Since last December, products containing cannabidiol can be purchased in all 50 states.

Under the 2018 farm bill, hemp and hemp-related products are now federally legal to sell as long as the products do not contain more than 0.3 percent concentration of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as THC, in dry weight. This bill means that hemp and cannabidiol can be legally included in federal products.

An article written by Lisa Gill, deputy content editor for Consumer Reports, further explained the implications of the new bill.

“By changing how marijuana is defined in the Controlled Substances Act so that it doesn’t include hemp, the bill effectively removes CBD derived from hemp from the DEA’s list of controlled substances,” stated Gill.

Cannabidiol, commonly known as CBD, is a compound found in the flowers of the Cannabis sativa plant. Hemp oil is one product that contains CBD, and hemp oil contains a larger amount of THC than cannabis oil. THC is the compound responsible for causing the “high” feeling in hemp and cannabis users.

In addition to its commercial uses, hemp and CBD are also being studied in the medical field. An article written by Peter Grinspoon, an author at the Harvard Health Blog, explained how CBD may be used as a treatment option.

Grinspoon wrote, “CBD has been touted for a wide variety of health issues, but the strongest scientific evidence is for its effectiveness in treating some of the cruelest childhood epilepsy syndromes, such as Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, which typically don’t respond to antiseizure medications. In numerous studies, CBD was able to reduce the number of seizures, and in some cases it was able to stop them altogether.”

CBD is also used to treat anxiety and may help people who suffer from insomnia, according to Grinspoon. He mentioned that a study by the European Journal of Pain stated that cannabidiol could lower pain caused by arthritis.

CBD Daily, a skin care company based in Los Angeles, California, promotes its intensive cream as a product that acts as a moisturizer and relieves discomfort. In Hammond, the Ra Shop located on North Oak Street sells CBD products including oil and cannabidiol edibles. Hemp and CBD products can be bought through websites like Amazon and eBay.

The production and sale of CBD is legal in other countries, including Spain. The article “Sale of products containing cannabidiol (CBD) in Spain” written by Miguel Torres, a lawyer and a lecturer at the law school of the University of Barcelona, explained the European Union’s regulation on CBD as a food.

“From now on, it follows that any extract regardless of its concentration is considered as a new food,” shared Torres. “Consequently, it appears that CBD-enriched products produced in the EU will be out of the market.”

The article stated that CBD is also used in cosmetics and that the production of cannabidiol does not follow Europeans regulations as a narcotic drug because the compound is not psychotropic.

Grinspoon advised people who wish to try CBD or hemp products that without quality evidence in human studies, the compound is not completely understood.

“If you decide to try CBD, talk with your doctor — if for no other reason than to make sure it won’t affect other medications you are taking,” said Grinspoon.