CBD Legalities

Is CBD Legal? Here’s What You Need To Know

From gummies to lotions and tinctures, CBD has been making waves in the wellness world for its potential soothing benefits. As an active ingredient in hemp products, CBD presents an array of use options, each designed to cater to your unique needs. But is using this soothing cannabinoid legal?

If you've ever wondered about this powerful compound's origin or legality, you're far from alone. The laws regarding CBD and cannabis products can seem as complex as the molecular structure of the compound itself.

So what’s the verdict? Simply put, CBD products are federally legal in the US — but with a few contingencies worth understanding.

Ready to unravel the mysteries of the hemp plant and its legality? Let’s get into it.

What Is CBD?

Let’s start with the basics. CBD, or cannabidiol, is one of the many cannabinoids, chemical compounds derived from all varieties of the Cannabis sativa species. It's the most abundant active ingredient in hemp, a type of Cannabis sativa plant.

With numerous potential health benefits, CBD is gaining popularity for its potential to provide a sense of calm and ease tension.

How Does CBD Work Within the Body?

To understand how CBD works within the body, it's crucial to understand the ins and outs of the endocannabinoid system (ECS).

This complex cell-signaling system plays a significant role in regulating a range of functions and processes in our bodies. It's composed of endocannabinoids — naturally occurring cannabinoids in the human body — cannabinoid receptors (CB receptors) that endocannabinoids can bind to, and enzymes that break these cannabinoids down after they’ve run their course.

As a phytocannabinoid, CBD can interact with the ECS by supporting the role of our own endocannabinoids. This is believed to help maintain balance and stability in the body, supporting overall well-being.

What Are the Benefits of CBD?

CBD is more than just a wellness trend — it's a natural compound that can offer a wide array of potential benefits, working harmoniously with our bodies. Let's break down some of the ways CBD can potentially support your wellness routine.

Helps Soothe Discomfort and Tension

By interacting with CB receptors throughout the nervous system and on the surface of our muscles, CBD may help the body tend to occasional discomfort and tension, encouraging overall physical well-being.

Topicals like our Muscle MX CBD Balms are particularly helpful for fast-acting relief when applied directly to the source of localized discomforts, such as sore muscles or tense shoulders.

Supports Relaxation

One of CBD's most notable potential benefits is its ability to support a sense of calm and relaxation. The compound's interaction with the ECS and receptors within the brain may help balance mood, enabling you to navigate daily challenges with a more relaxed mindset.

Whether you’re feeling the Sunday scaries creeping up or having trouble unwinding before bed, our Muscle MX Relax CBD Drops or Relax CBD Gummies can help calm the mind and support holistic relaxation.

Helps the Body Respond to Stress

The ECS is also involved in regulating our body's response to stress, helping support balanced cortisol levels as needed. With its ability to influence the ECS, CBD could potentially help your body respond to stressors, helping you maintain balance during hectic times.

Supports Healthy Sleep Patterns

A good night's sleep is essential for overall health. CBD may help support restful sleep patterns by influencing receptors in the ECS that help regulate sleep and wake cycles. This could support restful nights and bright mornings.

Hemp vs. Cannabis: What’s the Difference?

Understanding CBD requires a brief dive into botany. Both hemp and cannabis are derived from the Cannabis sativa species. However, hemp differs from other cannabis plants in its unique THC concentration.

Industrial hemp, the primary source of CBD, contains a lower amount of THC, while other cannabis strains contain a higher concentration of THC.

Ultimately, the distinction between cannabis and hemp is more of a legal differentiation than a botanical one, as they're both varieties of the Cannabis sativa species. Any Cannabis sativa plant that contains 0.3% or less THC content by dry weight is classified as hemp, while plants with more than 0.3% THC are considered cannabis plants.

So Does CBD Contain THC?

While CBD and THC are both bioactive compounds found within hemp and cannabis plants, they have quite distinct characteristics and effects. THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the compound responsible for the “high” associated with cannabis, but CBD doesn't produce this psychoactive effect.

To further understand the relationship between CBD and THC, it helps to understand the difference between broad-spectrum, full-spectrum, and CBD isolate products:

Broad-spectrum CBD: broad-spectrum CBD includes most cannabinoids and other compounds from the cannabis plant, but small amounts of THC are removed during filtration.
Full-spectrum CBD: Like broad-spectrum CBD, full-spectrum extractcontains other cannabinoids and other compounds from the cannabis plant, but this form also includes trace amounts of THC natural to the hemp plant (less than 0.3%).
CBD isolate: as the name suggests, CBD isolate is an isolated CBD, with all other plant parts — including the other cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids — removed.

Muscle MX offers both full-spectrum and broad-spectrum products, each intentionally and

meticulously formulated through a gentle extraction and filtration process to retain the beneficial compounds while maintaining the legal THC limit.

Is CBD Legal in the United States?

CBD's legality has been a rollercoaster ride marked by significant legislative milestones. The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 classified all forms of cannabis, including hemp, as Schedule I drugs, categorizing them alongside substances like heroin and LSD.

Over the years, attitudes towards cannabis began to shift, culminating in the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, more commonly known as the 2018 Farm Bill. This legislation from the federal government fundamentally changed the legal landscape for hemp-derived CBD products in the United States.

The Farm Bill removed hemp from the Controlled Substance Act and made CBD legal under federal law — but with a few catches. CBD must be derived from industrial hemp, and the hemp must be grown by a licensed grower.

This means CBD products, including oils, lotions, and gummies, are legal at the federal level as long as they're derived from hemp and contain less than 0.3% THC. Yet, if a CBD product is derived from another cannabis plant with higher levels of THC, even if that THC content is filtered out during extraction, it is currently not federally legal.

Is CBD Legal in Every State?

While the 2018 Farm Bill clarified the legality of CBD at the federal level, the picture becomes a bit more complex when we start looking at the legal status state by state. Even though CBD derived from industrial hemp is federally legal, state laws still vary, with some stricter than others.

Some states have legalized hemp and cannabis-derived products for recreational and medical purposes, while others have kept more stringent laws in place despite federal changes.

For instance, Ohio followed the Farm Bill's footsteps and legalized hemp and hemp-derived CBD products, provided they meet the 0.3% THC limit. Colorado, known for its progressive cannabis laws, not only permits CBD but also allows both recreational and medical cannabis use. In states such as these, you can often purchase CBD and cannabis from dispensaries.

On the other hand, some states, like Tennessee, have more stringent laws. Although they permit CBD derived from hemp, the state is yet to legalize cannabis fully, and products exceeding the THC limit are subject to the state's cannabis laws.

What does this mean for you as a CBD user? It means it's essential to stay informed.

Laws regarding cannabis and CBD are evolving across the country, so keep an eye on the laws in your area. Buying from reputable, transparent sellers about their sourcing and extraction processes can also help you stay within legal boundaries.

Is CBD Safe?

So, we've established that CBD is legal (with some caveats), but with so many legal shifts, it’s natural to wonder if CBD is safe in the first place.

The good news is that the answer is yes — the use of CBD is considered extremely safe and beneficial for use by most people.

Currently, the only drug containing CBD that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is Epidiolex, a medication designed to treat epilepsy. However, clinical trials have found that CBD in the form of oils and tinctures, topicals, dietary supplements, or edibles can offer a range of wellness benefits and are well-tolerated by most people.

Are There Any Potential Side Effects of CBD?

CBD is generally well tolerated, although some people may experience side effects like headaches and nausea due to additives and carrier oils used in a particular product.

How can you avoid unwanted effects? It's crucial to use trusted brands that third-party test their products and provide full transparency about dosage, THC content, and the purity of their CBD. This ensures you get a product free of harmful substances like heavy metals.

At Muscle MX, we are dedicated to providing high-quality CBD products you can trust. We uphold a rigorous testing process, ensuring that all our products are thoroughly examined for quality and safety, and our lab results are readily available on our website, so you can see what's in the products you're using.

We're also committed to using sustainable ingredients and practices to bring you the best CBD products that are both good for you and the planet. Ultimately, it's about trust, quality, and commitment to wellness — that's what Muscle MX stands for.

The Bottom Line

From its origins in the Cannabis sativa plant to its complex legal journey, CBD has come a long way. The federal legality and ongoing research revealing CBD’s potential benefits position it as a key player in the wellness industry. The legal landscape for CBD continues to evolve, and staying informed about the changing laws and regulations is essential for CBD users.

As we navigate this shifting landscape, finding a CBD brand that aligns with legal guidelines, maintains high-quality standards, and keeps your wellness at the forefront is more important than ever. That's where Muscle MX comes in.

We invite you to explore our range of federally legal CBD products. With a diverse selection tailored to fit your every need and preference, you can trust Muscle MX to support your wellness journey while keeping quality, safety, and legality at the core of what we do.

While the future of CBD continues to unfold, one thing remains certain: its potential to support your wellness routine. Whether it's helping you unwind after a stressful day or supporting your body's response to tension, CBD holds promise. At Muscle MX, we're proud to be part of that journey with you.

Sources:

Cannabis sativa: The Plant of the Thousand and One Molecules | Frontiers

An introduction to the endogenous cannabinoid system | PMC

Cannabinoid Receptors in the Central Nervous System: Their Signaling and Roles in Disease | Frontiers

Cortisol: What It Is, Function, Symptoms & Levels | Cleveland Clinic

Controlled Substance Act | NCBI Bookshelf

Farm Bill | USDA

Cannabidiol Drugs Clinical Trial Outcomes and Adverse Effects | PMC