBD products is not potentially harm-free. There are possible side effects and risks when taken alongside other medications. Such side effects include drowsiness, dehydration, low or loss of appetite, and fatigue. CBD commonly exists as an oil in Connecticut. However, it is also sold as an extract, in liquid, and in capsules such as gels, gums, and supplements. Other forms of CBD are edibles and topical for skin care which includes creams, lotions, and cosmetics.

CBD products from the hemp plant and its derivatives that consist of 0.3% THC or less by dry weight are legal under federal law. In 2018, the Agriculture Improvement Act, which removed hemp from the list of controlled substances, was passed and signed into law by the U.S. Congress, making hemp-based CBD legal in the United States, including Connecticut.

What Does CBD Do?

While research into the benefits of CBD are ongoing, there is already strong support for its anti-seizure properties and usefulness in the management of epilepsy. Other notable neurological benefits of CBD include its use in the management of depression and other mental health disorders. CBD is similarly useful for treating chronic pain and inflammation. Preliminary studies indicate it can also boost appetite and reduce blood pressure.

Does CBD Show Up on Connecticut Drug Test?

CBD does not show up on cannabis drug tests but CBD users may still fail such tests. This is because CBD products contain small amounts of THC. Hemp-derived CBD products may contain up to 0.3% THC while marijuana-derived CBD products may have higher levels of THC. Therefore, regular CBD users may have detectable levels of THC and its metabolites accumulated in their bodies. It is also possible to fail a drug test after taking a large dose of CBD shortly before the test.

CBD users in Connecticut can ensure they pass cannabis drug tests by switching to CBD products with 0% THC. For those intending to take scheduled drug tests, it is best to stop taking CBD products at least 2 weeks prior to their tests.