Is CBD Oil Legal in the UK?

Is CBD legal in the UK? Essentially, CBD law in the UK states that the CBD oil that’s legal in the UK is available because it contains extremely low levels of THC.⁶ Under UK law, since 2018,⁷ cannabis products that contain THC levels of 0.2% or less are considered legal and can be sold as health supplements. CBD can be purchased legally and can be found in health food shops, pharmacies, dedicated CBD specialist stores and also online.

But is CBD oil still legal in the UK in 2022? As things stand, CBD remains legal in the UK. The UK Home Office stipulates that CBD an only be extracted from plants that are cultivated to the specification that they have less than 0.2% THC content.⁶ Furthermore, it’s illegal to sell these low THC cannabis buds or flowers.⁶

Additionally, since around 2019, stringent regulations have been bought in by government agencies to ensure the products that hit the market are of a decent quality. The Food Standards Agency recognises edible CBD as a ‘novel food’⁸ and that means companies selling digestible CBD need to make a novel food application before manufacturing their products.

On top of that, The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency demands that any form of CBD sold for medicinal purposes has to comply with the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 to ensure patient safety.⁹ As part of these regulations, CBD products must always advise users to speak to a medical professional before introducing CBD into their lifestyle.⁹

THC remains a controlled substance in the UK – and that means that the cannabis plant and THC based products are still illegal to cultivate, manufacture, sell or consume here.⁷ While many US states have slowly relaxed their laws on ‘medical marijuana’, that kind of legislation hasn’t, to date, found its way to the UK. Therefore any CBD product claiming to contain THC should be avoided and is likely to be a scam or an illegal product of some sort.

There are some cases whereby doctors will prescribe THC and CBD based medicines to deal with very specific conditions. These include some forms of epilepsy,¹⁰ multiple sclerosis¹⁰ and those who are undergoing cancer treatment and suffering from the side effects of chemotherapy.¹⁰ Unless it’s for one of these specific ailments, CBD oil is not available to NHS patients in the UK.

Medical professionals will not prescribe CBD unless it’s for the above mentioned conditions, but your doctor will likely give you a sympathetic ear if you mention that you are interested in trying it to deal with any issues you might have. What’s more, your doctor will be able to give you an idea about whether CBD is a suitable treatment for your ailment and should also be able to offer guidance on the best method of taking it, as well as the ideal dosage. Generally, in terms of the amount you take, the recommendation is to start small and build up over time.

Finally, your doctor will also be aware of your medical history, helping you to make a more informed decision regarding any side effects or interactions with medications you’re currently taking.