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CBD Oil California 2024– Legality & Where To Buy

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cbd oil california
CBD oil is absolutely legal in California. Photo: Shutterstock

California is known for a lot of things; however, in this context, this Golden State is considered a paradise for marijuana lovers. From Los Angeles to San Diego, the valley, or the coast, there are many places you can find high-quality CBD oil products. Basically, California is one of the states where the cannabis industry thrives.

CBD or cannabidiol can be derived from either hemp or marijuana, and it has grown in popularity due to its health benefits. California is well-known for cable cars, the Hollywood entertainment industry, Golden Gate Bridge, and over the past few years, cannabis as well.

Being one of the most liberal states in the United States, it is understandable that it would also be one of the prominent supporters of cannabis legalization. It was the first state to actually legalize medical marijuana when the Compassionate Use Act of 1996 was passed.[1] They also legalized cannabis for recreational purposes 20 years later when the state passed the Adult Use of Marijuana Act.[2]

Is CBD Oil Legal In California?

Yes. CBD oil is absolutely legal in California. Even CBD sourced from female cannabis plants is considered legal in California. In California, the use of recreational marijuana has been legal since January 2018. The new legislation also allows the possession, cultivation, sale, and production of cannabis as well as marijuana-derived products.

Is CBD Legal In California?

Is CBD Legal In California?
It is legal to use cannabis products in the state of California. Photo: Shutterstock

CBD products, including CBD oil, are completely legal in California. Even CBD derived from female cannabis plant is considered legal in California. In California, the recreational use of marijuana products has been legal since January 2018. The new legislation also allows the possession, cultivation, sale, and production of cannabis as well as marijuana-based products.

The state’s definition of CBD remains consistent with the federal definition. The Attorney General’s office issued a letter[3] stating that even though California allows sales and manufacturing of cannabis products, adding industrial hemp to food products is prohibited.

Hence, this will remain so until the FDA rules that CBD products and industrial hemp-derived CBD oil can be used as food or until California can decide that these compounds are safe to use for animal and human consumption. Therefore, CBD products aren’t approved as food, food additive, food ingredient, or dietary supplements.

The state was trying to clarify CBD legality and legalize hemp-derived CBD to be included in beverage, food, and cosmetics products without legal restriction by introducing AB 228[4] after the 2018 Farm Bill was passed. However, the bill was held. There the California CBD laws surrounding CBD oil and hemp-derived CBD products remain consistent with the FDA until the bill is passed and signed by the Governor.

The act, SB 566,[5] also known as the California Industrial Hemp Farming Act, authorized the commercial production of industrial hemp in January 2017. Industrial hemp plant growers are required to register with a county agricultural commissioner before cultivation with an annual registration fee of $900.

The California Department of Public Health has labeling regulations around CBD products, including information regarding the origin, ingredients, expiration, and amounts of CBD and THC. As per the requirements, the labels should not make unproven health claims, or any misleading information, or the products be designed in a way that makes them attractive to children.

Hemp growers are also required to submit samples[6] for THC concentration 30 days before harvest. Registrants should also submit their registration name and contact info, number, name of seed cultivar, anticipated harvest date, Global Positioning System coordinates, physical address, acreage of the crop, and general description of the location, as well as the name and contact info of the lab intended to conduct testing for THC content.

The commissioner later collects the samples once the information is received or approved by the third-party lab for testing. Industrial hemp crops that don’t meet testing requirements are destroyed.

You can possess CBD oil in the state as there are no specific California CBD possession limits. Whether you have a doctor’s prescription or not, California allows you to use cannabis and CBD products for health or therapeutic reasons. The only concern should be where you can get good quality and legal CBD items in compliance with the state law.

Where To Buy CBD Oil In California?

If you would like to purchase CBD oil locally in the Golden State, there are CBD shops all over the place. You can easily spot marijuana dispensaries in California. However, localities need to consider certain restrictions when selling CBD in California.

State-licensed dispensaries provide a wide range of CBD oils in the state. There are also state-authorized head shops if you can’t find a dispensary near you. These shops are often open anytime between 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

You can also buy CBD oil from any local food store near you. You will not only get more variety at a local food store, but you’ll also get the best CBD oil quality in the state. Besides, you can also find CBD oil at Walmart, GNC, gas stations, CVD, and many more if you’re traveling.

However, if you would rather make it simple, you should consider buying CBD oil online. It is also a much safer option than purchasing it from a pharmacy or a local store.

Why You Should Buy CBD Oil California Online?

While buying CBD oil locally in the Golden Gate State is easy, purchasing it online comes with some benefits that could make you reconsider your decision. Purchasing CBD oil for delivery in the state is safer when shopping online.

With online purchases, you can quickly and conveniently verify different brands by thoroughly doing a background check on them. If you notice that a brand has many positive reviews, then it’s probably worth your trust. Hence if you are wary of online crooks, you can easily verify the seller’s legit status with a background check.

You can also check for third-party lab test results on the site. Trusted brands often show the lab results on their site to prove their quality and also entice more buyers. You also get the opportunity to purchase CBD oils directly from the source.

Buying from the source means that you could get a fair price for a bottle or better prices when you select to purchase in bulk. Discounts and promotions are also regularly available online, and they cut costs by a huge percentage compared to buying locally.

Final Thoughts

While it is legal to use cannabis products in the state of California, the FDA hasn’t made it completely legal to use CBD in food products for animals and humans. CBD oils have many benefits for consumers, particularly the therapeutic experience. We recommend that you keep in mind how much THC is in your oil before purchasing to suit your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I use CBD oil for in California?

You can use CBD oil in different ways, including as a treatment for acne, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, anxiety disorders, type 1 diabetes, anti-inflammatory, and natural pain relief, as well as tobacco smoking cessation and drug withdrawals.

Can health professionals prescribe CBD oil in California?

California allows the use of cannabis and CBD product for medical use when advised by medical cannabis professionals. However, cannabis is still considered a Schedule 1 drug in the federal Controlled Substances Act. However, you don’t need a doctor’s recommendation to use hemp-derived products.


+ 6 sources

Health Canal avoids using tertiary references. We have strict sourcing guidelines and rely on peer-reviewed studies, academic researches from medical associations and institutions. To ensure the accuracy of articles in Health Canal, you can read more about the editorial process here

  1. Ca.gov. (2017). Law section. [online] Available at: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=11362.5.&lawCode=HSC.
  2. Ca.gov. (2016). Proposition 64: The Adult Use of Marijuana Act – criminal_justice_prop-64. [online] Available at: https://www.courts.ca.gov/prop64.htm.
  3. Update on Legal Status of Products Containing Cannabidiol (CBD), In Light of Federal 2014 and 2018 Farm Bills. (2019). California State Board of Pharmacy. Available at: https://www.pharmacy.ca.gov/laws_regs/cannabidiol_letter3_original.pdf.
  4. Ca.gov. (2019). Bill Text – AB-228 Food, beverage, and cosmetic adulterants: industrial hemp products. [online] Available at: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200AB228.
  5. Ca.gov. (2013). Bill Text – SB-566 Industrial hemp. [online] Available at: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140SB566.
  6. In Title 3, California Code of Regulations, Division 4, Chapter 8, adopt: Article 2. Regulations for Industrial Hemp Cultivation § 4940 Sampling Timeframe and Pre-Harvest Notification for Industrial Hemp (a) Sampling Timeframe. (n.d.). Available at: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/plant/docs/IH4940-1/Text-of-the-Regulation-IH4940-1.pdf.
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