CBD In Pennsylvania
2022 Complete Buyers Guide
PA CBD 2022 Update
Hemp CBD oil vs cannabis oil in Pennsylvania
Before we go down this rabbit hole, let’s take a few paragraphs to fill everyone in on the differences between hemp-derived CBD oil, and the cannabis oils that are only available at licensed medical marijuana dispensaries.
Both hemp and marijuana are cultivars of cannabis. Up until the farm bill was signed, both were federally illegal. The only thing that separates hemp from marijuana is the level of THC produced by the plant. THC and CBD are both members of a family of compounds known as cannabinoids. While THC is responsible for the high that comes from smoking or eating marijuana, CBD is non-intoxicating.
Cannabis oil and CBD oil are made by extracting the essential oils from the plant’s resinous flower clusters. This oil can be further refined to produce purified CBD. Pure CBD is odorless and colorless and therefore ideal for use in edible products as well as topical creams and cosmetics.
Both THC and CBD have medicinal properties. Although CBD-rich oils produced from marijuana are only available to the state’s medical marijuana patients, anyone in Pennsylvania can purchase CBD oil. However, not all CBD products are technically considered legal.
PA hemp CBD FAQ | 2022
Are hemp CBD Products legal?
Thankfully, CBD oil and products derived from hemp are legal for all in Pennsylvania.
CBD infused edibles and drinks, on the other hand currently fall into a gray area of the law. According to law, the state’s hemp regulations must follow federal regulations. And under federal regulations, the adding of CBD to food and beverages is not permitted. It seems, however, that the state has no desire to spend its resources enforcing the no-CBD-edibles rule.
CBD-rich cannabis oils made from marijuana are also legal in the state, but only for card-carrying medical marijuana patients. It can only be produced and sold by companies that have been licensed under the state’s medical marijuana laws.
Do doctors in PA prescribe CBD oil to their patients?
Only FDA approved drugs can be prescribed by doctors. CBD oils and other CBD products are not standardized and therefore they are not eligible to be approved as prescription drugs.
There is, however, one CBD-based drug that has been approved by the FDA. It’s called Epidiolex. Epidiolex essentially consists of purified CBD and has only been approved for use by children with particular cases of epilepsy.
Doctors in Pennsylvania can, however, recommend cannabis based CBD oil or other CBD products to their patients.
If the doctor feels that the patient qualifies for the state’s medical marijuana program and can benefit from cannabis products containing CBD the doctor can approve the patient for a medical marijuana card.
However, if you’re just looking for hemp-derived CBD oil or any other CBD-infused products you do not need a prescription to purchase them.
What medical conditions are being treated with CBD oil in Pennsylvania?
The most common reasons people give for using CBD oil are to relieve pain, reduce stress and anxiety, and to help them sleep. However, CBD is being used to treat dozens of other medical conditions in Pennsylvania.
Some of the medical conditions being treated with CBD oil include:
- ADHD
- Addiction & Alcoholism
- ALS
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Anorexia
- Antibiotic
- Anxiety
- Autoimmune Diseases
- Bipolar
- Cancer
- Colitis & Crohn’s Disease
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Endocrine Disorders
- Heart Disease
- HIV & AIDS
- Inflammation
- Insomnia
- Kidney Disease
- Liver Disease
- Migraines
- Nausea
- Neurodegeneration
- Obesity
- Osteoporosis
- Pain
- Parkinson’s Disease
- PTSD
- Rheumatism
- Schizophrenia
- Shingles
- Sleep Disorders
- Stress
- Tourette’s Syndrome
Where to purchase CBD online
Online retailers have been selling CBD oil for years. However, it really only became legal at the start of 2019. And since pretty much all CBD products are being permitted in the state — even the banned ones — you’re good to go.
Aside from having your CBD delivered right to your doorstep, there are some other bennies to buying your CBD products online. For example, whereas local shops can only handle a certain number of products and brands, pretty much every CBD product under the sun is being sold online.
Secondly, your local shop might not carry what you consider to be a trustworthy brand of CBD. If you do your homework, you’ll find there are a handful of CBD brands that don’t compromise on quality. They may not be the brands on the shelves near you.
What hemp CBD products are available on the market?
A wide array of CBD oils and other CBD products can be found at shops across Pennsylvania.
As we mentioned earlier, technically, the sale of CBD edibles and CBD drinks is forbidden nationwide. But in order for that to matter, someone needs to want to enforce the rules. And state health officials so far do not seem inclined to harass CBD sellers. That could change once the FDA and USDA ink the final rules for the regulation of CBD and hemp respectively.
CBD products available in Pennsylvania:
Where can I buy hemp CBD oil in PA?
The bottom line here is this: When it comes to hemp-derived CBD products, if someone is selling it, you can legally buy it. That includes edibles. It’s the seller that is taking a risk by offering products that are technically banned.
Again, this only applies to CBD products made from hemp. You can’t walk into a medical dispensary and walk out with cannabis oil that contains THC without flashing your medical card and state ID.
Some of the larger pharmacy chains such as Walmart and CVS are also now offering CBD-infused skin creams designed to relieve pain and skin conditions.
Can I grow hemp in PA?
Nope. In order to grow hemp in Pennsylvania, you need to have a hemp farming license. And to get a hemp farming license you’ll need to apply to the state. Your application needs to include your operational plan such as where it will be grown, how much will be grown, what strains will be grown, what security measures will be in place and so on and so forth.
It’s a process, but it’s not insurmountable. So far, more than 300 Pennsylvania farmers have been approved to grow industrial hemp in 2019. That’s ten times the number of hemp farmers registered the previous year. Pennsylvania hemp farmers planted approximately 8,000 acres of hemp in 2019, up from only 580 the year prior.
Can I Start a CBD Business in Pennsylvania?
Absolutely. It’s perfectly legal to sell CBD oil in Pennsylvania. CBD edibles and drinks? Not so much. However, as we stated before, the state doesn’t seem to have any inclination toward enforcing the FDA’s ban on these products. Yet.
Nonetheless, if you are a bona fide retail establishment and you are considering selling CBD it would be wise to discuss the matter with a lawyer that is well versed in Pennsylvania hemp and CBD laws.
CBD Millionaire: Everything You Need To Know To Make $1,000,000 Dollars Selling CBD
Here are some helpful links to learn more about hemp CBD oil
Learn more about hemp CBD laws in Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture — Industrial Hemp
- Industrial Hemp State Plan Cover Letter (PDF)
- Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture — Industrial Hemp Program FAQs
- Controlled Plants and Noxious Weeds Law (PDF)
- Labeling Industrial Hemp Seeds
- Industrial Hemp FAQs
- 2019 PA Hemp Permit Holders (PDF)
- 2019 Revised Program Parameters (PDF)
- Notarized Personnel Attestation Form (PDF)
- PA Hemp Permit Sites
- Pennsylvania Hemp Industry Council
- National Hemp Association
- NPR WESA – More Than 300 Pennsylvania Farmers Awarded Permits To Grow Hemp This Year
- PennState Extention – Interested in Growing Hemp in Pennsylvania in 2019?
- Hemp Industry Daily – Mid-Atlantic harvest preview: 75% of Pennsylvania CBD producers lack purchase contracts
- NextPittsburgh.com: CBD stores are popping up all over Pittsburgh. When will our laws catch up?