CBD products must contain 0.3% or less of THC, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis, to be legal: https://bit.ly/3IBSSVO

#cannabis #marijuanaismedicine #cannabiseducation #cbdbenefits #hemp

With so much legal jargon floating around, it can be tough to understand the significance of the 0.3% THC limit that governs CBD products in the United States.

Let's start with the basics: The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 stipulates that a product containing less than 0.3% THC is not considered a controlled substance under federal law. This means CBD products can only be legally classified as such if they contain 0.3% or less THC and must be derived from the hemp plant rather than the marijuana plant. This is significant as marijuana is still considered a Schedule 1 drug and is therefore illegal federally.


But why the 0.3% threshold? Interestingly, the origin of this number has nothing to do with whether or not a CBD product can intoxicate a user. Instead, it was a way to distinguish between high-THC and low-THC cannabis. In 1976, Canadian scientist Dr. Ernest Small conducted a study that defined the 0.3% figure to differentiate hemp from marijuana. Over the years, the federal government began using this measure to differentiate the two plants.

When it comes to measuring THC content, labs use a variety of methods. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) is a common technique used to measure THC content and the content of other cannabinoids. However, there are concerns about accuracy due to a lack of standardization in measuring methods. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is working to help labs achieve uniform accuracy in measuring THC content.

CBD products fall into three categories: full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and CBD isolate. Full-spectrum CBD products contain the highest amount of THC (up to 0.3%), while broad-spectrum CBD may contain only trace amounts of THC that are difficult to measure. CBD isolate products contain no THC at all, nor do they contain other cannabinoids or terpenes that may be therapeutic.

CBD isolate is a good option for people who only want to consume CBD, while broad-spectrum and full-spectrum products are useful for people who want to experience a complete range of therapeutic compounds from the cannabis plant. Integrating a variety of cannabinoids and terpenes activates the entourage effect, maximizing each compound's effectiveness as they work together.

It's worth noting that accurate measuring of THC content is crucial from a legal standpoint. Ensuring that a product does not exceed the 0.3% federal limit is important for it to be legitimately classified as a CBD product.

Learn more on the Leafwell blog: https://bit.ly/3IBSSVO

Follow Leafwell on social media:

Instagram:   / leafwell.co  
Facebook:   / leafwell.co  
Twitter:   / _leafwell_  
LinkedIn:   / mycompany  
YouTube:    / @leafwell