CBD and the hemp flower have become two wildly popular substances within the past year, and their popularity is absolutely exploding. In August 2019, a Gallup survey showed that 1 in 7 Americans had tried CBD. Another survey taken less than a year later showed that this number had increased to 1 in 3.
This growth has largely happened as a direct result of legal changes that enabled CBD to be sold at the state and local level. However, because CBD was illegal for so long, many questions remain about whether or not it is legal to purchase CBD and hemp flower from trusted online sources like Cannaflower.
Can You Buy Hemp Flower In California?
Yes. Absolutely.
To be sure, this was not always the case. The hemp flower existed in a legal gray area at the federal level in 2018. Since the hemp flower contains low levels of tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, it was considered illegal at the federal level, and it was possible that you could be arrested and charged with drug possession if you purchased or sold CBD. You can find more information on techlipz.
That changed in 2018 with the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill. That law removed CBD from the Schedule One list of drugs, allowing for it to be purchased, sold, manufactured, and transported across state lines. This move opened the flood gates for pent up demand, and CBD and the hemp flower became incredibly popular.
Like most laws within the United States government, the sale of CBD could be regulated at the state level. Indeed, growing and processing hemp and the hemp flower required that states submit plans to the United States Department of Agriculture. States were also free to implement additional regulations and restrictions on CBD and hemp growth and sales.
California has implemented some state-specific regulations on the sale of the hemp flower and CBD products in general. Efforts have been made to formally legalize the sale of hemp-related food products, but those efforts have stalled, and the sale of hemp-infused food products remain illegal in California and the rest of the country.
California did implement some very important labeling restrictions on any hemp-related product sold in the state, requiring that all products be labeled to identify a variety of important items about the product, including where it is from ingredients and levels of cannabinoids like CBD and THC. Processors must also submit to regular testing requirements.
How Can You Buy Hemp Flower In California?
Like the vast majority of states, there are two ways to purchase the hemp flower.
First, there are brick and mortar stores, of which there is no shortage in the state of California. These stores will likely contain a wide array of CBD products. While CBD specialty stores are available, there is also a wide array of general stores that are starting to sell CBD products, including drug stores and grocery stores. The sale of CBD is not associated with any specific license in the state, so any store – from a convenience store to a specialty store – must simply adhere to already existing state and local law.
Second, thanks to its 2018 federal legalization, CBD can be purchased online and legally shipped to you from anywhere in the United States. Innovative online companies like Cannaflower mail premium hemp flower to all 50 states. This wasn’t always the case, and it took federal legalization to change the law and allow CBD to be transported over state lines. There are literally hundreds of websites that will allow you to make this kind of purchase.
What Precautions Should I Take Before Buying CBD in California?
California has wisely chosen to implement labeling requirements for any product sold within the state. This is unfortunately necessary: The federal government has yet to implement such requirements. Unfortunately, prior experience shows that the CBD universe contains its share of bad actors. For example, a 2017 study from the University of Pennsylvania showed that nearly 70% of CBD vendors were selling products that were mislabeled.
The potential issue for consumers of the hemp flower in California is internet sales. While brick and mortar sales must contain labels, it is extremely difficult for a state to enforce a law on internet vendors. As such, consumers should only make a purchase on CBD sales of the product if it is clearly labeled and has undergone third-party testing to confirm its ingredients. This will ensure that consumers can safely purchase and use the hemp flower.
Furthermore, it is always wise to check with a medical professional before you use the hemp flower or CBD. While many studies have found that the use of the hemp flower is generally safe, there are some concerns over CBD use and drug interactions. As such, it is always smarter to check with your doctor before using the hemp flower, just like you would before taking any other supplement.
Fortunately for California residents, purchasing and using the hemp flower is perfectly legal, provided that the hemp flower in question aligns with already existing laws at the federal and state level.