In the UK, CBD is legal under certain conditions, but it’s not easy to access. The UK government has yet to define CBD as a medicine, so they are forced to regulate it as a food supplement. That means if one wants to use CBD in the UK for medical reasons they have to take out a license from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Without that license, one can’t buy or sell cannabis-based products in the UK.
What are the guidelines for CBD in the UK?
The guidelines for CBD in the UK are not entirely clear and are ever-changing. The UK government has explicitly warned that any use of CBD must be “patients only” or “partners”. That means they can only be used by people with cancer or epilepsy, or under their supervision.
They can also only be prescribed by a doctor who is registered with the MHRA. That means anyone wanting to buy CBD must first register as a patient with the MHRA, and then get approval from the MHRA to buy it for medical uses.
What do I need to know in 2021?
- THC is illegal in the UK.
- CBD products are considered food supplements or cosmetics.
- Medical cannabis is only available on prescription.
- Misuse of Drugs Act (MODA) considers CBD as an unapproved new drug (UAND).
- CBD flowers and hemp buds are not legal in the UK.
- CBD is still unregulated in the market.
What type of CBD products are still sold in the UK?
CBD oils are legal, and hemp foods are legal but only if the THC is under 0.2%.
Hemp seed oil and extracted CBD oils are the most common forms of CBD available to buy. However, you can also buy hemp food — this includes hemp pasta, brownies and even pizza — which contain no THC at all. If you’re interested in buying any such products, remember that they must contain less than 0.2% THC (the psychoactive component in cannabis). You should always check the label before you buy – the only legal limits on these foods are a maximum of 0.2% THC. CBD oils containing higher levels of THC (up to 2%) will remain illegal, even if they don’t provide any psychoactive effects.
What type of CBD products are illegal in the UK?
CBD Flowers: This is one of the banned and illegal types of CBD products you can buy in the UK, regardless of their THC concentration. It’s usually sold as a mixture of flowers and leaves that has been left to mature into a concentrated extract, but there are some companies that offer pure extracts. The best thing about these products is that they’re very easy to obtain, and all you need to do is fill out an application form with details about your condition and medical history. Remember that you can only purchase CBD flowers in countries that are legal outside the UK.
Hemp Buds: This is another illegal type of CBD products in the UK. Hemp buds are usually available as a whole-plant extract, but some companies offer pure extracts as well. The main difference between hemp buds and CBD flowers is that they usually contain a higher proportion of Cannabidiol (CBD). The best thing about hemp buds is that they have been shown to have very low levels of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), meaning there’s virtually no psychoactive effect, but they are not legal in the UK even if they contain less than 0.2% THC.
Final thoughts
Cannabis is still in the grey area in the UK. The guidelines for CBD are not very clear and are still developing. However, it’s not that easy for people living in the UK because access is restricted to people with specific medical conditions or who need help managing their condition. Marry Jane is one of the direct to consumer suppliers that sell legal CBD products in the UK.
Sources:
- What are the rules about cannabis oil in the UK? (https://www.bbc.com/news/health-44534861)
- Medical cannabis legalised UK: Who can prescribe CBD oil, are you eligible and what are the new laws? (https://www.standard.co.uk/news/health/medical-cannabis-legalised-uk-cbd-laws-a3976836.html)
- Cannabis oil products ‘could be off the shelves in a year’ (https://www.bbc.com/news/business-51480940)
- Industrial hemp licensing (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/controlled-drugs-industrial-hemp)
- Welcome to our new MHRA website (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/welcome-to-our-new-mhra-website)
- Cannabidiol (CBD) guidance (https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/cannabidiol-cbd)
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