Is CBD legal?
The legality of cannabis has been a hot topic, discussed and debated over the last few decades, with public opinions divided and mostly with negative connotations, generally associated with the criminal activity that derives from illegal drug trafficking across the planet.
Since the mid-19th century, the Cannabis Sativa plant has been scientifically studied, as well as its effects on the body. However, as new scientific evidence is discovered about its therapeutic applications, its medicinal and industrial use, and the growing number of followers and supporters have been increasing exponentially, opening the mind to acceptance and awareness of the benefits that cannabis brings to people's lives and its 1001 applications in the industrial, therapeutic, medicinal and recreational areas.
By understanding the benefits of CBD and THC and their harms, many governments have already taken the lead in changing their laws on possession, consumption, tolerance and decriminalization, as well as allowing medicinal use. Recently, for example, for recreational use, Uruguay (2013), Canada (2018) and the United States of America (only some federal states) have already allowed consumption and sale for recreational purposes.
The Portuguese position
In Portugal, hemp cultivation has been prominent throughout the centuries, from the Age of Discoveries to the present day, mainly in the production of fibers for the textile industry. Our country has ideal conditions for the cultivation and growth of the plant, which have even sparked recent foreign interest in investing in production, as this news item in the Público newspaper attests.
In the medicinal area, it was only in January 2019 that the Portuguese Government officially established a legal framework for the preparation, use and marketing of cannabis for medicinal purposes, enshrined in Decree-Law No. 8/2019 , which opened several doors to the various treatments and medicines that the plant offers, in addition to foreign investment in production.
As for recreational use, it is not permitted in Portugal, despite some recent political efforts to legalize the recreational use of Cannabis. However, since 2001, the acquisition, possession and consumption have been decriminalized, through Law No. 30/2000 , allowing possession of up to 10 daily doses. The limits were defined in Ordinance No. 94/96 , establishing the following:
Average daily dose based on variation in existing average THC content
- In the leaves and flowering or fruiting tops
- 2.5g - At an average concentration of 2% (delta)9THC;
- In the resin
- 0.5g - At an average concentration of 10% (delta)9THC;
- In oil
- 0.25g - At an average concentration of 20% (delta)9THC.
Having clarified the statutes of production, possession, consumption and commercialization, we move on to the most pertinent question of this article:
Is CBD legal in Portugal?
Yes...as long as the THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) in the product is less than 0.2% . According to statements made by the Ministry of Agriculture in June 2018 to Visão magazine, in order to clarify the doubts raised, marketing and consumption are permitted and may have beneficial effects on health.
So don’t worry. All products sold on CBDOIS are 100% legal!