“Do I need to be 21 to buy CBD?” “Do I need a med card to come in?” “How old do tou have to be to buy CBD?” “Is CBD legal?” I receive phone calls and questions like this frequently. Due to the federal government and local governments having different requirements for purchasing CBD, there is a lot of confusion surrounding how old you have to be to purchase hemp derived CBD products.
For our locations here in Colorado Springs, the answer is pretty straightforward. You need to be 18 or older to purchase most of our CBD products. If you’re interested in vaping, smoking, or products that cause intoxication you must be at least 21. These requirements for purchasing legal hemp products can vary by state, and sometimes even by the city or county that you’re in.
How Old Do You Need to be to Buy CBD?
2018 Agriculture Improvement Act
Are you familiar with the 2018 Agriculture Improvement Act? It’s actually why CBD has become more accessible across the United States over the past few years. Federal laws surrounding CBD changed when this went into effect. It made CBD legal!
Also referred to as the 2018 farm bill, this federal law that was signed in December of 2018. Hemp and hemp seeds were removed from the legal definition of marijuana by the federal government, thus also removing them from the DEA schedule of Controlled Substances. The farm bill also made the movement of industrial hemp and industrial hemp-derived products across state lines legal when produced legally. This means we can ship CBD to all fifty states! This is restricted to industrial hemp plants that contain low amounts of delta-9-THC. This change in legislation is the reason that CBD products are now being sold all across the United States.
While it did make CBD legal, what the farm bill didn't do was set CBD age restrictions on hemp derived CBD. Federal laws do not have any verbiage that sets any CBD age limit requirements. Age restrictions on CBD have been left to states to decide. Most states have set the CBD age limit to 18, but it varies from state to state.
How Old to Buy CBD Oil? Hemp CBD vs Marijuana Derived CBD
However, marijuana derived CBD is classified differently. Cannabis sativa L is the plant commonly referred to as marijuana or hemp. The difference between the two is that marijuana contains more than 0.3% THC and hemp contains 0.3% or less THC. Products made with marijuana derived CBD typically contain higher amounts of THC and have the potential to produce a high effect, whereas CBD derived from an industrial hemp plant will not have this effect.
How Old to Buy CBD?
Full Spectrum
There are three different types of CBD products available: full spectrum, broad spectrum, and isolate. Full spectrum CBD contains the entirety of the hemp extract and includes trace amounts of other cannabinoids found within the plant, like CBG and CBN, as well as terpenes, flavonoids, and amino acids. It’s important to note that there are trace amounts of THC in full spectrum CBD products, 0.3% or less if not sold in a dispensary, and any amount of THC has the potential to show up on a drug test.
Broad Spectrum
Broad spectrum CBD is very similar to full spectrum in that it still contains most of the additional components from the hemp plant. The biggest difference is that we put the extract through one additional process called chromatography, which removes the THC while preserving the rest of the extract. Some research suggests that having additional components from hemp in CBD products has the potential to boost the effects of CBD, as each component has its own potential benefits to bring to the table. All of these components working together is called the entourage effect.
Isolate
CBD isolate products are made using CBD that has been isolated from the rest of the hemp extract. There are no other cannabinoids or components to produce the entourage effect with these products. Many people find that CBD isolate products do not work as well for them as full or broad spectrum CBD products, though they tend to be more cost effective.
How Old to Buy CBD Products?
There is quite a wide variety of hemp derived CBD products on the market today. There are oils, edibles, topicals, vapes, flower, and so many more. Different products work better for people depending on what they are seeking relief from. People using CBD for anxiety may prefer a fast acting option like a vape or an oil under the tongue, and people using CBD for sleep may opt for a more long lasting method, such as a gummy or a chocolate.
How Old Do You Have to Be to Buy CBD Oil?
CBD oils are some of the most versatile products. People are using oils in a variety of different ways. Some people apply oils under their tongue to allow the oil to absorb through the tiny blood vessels under the tongue, usually taking effect within 15 to 20 minutes. Usually the CBD will remain in effect for 4 to 6 hours. Some are water soluble. People are sometimes mixing these water soluble products into drinks, like coffee, tea, juice, or even water. When CBD oils are taken this way, many people find that the CBD begins to work in 30 to 90 minutes and lasts 8 to 10 hours. Some people will even use the oils topically for smaller spot applications.
How old do you need to buy CBD? These products, when within the federal limit of 0.3% or less THC, usually require consumers to be 18 or older to purchase.
How Old Do You Have to Be to Buy CBD Edibles?
CBD can also be found in edible form. There are chocolates, gummies, and even drinks available. Often people who don’t enjoy the taste or texture of the oils will turn to CBD edibles for a more enjoyable CBD experience. CBD edibles typically take around 30 to 90 minutes to take effect, and people find that the effects last 8 to 10 hours. People who use hemp derived CBD products with their children often find that giving them a gummy is easier than getting them to take an oil.
How old do you have to be to buy CBD gummies? How old do you have to be to buy edibles? CBD edibles usually require that a consumer must be at least 18 to purchase.
How Old Do You Have to Be to Buy CBD Topicals?
CBD topicals also come in many forms. There are salves, lotions, roll-on sticks, bath products, and even transdermal patches! Salves, lotions, and roll-on sticks are typically used on more localized issues, such as aching joints, sore muscles, dry skin, eczema, psoriasis, and sunburns. Transdermal patches are a little different from your usual topical products due to the fact that they are formulated in a way that gets the CBD into your bloodstream. These patches are usually applied to the chest, arm, or back where the skin isn’t very oily so the patch stays on. Bath bombs and bath soaks are typically tossed into a hot bath before getting in so as to apply CBD to the entire body at one time. Many people find these great to use after a long day, a strenuous workout, or even just for overall relaxation.
CBD how old to buy? You usually only need to be 18 to buy CBD topicals.
How Old Do U Have to Be to Buy CBD? Smokeable Products
Inhalable CBD comes in a few different varieties. There are vape cartridges, e-liquids, and even CBD flower. These options are popular for people who deal with anxiety or sudden onset types of pain, as the inhalation of CBD is the quickest acting method of consumption. It’s also one of the fastest out of the body, so people find that they often have to use the products more frequently than a long lasting product like edibles.
Due to the nature of inhalable CBD products, you must be at least 21 to purchase these types of CBD products.
How Old You Have to Be to Buy CBD? Isomers of THC
There is another kind of hemp derived product that you must be at least 21 to purchase. These are going to be products that are made using different isomers of THC. Maybe you’ve heard of Delta-8-THC, Delta-9-THC, Delta-10-THC, THC-O, and HHC. All of these cannabinoids are found within the hemp plant except HHC, which is a super hydrogenated version of Delta-9-THC. There are a wide variety of products made using them, such as edibles, vapes, tinctures, and topicals. When ingested or inhaled, all of these cannabinoids can cause a high feeling of varying intensities.
Due to the fact that all of these cannabinoids are able to cause intoxication, the minimum age to purchase these products is 21.
How Old Do I Have to Be to Buy CBD?
With the booming CBD industry, there are endless ways to research and purchase products. Hemp derived CBD is being sold online, in CBD stores, and sometimes even in dispensaries. Depending on your needs, one way of shopping or another may be more convenient for you.
Shopping on the Internet
When you use the internet to purchase CBD, you get access to products that you may otherwise not be within driving distance to purchase. It’s also a good way to compare products being offered by different companies. This way of shopping has the potential to be a bit more difficult than shopping in person because oftentimes there’s nobody to help you make sense of the different products. Here at Discover CBD, we'd love to help clear up some of the confusion for you!
With our website, this is not the case. We have a chat feature! This means that you can send us a message directly from our website and connect with an employee who is knowledgeable about the products and able to help you find a good fit.
Shopping in Store
I don’t know about you, but when I’m shopping for something that’s new to me I like to see the products in person so that I can ask questions and better compare different products. It can be hard to find the CBD product that will work best for you! Most CBD stores will have their products on display and knowledgeable personnel to aid you in making a purchase you feel confident about. While we cannot make recommendations due to not being trained medical professionals, we can answer questions you have about the products themselves and give you information regarding what other people in similar situations are sharing success with.
Here at Discover CBD, all of our products are third party lab tested! We send them out to a lab that runs tests and then we receive back a certificate of analysis from the lab we send to. This certificate of analysis is important because it allows you to not just take our word on our products, but also see for yourself what is in our products.
Shopping in Dispensaries
Depending on where you’re located, you may have already discovered that some dispensaries carry a CBD product or two. These are usually marijuana derived CBD products and contain higher amounts of THC than 0.3%. Due to being sold in a marijuana dispensary, you are required to meet your state or region’s requirements for shopping in a dispensary.
Can you enter a dispensary at 18? Depending on the location, this usually means you must be at least 21 years old. In some states you can qualify for a medical marijuana card at 18. If ever you’re in doubt about what the requirements are for shopping at a specific location, don’t forget that you can always call ahead and ask!
How Old Do I Need to Be to Buy CBD?
State-by-State
Although the 2018 Agriculture Improvement Act was a big step towards making CBD accessible to those who need it on a federal level, states are still able to put their own CBD age limit requirements in place. I most definitely am not a lawyer and am not qualified to offer up advice of the legal sort. That being said, I’ve compiled a list of all fifty states and how old can you be to buy CBD. I’ve also included information regarding state medical cannabis programs, or MMJ programs, as CBD products with more than 0.3% THC are typically only available through said programs.
Due to CBD age restrictions being so widely varied from place to place, it is recommended that you research your local laws regarding CBD and other industrial hemp products.
How Old Do You Have ti Be to Buy CBD?
If you’re looking to purchase hemp derived CBD in one of the following states, you should have the least amount of hoops to jump through! These states currently have no minimum age set in place for the purchase of CBD products.
All of these states, with the exception of Texas and Nebraska, have medical marijuana programs as well. In Missouri, there is no list of qualifying medical conditions in order to be eligible for MMJ. Patients only need a doctor’s recommendation for this state’s medical marijuana program. Texas does have a Compassionate Use Program, and people who qualify are able to access CBD products containing up to 0.5% THC and at least 10% CBD with a doctor’s recommendation.
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Maryland
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- New Jersey
- Ohio
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- West Virginia
How Old Do You Have to Buy CBD?
It’s pretty easy to purchase CBD products in these states as well! The following states require that consumers must be at least 18 to buy CBD products. Kansas is a bit more strict than most states and doesn’t allow any THC in CBD products. Even the federally allowed 0.3% or less is too much since products must be THC free. The state did pass Claire and Lola’s law in 2019, so now a person with a debilitating medical condition and recommendation from a licensed physician can have CBD oil that has up to 5% THC. In South Dakota, minors can purchase hemp derived CBD products with a doctor’s permission.
All of the following states except Iowa, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming have some kind of medicinal marijuana program. Louisiana has MMJ but there is no patient registry, which is different from most states. And in Washington, registering as a medical cannabis patient is optional. Mississippi is currently projected to start opening up medical dispensaries in early 2023! The state has a list of approved medical cannabis practitioners so you can start the process of getting your MMJ card. In Oklahoma, doctors are able to recommend marijuana at their discretion, as there is no list of approved medical conditions given by the state's medical marijuana program.
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Vermont
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
How Old Do You Have to Be to Buy CBD?
The following states generally require consumers to be 18 or older to purchase CBD. Some jurisdictions within these states have increased the age requirement to be 21 or older. Idaho, much like Kansas, does not allow any THC in industrial hemp CBD products. Every CBD product must be THC free. Of these states, Hawaii is the only one with any kind of medical marijuana program.
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Indiana
How Old Do You Have to Be Buy CBD?
If you haven’t seen your state listed yet, that’s because they require that people must be at least 21 to purchase CBD products. All of the states on this list also have medical cannabis programs!
- Alaska
- Illinois
- Maine
- Rhode Island
Purchasing CBD doesn't have to be confusing! If you have any questions about CBD and how old you need to be to purchase it, or anything else, please reach out to us. You can call us, chat with us online, or stop by one of our retail locations and we’ll be happy to help.
