Kentucky has arguably the most lucrative hemp industry out of all states. In America, you can legally buy Kentucky CBD products across the state and the nation. The state has a rich cannabis history, with Kentucky hemp production dating back to the 1700s.
Despite Kentucky’s history of producing hemp, the state has a turbulent relationship with cannabis.
Is CBD legal in Kentucky?
As in every other US state, CBD is entirely legal in Kentucky.
But it wasn’t always this way. Even though Kentucky has a history of hemp production, they have resisted legalizing cannabis products for a long time. This is despite the growing trend of legalizing marijuana across the United States.
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The history of hemp production in Kentucky goes all the way back to the late 1700s. A lot of the hemp was actually used as fiber to produce goods like bags. According to a report from 1914, almost all hemp in the United States came from seed produced in Kentucky. When recreational marijuana use became popular in the 1900s, hemp production was largely criminalized.
It was only in 2014 that the Senate Bill 124 of Kentucky removed industrial hemp from its definition of CBD. This bill only allowed CBD to be used if prescribed by a physician to patients with specific pediatric seizures. Luckily, this changed in a bill passed in 2018 that fully legalized the cultivation and use of hemp that has less than 0.3 percent THC. This means that CBD products made from industrial hemp are fully legal in Kentucky.
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However, marijuana with more than 0.3 percent THC is still illegal in Kentucky. This means that you cannot legally buy CBD products made from flowering marijuana plants.
What CBD products can I buy in Kentucky?
The most commonly-sold CBD product is oil. These usually come in a range of flavors. The benefit of using oil is that you have full control of your dosage (this can be harder with gummies or edibles).
There is a range of other CBD products available. Many CBD retailers sell gummies, capsules, and edibles. If you’re interested in CBD’s cosmetic benefits, you can also buy a hemp-range of skincare products.
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How do I buy CBD?
Since the 2014 bill legalized hemp production, the CBD industry in Kentucky has been rapidly growing. In other words, you won’t have a difficult time finding places to buy CBD products from. Although, because the CBD industry is new and unregulated, not all of these companies have consumers’ best interests in mind. To avoid buying low-quality CBD products, we recommend doing some research beforehand.
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Here are some precautions you can take before buying CBD:
- Look at the THC content. This is important because if there’s more than 0.3 percent THC, it is not legal in Kentucky.
- Check whether an external laboratory has tested the product. This can confirm whether you’re getting what the label says.
- Choose a full-spectrum or broad-spectrum product over isolate. This means you’re accessing all of the plant’s compounds. Research shows that CBD is believed to perform best when all compounds are present.
- Buy from trusted retailers. You can google them beforehand or look at their reviews to ensure that no red flags come up.
Buying online in Kentucky
Online shopping is probably the most convenient way to buy CBD products. You can easily find reputable retailers, look through product reviews, compare prices, and make a purchase.
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The downside of shopping online is that it can be trickier to find someone knowledgeable in CBD to help you choose the right product.
Buying CBD in-store in Kentucky
Visiting a trusted retailer is great for people new to using CBD products. The primary reason is that you can usually talk to someone who can explain what range of CBD products you can choose from and how dosage works.
Dosage varies depending on why you are taking CBD and how much you weigh. For example, you would need to take more CBD if you take it for epilepsy than if you are taking it for pain. If you have any questions about dosage, you can talk to a retailer who specializes in CBD products.
Final thoughts on CBD in Kentucky
CBD was only fully legalized for all adults in 2018 in Kentucky. The hemp industry is unregulated, growing rapidly, and marijuana is still illegal.
This means that while the growing CBD-industry is exciting, it’s important that CBD users take extra precautions. The best way to do this is by checking that your CBD product comes from a trusted retailer and contains 0.3 percent THC or less. This means you can ensure you receive a high-quality CBD product that doesn’t put you in a compromising position with the law.
Once you’ve found a trusted retailer, you are good to go!
Sian Ferguson is a freelance writer based in Cape Town, South Africa and she has written for publications such as Healthline, Greatist, and Psych Central to name a few.
