Photo by Sheri Hooley on Unsplash
Disclaimer: Please note that the information found on this page was independently researched by Highland Pharms. It is not presented by lawyers or other legal experts. We have made great efforts to verify the accuracy of this content, but it should never be interpreted as legal advice in any capacity. It is the sole responsibility of each reader to know their local laws. If you have further questions on these topics, please check with your local law enforcement agencies.
CBD Oil in Ohio
What kind of cannabis laws are on the books in Ohio? Is cannabidiol (CBD) legal within the state? Can residents of OH obtain CBD oil without a prescription?
You may have found this page while searching for answers to these questions. If so, read on to discover what is legal and what is not legal as it relates to cannabis and CBD in Ohio.
Broadly speaking, CBD products are legal to members of the general public within Ohio—however, these products must be derived from hemp.
Because of provisions and definitions found in federal law (specifically the 2018 federal Farm Bill) hemp and marijuana are not classified the same. While hemp and marijuana are both cannabis plants with many of the same qualities and characteristics, they are differentiated by a compound known as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
As far as legal definitions go, marijuana plants have a high concentration of THC, while hemp plants do not. THC is a psychoactive substance that can cause users to achieve a “high” capable of altering their mental state. Legal hemp cannot cause this type of intoxication, and is therefore a legally recognized industrial crop, now widely available in the United States.
Regulation of hemp is a duty left up to each state, and each state has its own legal framework when it comes to CBD, hemp, marijuana, and cannabis in general. And this is where many people still have questions about the legality of CBD within their own particular state or locality.
Is CBD Oil legal in Ohio?
It is legal to purchase, possess, and/or use CBD oil within the state of OH. Some states continue to take an adversarial stance toward all forms of cannabis, including hemp—luckily for residents who might benefit from CBD use, Ohio is not one of those states. However, the only form of legal CBD in Ohio is that which is extracted from hemp. When from marijuana, it is still illegal as of the time of this writing.
After President Donald Trump signed the 2018 federal Farm Bill into law in December of that year, many states began working to bring their legal framework in to alignment with federal law in regard to hemp. While there are still holdouts, lawmakers in most states (Ohio included) now realize that there are distinct differences between hemp and marijuana. Further, with the rapid rebirth of the hemp industry, many states see economic incentive to get their laws up to speed with those of the federal government as quickly as possible.
What are the current CBD laws in Ohio?
Ohio law was not always friendly to CBD, as has been the case in most parts of the United States. Following the passage of the 1970 Federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA), all forms of cannabis were classified as Schedule I, and became highly restricted within the United States.
Little changed on this front for the remainder of the 20th century, but movements for the use of medical cannabis began to emerge around the turn of the century.
In June of 2016, Governor John Kasich signed HB 523 into law that legalized cannabis for medical use in Ohio. Senate Bill 204 also passed in June of that year and repealed a state law that harshly punished cannabis users with a suspension of their driver’s licenses if found guilty of possession.
Since that time, the movements for cannabis freedom have continued to evolve. Many states now participate in medical cannabis programs, calls for legalizing recreational marijuana are increasing, and hemp cannabis has been fully legalized at the federal level.
The process of legalizing hemp at the federal level began with the passage of the 2014 Farm Bill, signed in to law by President Obama in February of that year. The bill made the first legal distinction between hemp cannabis and marijuana cannabis by defining hemp cannabis as that which contained less than 0.3% THC, and marijuana as any cannabis that had more than 0.3% THC.
In 2018, President Trump signed a new federal Farm Bill that officially removed hemp from classification as a controlled substance, fully differentiating it from marijuana. This action paved the way for the re-industrialization and modern commercialization of hemp.
At the state level, Ohio passed Senate Bill 57 about half a year later, which brought OH state law into better alignment with federal views on hemp. The bill fully decriminalized hemp cannabis and established regulations for hemp growers within the state. While licensing requirements exist for growers and processors, no license is required to buy or sell hemp CBD within the state.
Can I purchase CBD in Ohio?
It is easy to buy hemp-based CBD products in Ohio. Hemp CBD oil products are readily available in stores across the Buckeye State, and there are no special requirements to buy these products. These products can be purchased over the counter without any permits, doctor’s notes, or medical cards.
CBD products also come in a wide selection of formats, though some stores might have more variety than others. One method that many CBD users rely on to obtain CBD products is to order them online and have them shipped directly to their doorstep. It is completely legal to do so.
Many CBD fans prefer to order their products from online retailers that they know and trust. Highland Pharms has been building trust with CBD users across America by sharing the gooey goodness of our hemp extracts with residents of Ohio and beyond. Our cleanly-cultivated CBD products are safe, legal, and popular with residents of Ohio!
No matter if you live in Akron, Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo, or anywhere in between, we can ship to you too!
We invite you to browse our selection of products today (ranging from tinctures to capsules, lotions, gummies, and even pet treats!)
Consider making Highland Pharms your go-to source for all things CBD!
Reference Resources
https://weedmaps.com/learn/cbd/is-cbd-legal-in-ohio
House Bill 523 | The Ohio Legislature
Senate Bill 204 | The Ohio Legislature
Senate Bill 57 | The Ohio Legislature
Agricultural Act of 2014 – Wikipedia
2018 United States farm bill – Wikipedia
Controlled Substances Act – Wikipedia