CBD Oil In Illinois (Chicago) 2024: Where To Buy CBD, Legality & Buying Guide

CBD is highly popular in the United States, as its benefits are becoming extensively well-known to many. Likewise, it helps ease anxiety and stress^[1], relieves chronic pain^[2], and controls seizures^[3]. If you are one of the Illinois residents, there is good news for you.

Illinois is one of the CBD-friendly states in the US. Thus, this article will answer your question, “Where to buy CBD oil in Illinois?” But it is still important to know the state law of Illinois before you decide to buy CBD. So, we also tackle Illinois cannabis regulation. 

CBD Oil In Illinois

Did you know that it was in Illinois where the CBD was discovered? In 1940, there was an American scientist who did research on the CBD compound in the cannabis plant. His name is Roger Adams. Through him, the potential health benefits of CBD have been revealed. Yet, the legal status of CBD in the state did not evolve yet.

Today, CBD oil in Illinois is legal. Yet, there are some limitations set by Illinois CBD laws. These are CBD laws, hemp laws also known as industrial hemp act, and marijuana laws, of which details are included in this guide. 

Regardless, both offline and online stores can now sell CBD oil in Illinois. Thus, this guide will help you find CBD near you while informing you many things about buying CBD.

Where To Buy CBD In Illinois?

If you want to buy CBD oil in Illinois, you have two possible choices – online or offline. When you choose an offline store, it means that you must go to a physical store near your place. Meanwhile, buying online means buying CBD oil through a company’s website. Often, it is discouraged to buy from online retailers for legitimacy, consistency, and reliability.

Local stores

This method is easy to perform. All you must do is find and choose a CBD retailer near you, and see if your chosen CBD oil is available. But, before we introduce the best and most reliable CBD stores within the state, here are some of the benefits you can get when buying CBD offline.

1. Buying in a physical store lets you see the product and check its label immediately.

From the moment you see the product, you can check what is written on the label. It means that you can check its THC content, potency and concentration, and other important things you need to know before buying CBD oil.

2. Buying in an offline store lets you obtain answers to your questions right away.

If you need advice or have questions about the product return and refund policy, you can ask the salesperson right away. He or she will be able to immediately respond to your needs. There is no need to wait for hours for an email reply, and there is no more waiting for a phone call.

3. You can bring your CBD oil right away.

Buying in a physical store will save you from the hassle of weighing and tracking the entire shipping process. As soon as you pay for it, you can bring it right away as you go back home.

Now, here are some of the best CBD retailers in Illinois. Most of them are head shops, vape stores (which also sell tobacco products), and natural health outlets.

Recommended CBD Retailers In Chicago, Illinois

1. CBD Kratom
2. Level Vape
3. Secrets Smoke Shop
4. Roots Smoke & Vapor Shop
5. Dispensary 33
6. OCA – Modern Cannabis Dispensary

Recommended CBD Retailers In Aurora, Illinois

1. Happy Daze
2. Elixrz Vape Shop
3. Uncle Stu’s Smoke & Vape
4. PharmaCannis – North Aurora
5. Midwest Compassion Center Cannabis Dispensary

Recommended CBD Retailers In Joliet, Illinois

1. SkyCity Vapes
2. MI Vape
3. Midwest Compassion Center
4. 3C Dispensary

Online Shops

Buying CBD online also comes with various benefits. These include the following.

It Saves Time.

One of the benefits you get from buying CBD online is less time spent in making purchases. You do not have to travel before you can browse products, and you can shop even in the middle of the night or early in the morning. Moreover, you do not have to spend extra minutes just to go to a different store, especially if you cannot find what you are looking for from a specific website.

You Have A Wider Selection.

Most of the CBD brands sell CBD oil and other products with varying potencies, formulas, and flavors. This means that switching to different stores is minimized.

Yet, remember that not all companies you can see online are good. Some of them only think about their business and not your well-being. So, here are some tips when choosing an online shop.

Check For A Third-Party Lab.

A third-party lab is important for a CBD store, brand, or company because it checks the safety and quality of CBD oils and other CBD products. Check if the result of the third-party lab test is also displayed on their website itself. These results are available by batch or individually. For some, results are only available upon request, but that is okay.

Check Their Extraction Method Used.

The CO₂ extraction method is often used when extracting hemp-derived CBD. It is the safest method to give you a high-quality CBD product. So, when finding an online shop to buy your CBD oil, it is always best if they use CO₂ extraction.

Check Their Hemp Source.

Your CBD oil must come from industrial hemp and not from marijuana. This is to keep you safe from the adverse side effects of high THC. Always take note that hemp-derived CBD contains less than 0.3% THC or even none. Moreover, their hemp should be organic and come from reputable hemp farms in the US.

Avoid CBD brands or companies claiming that their product can cure any disease.

Hemp-derived CBD oil is still under research. Hence, it is still not used as an official treatment or cure for any kind of illness.

How To Choose The Best CBD Oil Products?

Why would you want to buy CBD oil? Perhaps the primary reason is its benefits. While the research about the benefits of CBD and its possible treatment for some diseases is still ongoing, it is undeniable that it already has certain positive effects in our body. Nevertheless, here are some of the possible effects of CBD in your body:

• Chronic pain relief
• Lessens symptoms of depression and anxiety
• Promotes better sleep and relaxation
• Helps controlling seizures

Regardless of such benefits, buying CBD oil without any conscious decision-making is not advised. Thus, here are the tips on choosing the best CBD product for you.

1. Buy CBD from a brand that submits its CBD oils and other CBD products to a third-party lab for testing. They should also make the lab test results available either upon request or by posting them on their website. Hemp source and the extraction method are also important.
2. For first-time CBD users, choose the CBD oil that has the lowest potency or dose. You can increase the dose gradually as you go along your health journey with CBD.
3. Choose full-spectrum CBD products if available. This lets you experience all the health benefits that CBD offers. The second choice is broad-spectrum, only if you do not want to take THC content. Meanwhile, CBD isolate is the last option. It contains only CBD of the industrial hemp plant.

Is CBD Oil Legal In Illinois? 

While you already have the list of the CBD retailers within the state of Illinois as well as ideas on how to choose a good shop and CBD product, we also give you some of the best online CBD brands where you can get your favorite CBD oil. Prior to that, it is good to dig into the legality of CBD in the state.

Is CBD oil legal in Illinois? The answer is yes, but with certain limitations. This guide will discuss everything one by one.

Marijuana CBD Oil And Hemp CBD Oil in Illinois

First, you must be aware of the main difference between marijuana-derived CBD and industrial hemp-derived CBD. Marijuana CBD oil contains a lower amount of CBD and higher THC content. It can be classified according to the reason of use – medical marijuana and recreational marijuana.

On the other hand, hemp-derived CBD contains lower amounts of THC and is high in CBD. Specifically, hemp CBD oil contains less than 0.3% THC. In relation to their differences, state laws have something to say regarding each matter.

Marijuana Law

Many years ago, marijuana was a “Schedule 1 drug,” according to the federal government. Indeed, federal law treats it the same as how they treat meth, heroin, and LSD. Now, the state is one of the states having the gentlest marijuana law in the USA.

In 1931, marijuana was considered legal under Illinois government law. This refers to both medical marijuana and recreational marijuana. However, things had changed in 1978, when a law^[4] called the Cannabis Control Act was approved. The law states that marijuana can be used for medical purposes only. Yet, you cannot purchase marijuana from local stores.

The marijuana law continued progressing. In 2013, another law was passed. It allows people who are using medical marijuana to both grow and purchase marijuana from a state-licensed dispensary.

In 2016, a new law was passed. This time, the law was in favor of recreational marijuana. Specifically, the use of small amounts of recreational marijuana has been decriminalized. Finally, both medical and recreational marijuana is fully legal in Illinois from 2020. However, you must be 21 years old and above before you can obtain possession of recreational marijuana.

However, possession of recreational marijuana has limitations. For instance, if you are an Illinois resident, you can only have a maximum of the following: 30 grams of marijuana from licensed stores, 500 milligrams THC in marijuana-infused products, and 5 grams of concentrated products. Yet, if you are not a permanent resident, you should avoid having more than 15 grams of recreational marijuana in any source.

The Medical Marijuana Program

The state of Illinois has a special program called the medical marijuana program. It is where patients with conditions where medical marijuana is used as a treatment can avail a medical marijuana card. This sets you free from fines upon purchasing marijuana in local stores or online, even if you purchase up to 2.5 ounces per week.

Hemp CBD Oil

Like marijuana, hemp CBD was also considered illegal within Illinois. However, thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill. It removed hemp from the list of illegal drugs under the Controlled Substances Act.

Today, hemp is now also called industrial hemp. It means that farmers are free to cultivate hemp within established hemp farms. It can also be manufactured and be used in many ways such as oils, powders, food, and beverage ingredients, etc.

Final Thoughts

Do you want to purchase CBD in Illinois? Thankfully, you are free to do so, regardless of if it is prescribed CBD or not. This is because the state already allows the buying and selling of industrial hemp-derived CBD products. As such, farmers can grow hemp and distribute it for personal consumption.

Even though hemp cultivation is legally permitted, not all CBD in Illinois can be freely obtained. Indeed, the legalized marijuana under the state’s drug administration states that a cannabis product, specifically the marijuana-derived CBD can be purchased for both medicinal use and recreational use. However, the latter should not exceed what the state legislature allows.

Frequently Asked Questions

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