Top 5 states Of United States With the best Policies Regarding CBD
Top 5 states Of United States With the best Policies Regarding CBD
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive marijuana extract packed with a wide variety of medicinal benefits to users. It doesn’t contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and therefore doesn’t make one feel high. In the United States, CBD use for medical purposes is legal in most, if not all of the states. A number of states, including Oregon, Nevada, Maine, Washington, Alaska, Colorado, California and Massachusetts have legalized use of cannabis-derived CBD products for recreational purposes and without a prescription.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive marijuana extract packed with a wide variety of medicinal benefits to users. It doesn’t contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and therefore doesn’t make one feel high. In the United States, CBD use for medical purposes is legal in most, if not all of the states. A number of states, including Oregon, Nevada, Maine, Washington, Alaska, Colorado, California and Massachusetts have legalized use of cannabis-derived CBD products for recreational purposes and without a prescription.
Different states have come up with laws to regulate the growing, use, distribution and sale of cannabidiol products. Various have been specific on the THC concentration, with some demanding for 0.3% or less while others have capped the concentration at 8%. Discussed herein are top 5 states with best policies regarding CBD.
1. Delaware
According to the Delaware Medical Marijuana Act (Senate Bill 17), the use of medical marijuana for treatment of various complications is legal so long as there is a written recommendation by a qualified physician and the patient must present an identification card. The led to the introduction of one of the best medical marijuana programs in the United States. Patients, upon getting the requisite doctor’s certification can get an identification card from the Department of Health and Social Services which allows them to buy any of the legalized CBD products from designated compassion centers.
Qualified users are allowed possession of at most 6 ounces of medical marijuana at any given time. This program allows the treatment of an assortment of conditions including Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, autism, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), HIV/AIDs, multiple sclerosis, decompensated cirrhosis, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and various terminal illnesses. It is further prescribed for the treatment of conditions that cause the following symptoms; intractable nausea, cachexia, severe pain, seizures and persistent muscle spasms.
Initially, use of CBD oil and related products was limited to patients who were 18 years and older. However, this was reduced in 2015 in a bill that legalized use of these products to minors younger than 18. There is however a cap on the CBD concentration of these products (15%) and 7% THC. It is however illegal for individuals to cultivate marijuana in Delaware. A house bill passed in 2015 permits institutions of higher learning to cultivate cannabis for academic or agricultural research.
2. Florida
Governor Rick Scott signed the SB 1030 bill into law on June 16th 2014. The bill legalized the use cannabis extracted cannabidiol products (non-smoked such as CBD edibles or oils) with a CBD concentration of not more than 10% and less than 0.8% THC concentration for the treatment medical conditions such as severe spasms, seizures and cancer. This move made it possible for patients with debilitating illness and conditions that cause chronic seizures get treatment. Patients are required to register to get access to these products; it bars anyone not registered with the relevant state authorities from purchasing these products. This however doesn’t apply to products with 0.3% CBD concentration because they tend to be acceptable across the 50 states of the USA.
3. California
California was the very first state to legalize the use of medical marijuana in the United States, having passed the ballot proposition 215 in November 1996. This made it possible for all patients with either oral or written recommendation from the doctor stating that they needed to use CBD products for medical conditions to buy and use. Patients are limited to a maximum of 8 ounces at any given time. Some of the conditions in which medical marijuana is used include chronic pain, migraine, HIVAIDs, severe nausea, anorexia, cancer, severe muscle spasms, glaucoma, arthritis, and conditions that leads to severe seizures such as epilepsy.
Unlike other states, California allows individuals (adults aged 21 years and older) to cultivate at most 6 plants of cannabis for their recreation. This is captured under the Adult Use of Marijuana Act (proposition 64).
4. Colorado
Colorado was among the very first states to legalize medical marijuana and has one of the most comprehensive programs on the use of marijuana for both medical and recreational purposes. According to amendment 64 of 2012, adults aged 21 years and older are permitted to grow three mature and three immature cannabis plant in a private locked space. Anyone is allowed to have up to one ounce of marijuana when traveling, with consumption regulated just as alcohol. Use of medical marijuana by minors is allowed for different medical conditions. Approved medical conditions include nausea, HIV/AIDs, cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder, cachexia, severe pain, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis and muscle spasms, among others.
5. Oregon
As a pioneer state in the legalization of medical Marijuana in 1998, Oregon later legalized recreational use of marijuana in 2014 with the approval of Oregon Ballot Measure 91 (2014). It is easy to purchase and use CBD edibles and similar products, but it is a requirement that they are strictly to be sold by licensed retailers. The age limit for use of marijuana products such as brownies, candy bars, candy bars, and extracts plus many more is capped at 21 years.
A series of amendments have been introduced into the bill legalizing use of medical marijuana in Oregon, mainly focusing on the conditions for approval, legal requirements and use. The state allows approved and registered patients up to 6 mature and/or 18 immature plants 24 ounces.
North and South Carolina
In 2015, North Carolina’s governor Pat McCrory signed the HB 766 bill into law, officially legalizing CBD in the state. The hemp extract was especially meant to benefit the many cases of intractable epilepsy but only in cases where the patients were unresponsive to at least three traditional remedies. It capped THC concentration at 0.9% maximum and at least 5% CBD. The bill was unanimously passed in the senate and only 2 representatives in the house voted against it.
In South Carolina, the “Julian’s Law” which was passed in 2014 legalized CBD products that contain less than 0.9% THC and not less than 15% CBD concentration for medical use. Some of the conditions this law targeted to benefit included Dravet syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and other epilepsy-related complications. The law therefore made it possible for anyone with a doctor’s prescription to access cannabidiol from designated centers.
Conclusion
The use of CBD products for medical purposes is widely accepted and legal in USA. There are however variations especially on the CBD and THC concentration from one state to other. It is also important to note that, states like North Carolina are very specific on qualifying patients, compelling doctors to try other alternatives before prescribing CBD. Recreational use of marijuana is also gaining acceptance and different states are coming up with laws to on the same. It is therefore important to understand the legal implications of possessing and using CBD-enriched products based on the state.