They say Virginia is for lovers — and in 2021 it’s also for those who love CBD.
Why? Because CBD is fully legal in Virginia. Premium CBD products can be enjoyed by Virginians regardless of whether they’re shopping in-person or online. Keep reading to learn more.
Table of Contents
Is CBD legal in Virginia?
Is CBD legal in Virginia?
We’ll start with the simple answer: yes, hemp-derived CBD is fully legal in Virginia.
How’d we get to this point, though? That’s a much longer story. CBD products were actually illegal for most of Virginia’s recent memory. Ever since 1970’s Controlled Substances Act (CSA) classified Cannabis Sativa as a schedule 1 drug, hemp and CBD were both considered illicit substances. According to that era’s DEA hemp was deemed a highly addictive substance with no medical benefits or other redeeming qualities.
This unrealistic viewpoint was finally turned around in 2014 when hemp pilot programs were passed. And things really turned around in 2018, when the federal Farm Bill legalized hemp on a nationwide level.
Virginia and the farm bill
2018’s federal Farm Bill, also called the Hemp Farming Act of 2018, legalized hemp cultivation, processing, and sales. It legalized hemp-derived supplements like CBD almost by default.
According to the bill, every single hemp-derived cannabinoid — including Delta-9 THC — is now legal. This means that any hemp-derived product containing less than 0.3% THC is now available for all!
Soon enough after this bill’s passing, CBD’s popularity took off. What was considered an obscure ‘hippy’ product just a decade ago is now one of America’s most popular supplements.
Just keep in mind that some CBD products are highly regulated to this day. Hemp-infused foods, for example, are closely regulated by the FDA. In addition, CBD manufacturers are also prevented from marketing their products in certain ways, namely by making medical claims.
Virginia hemp and CBD laws
Are hemp and CBD legal in Virginia?
They sure are. Virginia’s hemp laws preceded those federal farm bills we mentioned above. The state passed a pro-hemp revolution back in 1997, House Joint Resolution 565, which empowered legislative research into the benefits of industrial hemp production. [1]
The research paid off. In 1999 another bill, HJ 94, was passed to permit experimental cultivation of hemp within the state. [2] This bill opened up a legal loophole that allowed progressively more and more hemp farming. In 2001 yet another bill, HJ 605, paved the way for hemp cultivation in rural areas. [3]
A final big shift came in 2015, when Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe passed a bill called SB 955. This one created university-run hemp programs that allowed farmers to learn more about hemp in the most hands-on ways possible. According to SB 955, hemp products containing less than 0.3% were fully legal. This bill also forbids agencies like the DEA from interfering with intrastate hemp cultivation.
Fast forward to today, and the state of Virginia has devised its own version of the federal Farm Bill called the “Plan to Regulate Hemp Production.”
Virginia hemp license laws
Today Virginia’s hemp program is a finely-tuned machine. Registered hemp growers can possess plants, seeds, seedlings, leaves, and hemp flowers. In addition, licensed dealers and processors can grow, manufacture, extract, and sell hemp products.
This registration is a fairly extensive process. It must be renewed annually at a cost of $50 per year. Registered growers must submit planting reports whenever they plant a new batch of crops. They also need to notify officials whenever they change fields or planting locations.
And if growers have questions, they’re well-supported. All they have to do is reach out to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’s Industrial Hemp branch.
Virginia CBD legality: CBD possession
Per its own farm bill, Virginians can possess unlimited amounts of <0.3% THC hemp products. That means CBD oil, CBD capsules, and other CBD products are also fair game!
Different standards apply to higher-THC products. Cannabis oils that contain over 15% CBD and under 5% THC are permitted for residents with medical cannabis cards. (More on what it takes to qualify for a medical cannabis card later.)
How to read Virginia CBD labels
While Virginia has great hemp and cannabis programs, don’t think that all of the state’s hemp products are the same. Finding a good CBD product requires knowing how to read that product’s label.
When purchasing hemp CBD products, one of the most important first steps to determine if this is a reputable source for high quality CBD is to examine the lab report and certificate of analysis, which should be readily available to you at the store or online website. Most reputable hemp CBD companies will include the following information on the label:
- A supplement fact panel including all ingredients
- The amount, in milligrams, of CBD per serving
- The product’s suggested use
- The production/batch date
- The manufacturer’s name
- The product’s net weight
- The product’s spectrum
Let’s switch gears and focus on this last bullet point for a second. What does a product’s spectrum refer to? It refers to the type of CBD present in the product! There are three primary types: full spectrum, broad spectrum, and isolate.
Full spectrum CBD in Virginia
Full spectrum CBD is a type of CBD product that contains a full array of hemp’s active ingredients. These ingredients can include CBD, CBDa, CBDv, CBG, CBN, CBC, THC, THCa, terpenes, flavonoids, and much more. Researchers call hemp the plant of a thousand molecules for a reason! Studies show that full spectrum CBD is up to four times more beneficial per unit than CBD isolate. [4]
Broad spectrum CBD in Virginia
Broad spectrum CBD refers to products that are similar to full spec CBD, with one major difference: THC content. These products are entirely free of THC. Broad spectrum CBD may be ideal for those who wish to avoid THC for work or personal preference.
CBD isolate in Virginia
CBD isolate is a type of CBD that’s much more refined than the other two. It contains no THC, no terpenes, and no flavonoids. While CBD isolate is pure, it lacks the entourage effect particularly as found in full spectrum products.
What about CBD and alcohol in Virginia
Given that CBD is legal in Virginia…and given that alcohol is legal in Virginia…what about combining the two?
The good news is that CBD and alcohol can be a perfect pairing! Research shows that these two substances may balance out each other’s effects. Unfortunately, for those looking for CBD-infused alcoholic beverages in the ‘Old Dominion’ it’s not yet easy to find as not many restaurants or bars in Virginia offer this combo yet.
What about CBD and marijuana?
Let’s now dive a little deeper into Virginia’s medical marijuana program. Initially this program was only available for those with intractable epilepsy…but it’s really expanded in recent years. Today virtually any Virginian can get a medical marijuana card by talking with their doctor. Many of the state’s residents take marijuana/cannabis for the following conditions:
- PTS
- IBS/IBD
- Cancer
- Epilepsy
- Neuropathy
- Paralyzation
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Inflammation/Pain
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Huntington’s Disease
- Autoimmune Disease
- Opioid-resistant injuries
Patients with a medical marijuana card can freely buy high-THC tinctures, oils, and other products. They can also buy limited amounts of cannabis flower. Applying to become a patient is as simple as visiting the Virginia Department of Health Professionals’ website.
CBD Virginia legality: other details
Is CBD oil legal in Virginia? It sure is! Here are some other important details.
Where legal CBD is popular in Virginia
CBD has become especially popular along Virginia’s Eastern seaboard. Cities like Chesapeake are literally full of CBD-specific health shops where residents can obtain a variety of hemp/CBD products.
What Virginians take CBD for
Surveys show that Virginians are using CBD in hopes of sleeping better, feeling happier, and regaining their mobility. A whopping 74% of Virginians support cannabis-related businesses. [5]
Selling hemp or CBD products in Virginia
It’s unclear whether or not you need a license to sell CBD products in Virginia. Many people have taken the approach that selling CBD to family or friends doesn’t require any licensure…while selling, say, wholesale hemp flower on a higher scale does.
Prior to the Hemp Farming Act, one needed to be a licensed industrial hemp dealer just to possess hemp-derived CBD. Nowadays, however, the Virginia Division of Legislative Services states that any brick-and-mortar store or e-commerce site can sell CBD Products legally. [6]
Where to buy premium CBD in Virginia
Retailers in Virginia can buy bulk CBD products from certified pharmaceutical processors.
Individuals, on the other hand, can buy premium CBD from a variety of physical and online sources. Both of these routes have pros and cons — more on those next.
The best CBD oil in Virginia
So, CBD oil is fully legal in Virginia. How do you find the best CBD oil in the state? There are a few things to consider:
- Is it full spectrum?
- Is it broad spectrum?
- Is it isolate?
- Is it third-party lab tested?
- Is it made in the United States?
- Does it have good reviews from customers?
How to find local Virginia CBD
Finding local CBD in Virginia is actually pretty easy. Just search online for “CBD shops near me” and you should find several good options. Call ahead before you visit a shop to see if they have the types of products you’re looking for. You can also visit any given shop’s website and see if they have good reviews. Many health food stores also carry high-quality CBD.
How to find an online source
As great as buying from a local CBD store is, buying online might be even better. Buying online opens you up to a greater variety of brands and products. You can buy virtually any type of CBD product from the comfort of your couch!
Consider Cannovia CBD products if this type of experience sounds good to you. Our premium CBD products offer great value at a great price. If you’re from Virginia (or any of the other 49 US states) we’d love to hear from you!
FAQ
Is CBD legal in Virginia?
CBD was federally legalized through the 2018 Farm Bill, which means it’s legal in all 50 states. Virginia sided with federal law and legalized CBD, too. So, you can legally buy CBD Products in Virginia.
Is CBD Oil legal in Virginia?
Yes, as we wrote before all Products that contain CBD and Pure CBD were federally legalized through the 2018 Farm Bill. And you can buy CBD Oil in Virginia.
How to Buy Legal CBD Oil in Virginia?
Only buy from companies that can provide lab reports for their products. Avoid companies making outrageous claims about CBD. You can easily buy legal CBD Virginia at Cannovia.com!
Where to buy legal CBD in Virginia?
You are from Virginia and you are looking for high-quality CBD products? Our team at Cannovia can help you. We specialize in premium CBD products crafted with pure, potent, and safe ingredients with fair and reasonable pricing. Browse our online store today!