Is CBD Legal In Maine

Throughout most of the history of mankind, natural plants and herbs were used to treat medical issues because they were all that were available at the time. Over the centuries, many of these natural element remedies were effective for treating many things. In many parts of the world in those days, marijuana and hemp were herbal plants that were commonly used.

With modern times also came modern medicine, and many of those old home remedies were left behind. It was easier to make a doctor visit and get a prescription for whatever ailed you instead of making your own medicines. It was in the early twentieth century that both marijuana and hemp were outlawed in the United States. At the time, it was believed that both plants could cause intoxication.

It wasn’t until the 2018 Farm Bill that hemp was finally removed from the Schedule I Controlled Substance list in the US, but federally, marijuana remains illegal. Hemp was removed from the list because it was accepted that it did not cause intoxication like its cousin marijuana does. It has only been in recent years that the many benefits of hemp and marijuana have been rediscovered.

Both hemp and marijuana have cannabinoid compounds that are thought to be beneficial for both physical and mental conditions. Even though both plants contain the same cannabinoids, they do not share them in equal amounts. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is more abundant in marijuana and does cause intoxication. Cannabidiol (CBD) is more abundant in hemp and does not cause intoxication. Studies have been conducted using both of these cannabinoids to determine what they can be used for medically.

What Is CBD Used For?

Medical marijuana has been around since the mid-1970s. Its accessibility was limited and was only allowed to be used for a few conditions, such as glaucoma. CBD was discovered in the 1940s. Even though it has been studied since then, it has only been in recent years that it has become so widely marketed and used. CBD products were legal to use in some states before 2018, but it was illegal on the federal level until then.

Even though research continues and plenty of skeptics remain, many believe that CBD is an excellent treatment for many medical conditions. To date, the only CBD-based drug that has FDA approval is Epidiolex. It has been shown effective in treating some types of seizures. Some studies have shown CBD to have anti-inflammatory properties and may help reduce pain as well.

Other uses for CBD products are to treat anxiety, sleep disorders, post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD), and other conditions. Although it has not been conclusively proven that CBD is effective in treating all of these conditions, some studies have shown promising results. Despite conclusive findings, people continue to use CBD on a mass scale today, and its sales are through the roof!

Why Is CBD Sometimes Illegal?

Even though the 2018 Farm Bill legalized the sale and use of CBD products on a federal level, it also made sure that the THC content of these products could not exceed 0.3% and must be derived from hemp. This is because higher THC content could cause intoxication. However, individual states have the authority to allow more THC in CBD products if they choose to.

In the US states that have legalized marijuana, it is possible to obtain CBD products with a higher THC content. It is also legal in those states to get CBD derived from marijuana. In the US states where marijuana is still illegal, the only way it is possible to obtain marijuana-derived CBD or CBD with higher amounts of THC is through a medical marijuana program.

Medical marijuana programs vary from state to state. The conditions that qualify for treatment with marijuana or CBD products with high THC may be different in one US state than in another US state. To be approved for a medical marijuana program, you must have a qualifying condition and have a recommendation from a licensed physician. Once approved, you will have access to these products, but they must be obtained from a state dispensary.

In the 11 states that have legalized marijuana for recreational and medicinal use, you can use CBD products with whatever THC content you choose. In the 33 states that have medical marijuana programs, such as New Jersey, if you are a state card or certificate holder, you must abide by the laws concerning that medical program. If you are caught with CBD that has a higher amount of THC than the state allows, it could be treated the same as marijuana possession and have the same penalties.

Current CBD Laws In Maine

Maine was among the first US states to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana in 1976. In 2009, the state passed legislative Document 250 (LD 250) that made possessing 2.5 ounces of marijuana a civil infraction. Cannabis laws that were passed in 1999 allowed medical marijuana patients the right to grow marijuana for medicinal purposes.

In 2016, Maine legalized recreational marijuana, but the sale of recreational weed was still prohibited. It was a bit confusing because there was nowhere in the state to legally buy marijuana. Finally, in September 2020, the state started granting licenses to recreational cannabis businesses.

In Maine, CBD products derived from hemp should not have more than 0.3% THC level according to legislation LD 630 passed in 2019. You can buy hemp-derived CBD products online or in the stores in Maine that sell it. Now that there are cannabis retail stores in Maine, you should be able to obtain marijuana-derived CBD products with higher amounts of THC in those places.

Whenever you buy CBD products, you want to make sure it is coming from a reputable dealer. Many times CBD products have been found to contain very little CBD. Whether or not you use CBD with more than 0.3% THC, most people want CBD products for the amount of CBD it has.