Is CBDa and CBD Legal in Maryland? Old Line State’s CBD Laws

The popularity of CBDa and CBD in Maryland and across the U.S has seen a meteoric rise in the last decade, and in particular, the last two years. This is partly thanks to the legal status that CBD attained with the passage of the Farm Bill in 2018. The Farm Bill made some presentations of CBD and CBD products completely legal. And that includes the 1:1 formulation of CBDa and CBD that we include in every one of the hemp extract products we produce here at Tanasi.

However, the legal CBD and CBDa journey started earlier with the 2015 State Industrial Hemp Statutes, which made a distinction between industrial hemp and illegal marijuana. The State Industrial Hemp Statutes defined industrial hemp as a cannabis plant contain less than 0.3% in weight of THC. And, with the passage of that law, our team of dedicated, university-based scientists was able to start researching the hemp plant, ultimately discovering our 2X more effective formulation as well lots of interesting data on autophagy. (You can learn more about what we’ve discovered by searching for that term here.)

In that same bill, the growth, production, and processing of industrial hemp and its products, including CBD and CBDa, also became legal. On the other hand, the statutes define marijuana as a cannabis plant that contains 0.3% THC or more in weight. With this distinction made, industrial hemp, from which CBD derives, became legal. Now, people could access CBD legally and benefit from the compound without worrying about incurring legal repercussions. Herein we will explore all matters pertaining to the legality of CBD and CBDa while answering the question, “Is CBD legal in Maryland?”

What Is CBD?

CBD is shorthand for cannabidiol. It is one of over 100 distinct chemical compounds found in Cannabis Sativa plants, including hemp and marijuana. The compound is non-psychoactive, and according to the World Health Organization, it is not addictive.

Past Legislations Outlining the Legal Status of Cannabis, Hemp, And CBD

The enactment of the 1970 Federal Controlled Substances Act made all compounds derived from cannabis illegal at a federal level. That included hemp. The plant fell under the Schedule 1 category for banned substances. The schedule took effect despite the fact that most hemp plants have extremely low levels of THC content. THC’s psychoactive effects were, of course, the whole reason to ban cannabis as a whole. Schedule 1 categorized listed substances as having a high potential for abuse, the likelihood for addiction, and no acceptable medical uses.

In 2015, Maryland passed HB 803. This legislation defined industrial hemp as a cannabis plant with no more than 0.3% THC. On the other hand, It also defined industrial hemp that had more than 0.3% THC in weight as being the same as marijuana. This distinction was important in order to make a legal distinction between industrial hemp and cannabis. Crucially, the law legalized the growing, harvesting, and processing of industrial hemp and its products in Maryland.

In 2016, Maryland passed HB 443, a bill that allowed educational institutions to grow industrial hemp plants for research purposes. This bill was breaded in the 2018 HB 698 by allowing the selling, transporting, and distribution of industrial hemp inside and outside of Maryland.

Legislation regarding CBD derived from cannabis actually started earlier. In 2013, Governor Martin O’Malley approved medical marijuana via legislation That made it possible for approved patients to receive marijuana-derived CBD as part of their treatment. However, over the next few years, Maryland faced legal challenges to the bill, which delayed its implementation. In 2017, the Maryland government finally rolled out and implemented the medical marijuana program in full. Under this program, medical marijuana patients could legally access both CBD and THC from cannabis plants.

Is CBD Legal in Maryland? – Present Legislation

The current legal status of CBD in Maryland stems from the Farm Bill. Signed in 2018, the Farm Bill is a federal Act signed into law on December 20, 2018. The Act created a legal distinction between industrial hemp and cannabis. That automatically legalized industrial hemp cultivation at a federal level.

The legislation defined industrial hemp as a cannabis plant whose THC content does not exceed 0.3% of its weight. On the other hand, marijuana became a cannabis plant with more than 0.3% THC by weight. Consequently, the Act removed industrial hemp and its products from the Schedule 1 category of banned substances. CBD derived from industrial hemp is considered legal. Meanwhile, CBD derived from cannabis and containing more than 0.3% is automatically marijuana and, thus, illegal.

Additionally, the Farm Bill gave the FDA regulatory powers. Labeling, marketing verbiage, and therapeutic claims made by CBD processors and vendors fall into the FDA’s purview. The FDA is currently not considering hemp-derived as a dietary supplement. Also, it explicitly mandates to avoid adding it to beverages and food. However, the FDA began a reevaluation process on CBD and will likely revise some regulations.

So? Is CBD Legal in Maryland Today?

The answer to this question depends on the original plant source material.

What Makes Hemp-Derived CBD Legal and Marijuana Illegal in Maryland?

The difference in classification between hemp and marijuana in the Controlled Substance Act gives rise to their different legal standing. The Farm Act delisted industrial hemp from the list of Schedule 1 substances. Yet, it still kept cannabis plants with more than 0.3% THC as a Schedule 1 substance. As such, possession of marijuana still comes with steep penalties at the federal level.

That said, Maryland lessened the punishment for possession of up to 120 grams of cannabis. People caught in possession of up to 120 grams of cannabis receive a fine of up to $100 for first offenses. Second offenders get a fine of up to $250, and every offense after that attracts a fine of up to $500. Individuals under the age of 21 caught with marijuana or third-time offenders must also attend a substance abuse program.

However, possession of more than 120 grams is a misdemeanor offense that attracts a maximum penalty of $1000 fine and one year in prison.

Maryland CBD Possession Limits

There are no limits for possessing, purchasing, or consuming industrial hemp-derived CBD in Maryland. Additionally, there are no limits to the amount of marijuana-derived CBD for medical marijuana patients. However, there are limits to the amount of actual marijuana medical marijuana patients can possess, purchase, and consume.

Patients with medical marijuana can only consume up to 120 grams of medical marijuana over 30 days. For medical marijuana concentrate consumers, they can only consume 36 grams of concrete over 30-days. Should a doctor recommend a high amount or higher concentrate, the state may approve the higher limit on a case-by-case basis.

Other Legal Considerations Regarding CBD

The following are some things you should keep an eye open for when it comes to CBD.

False Advertising

This is a legal consideration for CDB producers and sellers. Producers and sellers of CBD and CBD-based products can get in legal trouble at the state and federal level. For instance, advertising CBD products as capable of curing Alzheimer’s, diabetes, or cancer, will expose you to civil and or criminal charges.

The FDA does not approve of the use of CBD products as drugs. With this in mind, producers and sellers of CBD products must ensure their ad copies do not paint them as such. Since 2015, the FDA has issued numerous warning letters to online retailers that made false claims. In many cases, warned retailers changed the verbiage in their marketing and web copies.

Do I Need A Prescription to Purchase CBD or CBDa?

Some people think that they need a prescription to buy CBD. Federal law prevents doctors from prescribing CBD. In fact, they might lose their license by prescribing CBD, given that the FDA does not classify it as a drug. Many doctors consider CBD as a supplement, and your doctor can only recommend CBD. After that, consumers can purchase the oil over the counter, as they would with other supplements.

That said, if you are on medication, you ought to consult your doctor before taking CBD oil or CBD-derived products. The compound might interact with the medication you are taking, yielding undesired results.

Potential Future Legislation Regarding CBD

Industrial hemp growing, processing, and selling are legal in Maryland. Yet, there are still outstanding issues for the legislature to deal with in the coming years. Among such issues is the legislation revolving around industrial hemp cultivation. Maryland is currently streamlining the registration process for farmers looking to venture into industrial hemp cultivation. Once done, land regarding the registration of industrial hemp farmers are in place, growing hemp in the state will become easier.

How and Where to Buy CBD Legally

The question, “Is CBD Legal in Maryland” is quite common. Additionally, many Maryland residents want to know where they can purchase CBD legally.

Given that it is legal to purchase CBD and CBD-derived products without restrictions in Maryland, you can purchase your CBD from any number of brick-and-mortar shops.

However, shopping for CBD online might be the best option out there. Not only do you get the best deals from online vendors, but you also access a wider variety of high-quality products. The best part of all is that online retailers are cheaper. Since they have less overhead than brick and mortar stores, they like to reflect that on their price tag. What’s there not to love?