These days it seems like everyone is eating THC edibles. Whether it’s for better sleep, pain relief, or just to have a good time, cannabis edibles are a multifaceted solution readily available to most people. If you’re interested in trying them out but want to know more about their legal status, you’re not alone. Are edibles legal? Read on to find out when and where you can enjoy cannabis edibles.
Legality of THC Edibles
Marijuana remains a federally illegal Schedule I drug. So, what does that mean? Well, the federal government defines THC-containing marijuana illegal but has decided to let each state govern its own laws. As of now, 37 states have legalized medical marijuana, and 18 have legalized recreational marijuana.
“Rec States vs Med States”
The medical marijuana program allows qualifying patients to visit a doctor and obtain a medical card. Then, patients may shop for medical-grade cannabis in a dispensary. Typically, states with a recreational program still allow for medical marijuana, and there tend to be slightly different rules for medical patients. For example, in some states, cardholders are exempt from taxes and can purchase larger quantities at a time.
Recreational use means that anyone over the age of 21 may purchase THC products from a dispensary or licensed cannabis distribution and delivery company. However, there are still limits imposed on how much you can buy, including guidelines for edible dosage.
For example, in California, the legal limit is 28.5 grams of raw cannabis, and eight grams of concentrated cannabis (which includes edibles). The limit for cannabis edibles is 10 mg THC per serving, with a total allowance of 100 mg in a package.
Every state has slightly different rules about these dosages and how much you can buy or possess at one time.
Legality of Cannabinoids and Variants
What about CBD and other cannabinoid products? You’ve probably seen edibles marketed online or in your local grocery or convenience store. This is where things get a little tricky. Cannabis is the overarching term for both hemp and marijuana. Marijuana is only legal for use in states with a medical adult-use recreational program. However, hemp has been legal since 2018 and allows for a broader range of cannabinoid products for use by adults over 18. However, some states have banned CBD and its byproducts.
CBD is the dominant cannabinoid found in hemp and is beloved by many for its therapeutic effects. It does not get you high like the psychoactive THC found in marijuana, but it offers plenty of benefits, especially for people who do not want to get high. And there are plenty of other cannabinoids, like Delta-8 THC and Delta-10 THC that do get you high — and these actually come from hemp.
Although they are found in very small amounts, they can be extracted from CBD in a lab to produce enough to infuse into products like vape pens and edibles. The appeal of these products is that you can buy them outside of dispensary channels and even order them online straight to your door. The laws that protect these cannabinoids also impose one very important rule — they cannot contain more than 0.3% THC. So, while they will get you high, it is much milder than the Delta-9 THC found in marijuana products.
Recap on Legal Edibles
- Many states have legalized recreational and/or medical marijuana, allowing adults to purchase THC-infused edibles and other products. For example, in California, all you need to do is hop online and order THC chips and edibles for delivery.
- Legal cannabis states have limits on how much THC can be in each product, and how much each person can purchase at one time.
- So long as the product contains less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC, hemp-derived products are legal for adults over 18.
If you live in states like California, Oregon, Colorado, or Washington, you have incredible access to the finest cannabis, edibles, and other cannabis-infused goods in dispensaries and through delivery channels. Yet, if you live in a state without legal cannabis, there are still options to try hemp products by shopping online or in select retailers where you live.
