How Old Do You Have to Be to Buy CBD?

College athletes to soccer moms and grandparents are exploring the benefits of CBD, making it one of the fastest-growing categories of health and wellness products on the market. Given it only recently became available for sale across the US, there are lots of questions around CBD, particularly: “How old do you have to be to buy CBD?”

To help you cut through the noise, we’ll explore the basics of CBD regulations to debunk common misconceptions about buying CBD.

Is CBD Legal?

Given the change in legality of hemp and cannabis products over the past few years, it’s natural to be unsure where products stand. Put simply: yes, CBD is legal.

With the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, CBD products became fully legal for sale at a federal level across the entire US, provided they are derived from the industrial hemp plant and contain less than 0.3% THC - the psychoactive compound found in marijuana responsible for the sensation of “getting high” in higher concentrations.

Although the hemp plant and the marijuana plant are similar, they remain distinct, and in order to be legal for sale in the US, CBD must be derived from the hemp plant, not the marijuana plant.

Hemp features naturally higher levels of CBD, a non-psychoactive compound recognized for a host of positive health benefits ranging from helping to reduce pain and muscle soreness to improving focus and bringing a sense of calm throughout the body.

How Old Do You Have to Be to Buy CBD?

“Can anyone buy CBD?” is a very common question. The short answer to this question is that CBD is available to people of all ages, as a CBD age limit has not been established at the federal level. However, where you can purchase CBD can change depending on age restrictions on CBD imposed at the state level.

Anyone over the age of 21 can purchase CBD without restrictions anywhere it is sold, including from reputable online sources. If you live in a state where recreational marijuana use is permitted, such as California, Washington or Colorado, CBD products are often sold at the same dispensaries where marijuana products are sold.

To make sense of the various age restrictions we recommend keeping the following in mind:

• Always buy your CBD from a reputable source that is fully transparent about their manufacturing process, quality-control procedures, and which stands behind their products with a strong refund policy.
• If you’re purchasing CBD online, make sure you are buying from a brand that is fully compliant with all regulatory requirements and is clear about their practices.
• Laws can differ between states, so if you’re planning to purchase CBD at a brick-and-mortar location, do your research before going to purchase a product to see if age restrictions apply.

What are the different types of CBD products you can buy?

Now that we’ve established some background on the age requirements for CBD, it’s helpful to understand the different types of CBD products available. There’s a range of different CBD products available that are easy to use and incorporate into your daily routine.

Whether you’re looking to support post-exercise recovery, aiming to get a better night’s rest, or seeking to address anxiety, CBD has the potential to help you achieve your best.

Some of the most popular ways to use CBD are:

• CBD oil (also known as a tincture) is a popular and easy-to-use way to use CBD. It can be taken directly or mixed with your favorite food and beverages.
• CBD oil in softgel or caplet form is also another popular way to use CBD on a regular basis.
• Topicals: CBD creams/gels and muscle rubs are an easy way to apply CBD formulas directly to the skin for easy absorption and effectiveness.

The Bottom Line

As we’ve seen, the answer to the question “how old do you have to be to buy CBD” is not a simple one. But with some basic knowledge and an understanding of local restrictions, buying high-quality CBD supplements doesn’t have to be a confusing or frustrating experience.