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CBD is infiltrating every corner of the world and creating a buzz. What was once believed to be illegal is being accepted in many markets for its immense benefits. If you live in a country where CBD is made legal, you would have seen it grow in the market and go from ‘being around’ to ‘everywhere’.
Yet, many countries are unwilling to accept CBD and make it legal. If you want to buy CBD and its products, make sure you understand what CBD is, and whether it is legal in the country you are staying in.
Read More: Is CBD oil legal in your country?
What is the Cannabinoid Cannabidiol?
CBD is a chemical compound from the cannabis plant and derived directly from the cannabis plant Hemp, which is a related species of Marijuana. It was discovered in 1940 and is short for Cannabidiol. There are almost 113 other identified cannabinoids derived from the hemp plant, but CBD accounts for 40% of the extracts.
After THC or tetrahydrocannabinol, CBD is the most predominant cannabinoid of the active ingredients of cannabis plant Marijuana. It offers a lot of benefits without the psychoactive agents that are present in Marijuana, meaning you will not go high. Due to this feature, CBD is gaining a lot of popularity worldwide.
What is CBD oil?
Different makers have different ways of extracting CBD from the cannabis plant hemp. The derived CBD is mixed with a carrier oil and called CBD oil. CBD oil is the oil with extracts of cannabidiol. It comes in different strengths and used for various purposes.
Hemp oil is not to be confused with CBD oil. While CBD oil is derived from the extracts of the hemp plant, Hemp oil is derived from hemp seeds and it is more commonly known as hemp seed oil. Hemp oil is packed with fat and is often used in the beauty industry.
It is suggested to consult your doctor before using CBD oil and check whether CBD oil and CBD-based products are legal in your country or your region.
Legal Status of CBD
Every country, every region has different laws that govern them. While in one country the use of CBD oil in retail products is legal and medicinal products is illegal, it is the other way in a different country. It is always suggested to understand what is legal and what is illegal before buying CBD-based products.
Scandinavia is a beautiful region in Northern Europe known for its history, culture and linguistic ties. It covers the kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The question that needs an answer to is, is CBD oil legal in Scandinavia kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden? Have the three kingdoms opened their arms to CBD? Does CBD have a future in these three regions?
Is CBD oil legal in Scandinavia?
Cannabis and products related to cannabis have been in controversy for several years and will continue to be in controversy. The only difference is that now, due to the potential benefits of Cannabidiol or CBD, governments of many countries have become more lenient towards CBD industry.
Is CBD oil legal in Denmark?
Until July 2018, products containing CBD were regulated by the Danish government. But since then, CBD products containing 0.2% or less THC is no longer a regulated substance. Possession and sale of products containing 0.2% or less THC are legal.
CBD oil in food supplements is legal in Denmark as long as they comply with the European Food Safety Authority. The European Food Safety Authority also regulate CBD oil health claims relating to dietary supplements. But when it comes to the online sale of CBD oil, there is some confusion on its legality.
Products sold online contain CBD oil in quantities that will have some effect on the body. Such high content of CBD oil is considered as medicinal, even if the THC is below 0.2%.
In such cases, these products must either act on a Medicinal Cannabis Pilot Program or fulfil the rules of the Danish Medicines Act.
The bottom line is that CBD oil-based products sold online are illegal in Denmark as it does not satisfy the other rules that apply in the area. CBD Oil with less than 0.2% THC is legal if it follows the rules that regulate the medicines, food supplements & food in Denmark.
MORE READING: ROUNDUP OF CBD EXPERTS
Is CBD oil legal in Norway?
The industrial hemp that is used to produce CBD oil does not come from the same strain of cannabis as that of cannabis that is used to produce Marijuana. Due to this difference, CBD oil is widely accepted in Norway.
The Norwegian Parliament decriminalised personal drug use in December 2017, but the drug-regulation laws are quite contradictory. The conflicting laws in Norway made it quite confusing regarding the use of CBD oil. It was later made clear that as long as there’s 0% trace of THC, CBD is legal. Though the rule is a little too strict, since THC is the compound with the psychoactive agent, the rule makes sense.
Norway is not a part of the European Union, and the restrictions for the use and sale of CBD in this country are different. It is legal to use and possess CBD only if it is prescribed by a doctor.
Is CBD oil legal in Sweden?
Sweden is one of the countries in the European Union with the most restrictive drug laws. As many companies made medicinal claims, CBD fell under the Medicines Act, which meant, there were certain regulations to be looked at. CBD had long been in the grey zone in Sweden and was being considered by the Medical Products Agency to be medicine.
No matter the THC content, CBD products are classified as narcotics by the Supreme Court. The oral intake of CBD is considered as medicine. It is not to be sold without a license from the Medical Products Agency. Yet again, it is considered as narcotics if it contains traces of THC. In simple, selling supplements or any products containing CBD is illegal.
Any product containing CBD cannot display statements of beauty, health, benefits and such in the instruction for use. The CBD substance is not banned in Sweden, but the marketing and sales with statements of its benefits are prohibited. CBD can be bought online legally if the THC concentration in it is 0.00%.
Can I legally grow cannabis?
In the three kingdoms of Scandinavia, different regulations govern the legal growing of cannabis.
- In Norway, it is illegal to grow hemp and cannabis. You are also prohibited from buying whole hemp and cannabis seeds.
- In Denmark, if you want to grow cannabis, you must get permission via three separate public bodies, namely Landburgsstyrelsen agricultural agency, Laegemiddelstyrelsen, and Rigspolitiet the national police.
- It is illegal to grow cannabis for personal use in Sweden. As the laws are very restricted, the government does not accept the industrial growth of cannabis either.
CBD oil Scandinavia present and future market
In Denmark, a four-year trial for medical cannabis is in progress as a result of the proposal made by the coalition government. Denmark is all set for the medical cannabis industry. Lægemiddelstyrelsen, Denmark’s medicines authority, announced licenses for the cannabis industry as well, which will be tightly regulated.
Recently, Aurora Cannabis, a Canadian medical marijuana grower, came together with tomato grower Alfred Pedersen & Son via a joint venture called Aurora Nordic Cannabis. The pharmaceutical company is all set to produce cannabis and penetrate deeper into the CBD market. This company is designed to serve the needs of other Scandinavian countries.
The CBD market is no longer in the grey zone. As most of the production of CBD oil is mostly concentrated in Europe and North America, the future of the CBD market in the three kingdoms of Scandinavia look strong.
Though Sweden has a restricted approach to CBD oil, it is believed that an integrated industry chain, from the industrial hemp to downstream industries, can change the face of the CBD market.
This integrated chain can ensure that the final product of CBD reaches the rightful market and the country’s regulations are not broken. With the global CBD oil market expected to increase to US$3860 Million by 2025, there are ample growth opportunities in the CBD market in Scandinavia.
