Many people who are new to CBD tend to ask some of the same questions about it. One of the most common questions asked is, “Is there a minimum age requirement to buy CBD?” This is definitely a fair question, since many parents as well as older children (think high school-aged) wonder how old someone has to be to legally purchase hemp-based CBD products in the United States. Since this can be a complicated question to answer, we’ll attempt to break it down in the simplest way possible.
How Old Do You Need to be to Buy CBD?
The age requirement for buying CBD depends on the state that you live in. Each state has its own laws regarding hemp-derived CBD and marijuana. Therefore, you should check with your home state before heading out to buy any CBD products. Moreover, certain stores — both online or brick and mortar — have set age requirements as well. But, in order to buy CBD in general, you need to be at least 18 years old or older. And in some instances, you must be at least 21 years of age. Brick and mortar locations typically ask customers to verify their age by showing proof that they’re over 18. Furthermore, reputable brands that sell CBD products online also have ways of confirming your age. Additionally, states regulate the sale of CBD products with THC levels that are well over 0.3%, therefore, age requirements are in effect.
Is CBD Legal to Buy?
This is another common question among new CBD consumers. Sadly, the legality of CBD can be very tricky to understand if you haven’t done your research. First off, the 2018 Farm Bill made it legal for hemp-derived CBD to be bought and sold throughout the United States as long as it contains 0.3% or less THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol. Therefore, you can buy hemp-based CBD over the counter or online without needing a prescription, as the hemp plant naturally contains very low levels of THC. And because the THC content is so low in these types of products, there’s no worry about getting “high” from them. This is not the case with marijuana-based products. Because the marijuana plant contains high levels of THC, you will feel a euphoric “high” when using products derived from marijuana. In terms of legality, while hemp-based CBD products are legal on the federal level, that might not be the case with individual states. Each state has various laws regarding hemp-based CBD, as well as medicinal and/or recreational marijuana. So, if you’re looking to buy CBD products in the near future, you might want to look at the laws of your home state before buying.
What Should You Look for When Buying CBD?
Ever since the rise in CBD’s popularity, the number of brands making CBD products has grown exponentially. And while it may feel great to have a wealth of brands to choose from, the truth is that not all brands and products are created equal. There are lots of cheaply-made products on the market that are packed with harmful solvents, dangerous chemicals, and unnecessary additives. The best thing to remember when it comes to buying CBD, regardless of whether you purchase it in a store or online, is that knowledge is key. In trying to find a high-quality CBD product and brand, some of the things you should spend time researching in order to avoid poor quality CBD products are:
- Hemp Source — Look for brands that use clean, organic hemp that’s grown and harvested within the United States. Hemp that’s grown in Europe is not regulated in the same manner as hemp that’s grown in America. In looking at the brand’s hemp source, you can also check for a certificate of analysis, or COA, that’s provided by independent labs. This certificate will confirm that the product you’re interested in contains less than 0.3% THC, which means that it was made from industrial hemp.
- Extraction Method — One of the ways that you can ensure that you’re getting a pure and potent product is to confirm that the brand uses the industry preferred CO2 extraction process to obtain all of its hemp extracts. This method uses pressurized carbon dioxide to extract CBD from the hemp plant. With this method, there are not any dangerous substances or harmful chemicals left in the final product. The process also doesn’t use high temperatures that can degrade the potency of the extracted oil. Finally CBD oils that are made using the CO2 extraction process are more potent in general.
- Third-Party Lab Testing — Many less reputable brands that make low-quality products do not use a third-party lab. In fact, some brands don’t even list the CBD content on their products. If you don’t know exactly what you’re getting in a CBD product, then you might want to steer clear of that brand. All reputable brands use an independent lab to routinely test their products for potency and purity. And since reputable brands care about transparency and keeping the trust of their customers, those lab reports will also be easy for customers to obtain. FAB CBD uses a third-party lab to test all of its products and then posts those lab reports right on the FAB CBD website where customers can read them. In a perfect world, all CBD products should also come with a certificate of analysis, or COA. This allows customers to see exactly what’s in a product. The COA also measures how much CBD is present, as well as ensures that the product is free from toxic chemicals and dangerous additives.
- Know Your CBD Varieties — It’s always a good thing to know the difference between the three main CBD varieties. For example, there’s full-spectrum products, broad spectrum products, and CBD isolate products. Full-spectrum products contain all of the terpenes, cannabinoids, and phytonutrients in the hemp plant. Broad spectrum products are very similar to full-spectrum products except all of the THC has been removed. Lastly, CBD isolate products contain only 99% pure CBD, as the rest of the components have been filtered out using a special process. When compared to CBD isolate, full-spectrum and broad spectrum CBD offer something more. In full-spectrum and broad spectrum varieties, the cannabinoids work together in a phenomenon called the entourage effect. When the entourage effect happens, the cannabinoids work synergistically to boost each other’s positive properties while dampening their negative ones.
What Types of CBD Products are Available?
CBD can be made into many different types of products. One of the most common products, however, is CBD oil. CBD oil is typically taken by mouth and held under the tongue before swallowing. CBD can also be made into gummies. These types of products are easy, discreet, and come in a variety of fun shapes and flavors. Topical CBD products like salves and creams are gaining popularity because they offer targeted attention to uncomfortable muscles and joints. While these types of products are some of the most common ones, there are other types that consumers can choose from. FAB CBD crafts a solid line of high-quality CBD products that include “Anytime” and “Nighttime” gummies, Topical CBD Cream, Full Spectrum CBD Body Salve, CBD+CBG Oil, Calm & Cool Crunchy CBD Dog Treats, and of course, full-spectrum CBD oil in an array of strengths and flavors. If you’re trying to decide which products to choose, it’s best to try to narrow the options down to the ones that best suit your unique goals and needs.
Closing Thoughts: How Old Do You Have to Be to Buy Hemp Products?
Before jumping in and buying any products, it’s best if you first learn about your home state’s laws regarding CBD. Once you’ve studied up on those CBD laws, it will next be time to do some research into CBD, brands, and products. Remember that not all brands and products are created equal, so knowledge will be important as you transition into your shopping experience. If you’ve started your product search and have been struggling to find one that best suits your needs, then you might want to take some time to check out the FAB CBD product page. All reputable brands, like FAB CBD, create a strong variety of pure and potent products from clean hemp that’s grown in the United States. These types of brands also care deeply about being transparent, and thus have all of their products regularly tested by an independent lab. The brands then publish the lab reports on their websites where customers can easily find them.
Thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, CBD products derived from hemp with less than a 0.3% THC content were made legal throughout the United States. However, as we mentioned earlier, not every state has regulations that go along with the laws set forth by the federal government. Furthermore, some states also enforce age restrictions on the purchasing of CBD products. Some states, however, allow people who are 18 to buy CBD with valid proof of age. Moreover, a good majority of all reputable online brands also require customers to verify their age. Lastly, if you’re looking to purchase CBD from a local dispensary, then per state laws, you will need to be 21 years of age or older and show proof of it.
