Do You Need a Prescription for CBD?

No, you do not need a prescription for CBD oil—that’s the short answer.

The longer answer is that you do not need a prescription for CBD oil because it’s not classified as medicine. To understand better, it might help to explore a little deeper as to what CBD is, where it comes from, the different forms of CBD, and the current legal definitions applied to cannabis products in the United States.

The Legality of CBD

CBD (or Cannabidiol) is a naturally occurring compound of the hemp plant which offers users a whole host of benefits, from relaxed feelings and inner calm to managing body aches and supporting better sleep. CBD is just one of over a hundred different cannabinoids, but tends to get a lot of attention because it is legal.

Passed into law in 1971, the Controlled Substances Act classified marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug, meaning there was no known medical benefit and a high potential for abuse. This strict umbrella classification was mostly aimed at Tetrahydrocannabinol—or THC—a psychoactive compound in cannabis. When people smoke marijuana, it’s THC that makes them feel “high”, while CBD is not psychoactive.

In the United States, the blanket prohibition of cannabis products came to an end with the signing of the 2018 Farm Bill. This new law legalized the growing of hemp and classified hemp products differently than the older Controlled Substances Act. According to the 2018 Farm Bill, a legal hemp plant contains a THC content under 0.3%. This means any CBD products derived from hemp are legal, including hemp-derived CBD oil.  .

Really? Why don’t I need a prescription for CBD?

Really, you do not need any prescription for CBD. That’s because CBD is not classified as medicine. Rather, CBD products are used to promote a calm mindset and as part of a grounding wellness regime. At the time of writing, the only CBD  that requires a prescription is Epidiolex, which is approved by the FDA for the treatment of certain kinds of epilepsy.

If no prescription is required, how do I know that my CBD products are safe?

Safety is a very important issue when looking to buy CBD. The number of recent CBD products that have flooded the market reveal a wide range of quality and purity. A recent study by forensic toxicologists showed that out of nine samples labelled “CBD extracts” (sold in Virginia gas stations), five contained undisclosed toxins.

To ensure you are only using the highest quality CBD, only buy CBD that is batch-tested for purity (by a third party), and that the CBD is labelled with a Certificate of Analysis. Consistent and trustworthy CBD products should always be tested and shown to contain pure, high-quality CBD.