Is CBD Legal In Rhode Island

When you visit the over the counter medicine section in drugs stores or other places, you will find hundreds of medicinal products that can help with almost any kind of ailment. There are just as many prescription drugs to choose from too that you can have recommended by your doctor. Many of these medications have side-effects that you never asked for. However, we buy them anyway because we need relief from whatever condition we have.

In recent years, one of the fastest-growing products on the market that people claim can treat a host of conditions all at once is cannabidiol (CBD). Cannabidiol is a cannabinoid compound found in both hemp and marijuana. Even though further research is needed to back up all of the claims some people make concerning the effectiveness of CBD, some studies have shown it to be effective in treating some seizures caused by epilepsy. In fact, there has already been one FDA approved CBD-based drug called Epidiolex that is being prescribed for seizures.

In 2018, the Farm Bill was passed n the federal level that removed hemp from the Schedule I Controlled Substance list. This was because it was finally accepted that hemp does not cause intoxication like marijuana does, a close cousin to hemp. Hemp has been legalized to grow as an industrial crop, and CBD obtained from hemp is legal nationwide as long as the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) does not exceed 0.3%.

What Is CBD Used For?

Besides being found to help to treat seizures, there are many other conditions CBD is believed to be beneficial for. Many claim it helps with their sleep disorders because CBD promotes a calm, relaxing effect. Others say that it reduces inflammation from things like arthritis. A reduction in inflammation often results in pain relief too.

Since CBD appears to cause relaxation and calmness, it is also being used to treat things like post-traumatic stress syndrome and anxiety. These are conditions that usually require prescription medications from a doctor for effective treatment. The problem is that the side-effects from some of these medications can be hard to deal with. Some can cause weight gain, some cause grogginess during the day, or a foggy brain. Most people that are using CBD products for their medical or mental conditions say they have little to no side-effects.

In recent years, CBD sales have soared all over the world simply because so many say how well it works for them. Since the Farm Bill passed, hemp-derived CBD products are legal all over our country and are easily obtained in stores or online.

Why Is CBD Sometimes Illegal?

There are only 11 states so far that have totally legalized marijuana for recreational use. This means that CBD products derived from marijuana are legal too. In 33 states, there are medical marijuana programs that also allow marijuana-derived CBD products for medical use, as long as you are signed up and approved for their program. It is necessary to check the rules for CBD products that contain more than the 0.3% THC level that the federal government allows in the state you live in.

In the states where marijuana is still illegal, you could face stiff fines and even jail time if you possess CBD from marijuana with higher than 0.3% THC without a state-issued medical marijuana card or certificate. CBD from hemp is strictly regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and recently, they are trying to make it easier to have CBD-based medicines approved. Obtaining CBD from hemp with the legal amount of THC should not be a problem in any state.

Current CBD Laws In Rhode Island

Even though Rhode Island has decriminalized marijuana, it is still illegal. This is the same as decriminalization in other states like Maine. If you are found in possession of weed, you won’t face jail time or get a criminal record for a first offense. Possessing a small amount of weed is treated like a minor traffic violation. This would also include CBD products derived from marijuana that contain more than 0.3% THC.

CBD from hemp that contains 0.3% or less of THC is perfectly legal in Rhode Island. If you are a hemp grower, handler, retailer, or distributor in the state, you must obtain a license through the Department of Business Regulation. There are labeling requirements that must be followed. The label must provide tracking information for the source of the hemp. The extraction method, solvents used, amount of CBD and THC must be included too. The label must include the information that the product has not been approved by the FDA and can not promote any medical claims.

Since there are so many CBD products on the market today all over the country, it is good that Rhode Island has such strict labeling guidelines. Not all CBD products are created equally, and reading the label is key to knowing what you are buying.

In 2019, Rhode Island laws allowed for the sale of CBD-infused foods and beverages. You must be at least 21 years old to purchase these food and beverage products and CBD oils as well. People in Rhode Island and in many other states enjoy the ability to get their CBD in some of their favorite foods and drinks.