CBD Oil in Illinois: Is it Legal & Where to Buy

Buying CBD Oil in Illinois can be confusing, but rest assured, it's really quite simple. When shopping and researching, it helps to keep certain specs in mind. Most importantly, it helps to understand the basics of hemp and CBD oil before making your purchase. The current laws regarding CBD have confused many people who are looking for high-quality products. Our guide will tell you what you need to know about the legality of CBD oil in Illinois, where to find high quality products in the state, and what the differences are between buying CBD oil online vs in local brick and mortar stores. 

What You Need to Know About CBD in Illinois

CBD oil is made when the terpenes, phytonutrients, and cannabinoids are extracted from the cannabis plant. CBD, or cannabidiol, is one of more than 100 cannabinoids found in cannabis. And unlike tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, which is the other main cannabinoid in the cannabis plant, CBD is not psychoactive. In order to buy and sell CBD throughout the United States, the products must be derived from the hemp plant and must contain 0.3% or less THC. Both hemp and marijuana are varieties of the cannabis plant, however, only hemp-based products are federally legal per the 2018 Farm Bill. CBD products that are made from marijuana are only legal in states that have existing medicinal and/or recreational marijuana laws in effect.

While there are a wealth of different types of products on the market, one of the most common methods of consuming CBD oil involves taking it as an oil or a tincture. Some other popular CBD products include capsules, soft gels, gummies, creams, and salves. Because CBD is so popular, it can be purchased just about anywhere including at most health food stores or online. You can also find CBD products at herb shops or dispensaries.

Different Types of CBD Oil Varieties

What many who are new to CBD oil might not know is that there are three main varieties of CBD oils and products to choose from. And in order to find a product that best suits your unique needs, it will help to have a better understanding of them.

CBD Isolate

This is CBD in one of its purest forms. When you choose CBD isolate oils, what you’re getting is 99% pure cannabidiol. All the rest of the hemp plant components have been carefully filtered out using a highly specialized process. The upside to using CBD isolate oils is that you’ll be getting pure CBD, however, you won’t be getting any of the other important cannabinoids, terpenes, and phytonutrients from the hemp plant that may be helpful to your body’s endocannabinoid system.

Full-Spectrum CBD Oil

This type of oil tends to be more popular than CBD isolate because it contains all the cannabinoids naturally found in cannabis — CBN, CBD, CBG, CBC, THC, and more — rather than just CBD. Because you’ll be getting all of the good stuff that the hemp plant has to offer, you’ll be helping to boost or support the workings of your endocannabinoid system, or ECS, in the long-run. Moreover, because full-spectrum products must legally contain 0.3% or less THC, there’s no way that you can get “high” from taking them.

Broad Spectrum CBD Oil

Broad spectrum CBD oils are similar to full-spectrum oils in that they contain the same hemp plant components. The main difference between the two, however, is that all of the THC has been carefully filtered out of broad spectrum oils. Therefore, if you have concerns about THC, or are nervous that you may come up with a false positive on a drug test, then broad spectrum products might be a good option to go with.

Is CBD Oil Legal in Illinois?

The short answer is yes. CBD oil is legal in all 50 states and the District of Columbia thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill. However, some states have more restrictive laws on CBD than others. For example, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Michigan is one of those states that does not allow medical marijuana use or possession of CBD oil by patients who live there. In fact, Michigan is one of only three states where someone could be arrested for possessing or using CBD oil that’s been prescribed by a doctor. 

In Illinois, however, anyone over the age of 21 can buy CBD products in the state. Additionally, marijuana-derived products are legal in Illinois. The state legalized these types of products under the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act in 2020. This bill allows residents ages 21 and over to buy up to one ounce of flower and five grams of cannabis concentrate. Interestingly, those who visit Illinois can also possess half of those amounts without any legal issues. A law was also passed on July 29, 2016 decriminalized the possession of 10 grams of marijuana. 

Illinois legalized recreational marijuana in June of 2019, thus becoming the 11th state to do so. As such, residents can buy up to 30 grams of marijuana from licensed vendors, up to 500 mg of THC-infused products, and no more than 5 grams of concentrated products. Non-residents of the state cannot possess more than 15 grams of marijuana. Possession of more than 30 grams can lead to one to three years in prison and a maximum fine of $25,000. In short, Illinois has some of the better marijuana laws over other states in the nation.

Medicinal Marijuana in Illinois

Illinois passed the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Act in 2013. This bill made it legal for people with certain medical illnesses to buy and use marijuana. Some of the defined medical conditions that fall under this bill are: 

• ALS
• Cancer
• Crohn’s Disease
• HIV/AIDS
• Glaucoma
• Epilepsy
• Spinal cord injuries/disease
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Dystonia
• Lupus
• Hepatitis C
• Myoclonus
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Hydrocephalus
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Severe Fibromyalgia
• Terminal illness
• Tourette’s Syndrome

People diagnosed with these conditions can apply for a medicinal marijuana license if they are: 

• !8 years old or older
• Have a doctor’s approval
• Are an Illinois resident

Patients of the Illinois medical marijuana program are legally allowed to purchase 2.5 ounces of marijuana every two weeks and grow up to five plants at home.

Where to Buy CBD Oil in Illinois

CBD oil is popping up in all corners of the state due to its massive growth in popularity among consumers who are seeking out natural health supplements. While it’s exciting to have an almost limitless number of places to buy CBD oil from, not all stores, brands, and products are created equal. 

Buying CBD Oil Online

Today's market offers several options for buying CBD oil. You can either buy CBD oil from local stores or from online retailers. Many reputable and trusted brands sell high-quality CBD oil, but while there are a good number of respected brands out there, there are also some less-reputable ones that sell cheaply-priced low-quality products. Therefore, it’s important to do your research before buying any products online or in stores.

Some Guidelines for Finding Trusted Online Stores:

• Look for a brand that’s been selling products for several years and that has verified positive customer reviews. Trusted brands have been in the business for quite a while and also have a stellar reputation among their customers and those in the industry. 
• Read the list of ingredients for the product(s) you want to purchase. You should know where the brand sources its hemp from, if the ingredients are clean and organic, and how much THC is in the product. Read any and all third-party lab reports, as these will tell you the purity and potency of the product. Brands that care about transparency will have all of this information easily available to anyone looking for it.
• Product prices for respected brands will be a little on the high side, but will also be priced affordably and competitively. Less reputable brands tend to sell cheaply priced products that have the potential to be low in potency and packed with harmful chemicals and additives.
• Avoid brands that make outlandish claims about their products. Anything that seems too good to be true most likely is. Established reputable brands give their customers factual information about their products without any false advertising. 

Local Stores Selling CBD Oil in Illinois

CBD oil can be purchased at many local stores throughout Illinois, including some drug stores. However, these products may not be available at all locations and may not be of high quality. So, while you’re at a local brick and mortar location, you will want to take some time to read any and all information they have about their brands and products. Moreover, employees should be knowledgeable about those brands and about CBD in general. 

Some local CBD shops in Illinois that you may want to visit include:

Chicago:

• Dispensary 33
• Level Vape
• Roots Smoke & Vapor Shop
• CBD Kratom

Aurora:

• Happy Daze
• Elixrz Vape Shop
• Midwest Compassion Center Cannabis Dispensary

Joliet:

• MI Vape
• SkyCity Vapes
• 3C Dispensary
• Midwest Compassion Center

There are other areas and stores in Illinois where you can find high-quality CBD products, however, you should do some research on these locations before heading out to shop. 

Differences Between Online Shops vs Local Stores

Online shopping is becoming increasingly popular, especially among consumers looking for the best deals. It's also a great way to save money if you're looking for something specific that you can't find in your local area. However, not all online shopping is created equal. While there are some great sites out there that offer fantastic deals, there are also some that don't have what it takes to compete with the best local retailers.

If you're thinking about shopping in an online store, some of the differences between online shops and local stores:

• Price: Regarding pricing, online shops usually charge less than other retailers. Keep in mind that most reputable e-commerce brands offer subscription services, coupon codes, or programs that help cut down on some of their prices. Additionally, most well-known brands work hard to make sure their products are priced competitively and affordably.
• Shipping: If you're looking for fast shipping times, then an online shop might not be right for you if you’re wanting to immediately have product in your hands. The trade off to this is that in buying from brands online, you’ll be able to take as much time as you need to shop from the comfort of your home and have your order delivered directly to your doorstep. This isn’t possible with brick and mortar locations.
• Quality control: In shopping online, you can deeply research products and brands while taking all the time you need to do so. You can read and look up product ingredients, as well as comb through third-party lab reports. You may not be able to do this when shopping for CBD oil in a store. Furthermore, the staff at these physical locations may not be able to fully answer your questions or address your concerns in a way that satisfies you.

What to Look for When Buying CBD Oil in Illinois

When purchasing CBD oil in Illinois, there are several factors that you should consider before making your final decision. The quality and price of the product will vary depending on where you purchase it from. Additionally, you should compare prices between different online retailers to find the best deals available. Below are some factors to look for when buying CBD oil in Illinois.

Product Origin

Before buying CBD oil in Illinois, it's important to know where the product is made and what it offers. You can research the brand that produces your CBD oil and ask questions about their strain and extraction methods. Respected brands will also have a third-party lab test their products for purity and potency.

Extraction Method

The two main extraction methods are used for CBD oil are CO2 extraction and ethanol extraction. The former uses carbon dioxide to extract the active compounds from the plant, while the latter uses ethanol to extract these compounds from the plant. Both techniques have their pros and cons, but there's no doubt that CO2 extraction is more expensive than ethanol extraction. Still, it produces a cleaner product with a higher concentration of cannabinoids like CBD and THC.

CBD Oil Quality

CBD oil quality will depend on how potent it is, what extraction methods were used, and whether there are additives or contaminants. If you're interested in buying CBD oil to use in your daily natural supplement routine, then you’ll  want to make sure that the product you choose has been grown organically and is free from pesticides and other harmful chemicals.

Brand Transparency

If you're looking for a CBD oil brand that's transparent about its operation and products, then look for one with social media profiles that post regular updates about its products and operations. This will give potential customers a good idea of what they're getting into before they commit to purchasing anything. Moreover, transparent brands use third-party labs to regularly test all of its products. These brands will also post the reports on their websites where customers can easily find and read them.

Wrapping Up: How to Find the Best CBD Oil in Illinois

If you're looking to buy CBD oil, be sure you know what you're looking for. Remember that not all brands and products are created equal. Therefore, before you hop online or visit a local store to buy CBD oil in Illinois, you’ll want to take as much time as you need to properly do your research. Furthermore, if you’re unsure about the fine print of laws in Illinois or the laws and regulations in your particular area of the state, then you may want to do some further research into them before spending your hard-earned money on CBD products. In general, you’ll want to be comfortably well-versed about CBD and the laws in the Prairie State before making any buying decisions. So if you’re unsure about the product quality of the brands found in local stores, you can always spend some time vetting and shopping CBD brands and products online.