Fortunately, recently the openings to the CBD market have only found confirmations and to date drugs, cosmetics, drinks, oils, food products and anything else that is produced based on CBD are perfectly legal.
Europe is one part of the world where the regulation of CBD products is not going as fast as we expected. In fact, even when these products are available, there is mistrust among people. Opinions are divided, from the most naive to the most controversial.
This means that proper education should be introduced before these products are offered on the market. Where available, users claim to experience numerous benefits. However, it remains to examine the situation in Europe in more detail before drawing any conclusions.
Today we are giving you some important information about CBD legalization. But if you want to learn more about CBD in Europe and Ireland, click here.
The legal situation of CBD in Europe
What some call “Cannabis Light” is the real protagonist of this ever-growing market: it is, in fact, a plant that has THC rates below 0.6%.
This plant has generated many misunderstandings as it has been confused several times with other varieties of the same family much richer in THC, which is the molecule that gives psychotropic effects.
The CBD that is extracted from Cannabis Light plants is almost entirely free of THC and has no psychotropic effect, only beneficial. For this reason, Europe and the whole world have had to create special legislation in this regard.
Consider that, at present, the CBD market in Europe exceeds 500 million euros. The production, marketing and industrial use of all products derived from hemp are perfectly legal in the Ancient Continent.
There is only one fixed point: the THC rate. In fact, for these plants from which CBD is extracted, it is established by European law that a THC percentage higher than 0.2% cannot be contained.
CBD Regulations in the EU
Cultivation of the cannabis plant is allowed in the European Union, but only if permission is previously obtained from the EU’s Common Catalog of Varieties of Agricultural Plant Species.
The consumption of CBD products in Europe is not new, but the desire to regulate these products is new. Until now, many derived products have been available, including hemp seed oil and hemp seed flour.
However, the regulations remain the same – no one can arbitrarily manufacture and distribute products containing CBD. In order for this to happen, it is necessary to obtain a special permit from the European Union. Most often, these recommendations are also valid in European countries that are not members of the European Union. But at the same time, they have more freedom to regulate the market, although it may happen that they cannot export the products to EU countries. If they have the appropriate permit, export is possible.
Legal acts were the target of changes on several occasions, but this segment was never fully regulated. Activists for the use of CBD for medicinal purposes constantly point to the usefulness of this plant. In fact, what is happening in Europe is a long process of decriminalization so that society can become aware of and accept the beneficial aspects of cannabis products that do not contain the psychotropic THC.
What happens in the individual states
There have been some legislative problems in the past because the laws promulgated to this effect by Europe conflicted with those of the individual states.
This phenomenon is not uncommon in all areas, since the European Union is always shrouded in a very particular aura that sometimes creates uneven legislative situations.
Slowly, all states have adjusted their laws regarding the use of CBD on the principles indicated by the EU. Germany is carrying out a very broad discussion on hemp, even for non-legal cannabis, for purely medical use for patients afflicted by painful pathologies. CBD in Germany is perfectly legal and very popular.
In Switzerland, even if it is not part of the EU, CBD is perfectly legal even with higher THC rates than what the European Community has sanctioned: here, in fact, the presence of THC up to 1% is tolerated.
Denmark and Sweden have perfectly adapted to the European indications, and in both countries, it is possible to buy hemp-based products that have a THC of less than 0.2%.
A separate discussion for France, which is also the largest European producer of hemp in the whole continent and one of the most important in the whole world. In the Transalpine country, the production and trade of textile hemp are considered perfectly legal, i.e. aimed at the production of fibres. Hemp seeds can also be freely processed on the market.
As for CBD, in France, there was some resistance before adapting to European legislation and accepting products derived from it, as long as they have a THC rate of less than 0.2%. Curiously within the confines of Europe’s largest hemp producer, a certain reluctance towards this matter survives which prevents, by law, CBD products from being promoted as health benefits.
CBD in Italy – homeland of the best CBD online retailers
To date, CBD in Italy is perfectly legal. There has been, as usual, a long controversy on the subject that has brought more disinformation than information to citizens, but everything has worked out for the best.
Law 242, which came into force on January 14, 2017, has finally made it clear and decreed that in Italy it is possible to produce and market CBD-based products that have a THC content below 0.6%.
The Italian tolerance is therefore slightly higher than that suggested by the European Union even if, it should be remembered, we are talking about absolutely residual rates, especially if we consider that some cannabis varieties offer THC rates that exceed 30%.
Law 242 has given way to a thriving market in our country that has also affected various online e-commerce, such as JustBob.shop, which has quickly become one of the European points of reference for those approaching CBD-based products.
Conclusion
At the very end of this article we will try to remind you of every possible benefit of using CBD. It has been proven many times to relieve stress and ease anxiety. Some people around the world also use it as a pain reliever. Others use it as a topical treatment to treat certain symptoms of arthritis or muscle weakness. There are also skin care products as well as shampoos and hair conditioners.
In fact, it is a market that is widely accepted all over the world. That is why it is time for Europe to ease the laws, so that every European can feel the benefits of cannabis and products, without feeling like they are committing a crime.
That is why quick regulation is more than necessary. Hopefully the situation is changing for the better. Of course, we all hope that finally in Europe there will be quality CBD products with verified origin and appropriate quality certificates. All of that will contribute to proper regulation of the market, as well as to greater availability of products for any purpose.