Is CBD Oil Legal? A Country-by-Country Guide

With the popularity of CBD growing by the day and research on its benefits developing rapidly, one question still causes confusion: Is CBD oil legal?

The global CBD market was worth £967.2m in 2020, growing around six times faster than expected. You might assume CBD is legal everywhere—but that’s not the case. Laws around CBD, hemp oil, and cannabis are changing quickly, and restrictions on growing, producing, selling, and using CBD vary widely by state and country.

In this guide, we’ll cover:

What CBD is
What makes CBD legal/illegal
The legality of CBD oil around the world

What is CBD oil?

CBD (cannabidiol) is one of more than 100 cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. Two are widely known:

THC (tetrahydrocannabinol): psychoactive; controlled worldwide. In the UK, THC is a Class B controlled substance under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
CBD: non-psychoactive, non-addictive, and increasingly used as a natural supplement.

Many CBD products contain trace amounts of THC as a natural result of extraction. Where CBD is legal, it often must remain below a specific THC threshold. If you’re travelling and want to know if CBD is legal, use the country list below to guide you.

Read more: Hemp vs marijuana

Read more: Flying with CBD oil

What makes CBD legal or illegal?

Legality typically hinges on:

THC content (e.g., ≤0.2%, 0.3%, 1%, or even 0.0% in some countries)
Source (hemp vs. marijuana)
Intended use (food supplement, cosmetic, or medicine)
Sales channel (OTC retail vs. pharmacy-only with prescription)

Countries where CBD is legal

Argentina 🇦🇷

CBD is legal but prescription-only and dispensed via pharmacies (cannabis derivatives decriminalised in 2009).

Austria 🇦🇹

Medical cannabis is prescription-only; CBD available with THC ≤0.3%. CBD cannot be advertised as a food supplement or medicine.

Australia 🇦🇺

CBD is legal with restrictions: products must contain ≤50mg cannabinoids per kg and THC < 0.3%. Classified as medicinal cannabis and available via limited approved vendors.

Belize 🇧🇿

Hemp-derived CBD with THC < 0.3% is legal.

Bulgaria 🇧🇬

Hemp (THC ≤0.2%) may be cultivated, imported, and traded. Producing CBD products domestically is prohibited; however, imported CBD products circulate on the market.

Canada 🇨🇦

Medical cannabis (2001) and recreational cannabis (2019) are legal. CBD is technically for medical sale federally, but in practice is widely available, with regulations varying by province.

Chile 🇨🇱

CBD is legal with a prescription. Without one, the law is grey; minor sanctions are possible.

China 🇨🇳

Hemp-based CBD is technically legal if THC is very low/absent. Possession is legal, but importing CBD as a food product is illegal. Cannabis laws are strict.

Colombia 🇨🇴

CBD is legal with THC < 1%. Cultivation for CBD requires a license.

Costa Rica 🇨🇷

Hemp-derived CBD (THC < 0.3%) is legal; availability can be limited due to import issues.

Denmark 🇩🇰

Grey area. Generally allowed with THC ≤0.2%. If marketed as medicine, a prescription is required. Many buy online from the EU or use topicals.

Greece 🇬🇷

CBD is legal if derived from industrial hemp with THC < 0.2%.

Germany 🇩🇪

CBD is legal if from certified EU hemp, THC ≤0.3%, and not for intoxication (per Betäubungsmittelgesetz).

Guatemala 🇬🇹

CBD is legal with THC < 0.3%. Travellers should carry cannabinoid content details.

Italy 🇮🇹

No explicit CBD law; manufacturing, sale, and possession appear legal but could change.

Japan 🇯🇵

CBD is legal with zero THC. Strict control of THC; imports and domestic production must ensure 0.0% THC.

Luxembourg 🇱🇺

CBD is available with THC ≤0.3%.

Mexico 🇲🇽

CBD legal since 2017 with THC < 1%.

Netherlands 🇳🇱

CBD is legal if produced from EU-grown hemp and THC < 0.05% (stricter than EU’s 0.2%).

Paraguay 🇵🇾

CBD is legal for medical purposes.

Peru 🇵🇪

CBD is legal for medical purposes; with THC < 1% it is not subject to Narcotics Regulations.

Portugal 🇵🇹

Drugs decriminalised (2001); medical cannabis legal (2018). CBD is widely available and legal with THC < 0.2%.

Puerto Rico 🇵🇷

Hemp-derived CBD is legal under the 2018 Farm Bill.

Romania 🇷🇴

Medical cannabis decriminalised; recreational is forbidden. CBD requires a prescription and THC < 0.2%. Topicals are widely available.

Slovakia 🇸🇰

CBD recently removed from banned substances; follows EU THC ≤0.2%. Currently only external-use products are allowed; internal-use rules may relax.

Spain 🇪🇸

CBD is legal with THC < 0.2% (EU hemp rules).

South Africa 🇿🇦

Cannabis decriminalised for personal use (2018). CBD was already legal under certain THC limits; now generally tolerated.

Switzerland 🇨🇭

Strict THC rules, but CBD is unregulated; CBD oil is legal and high-CBD/low-THC products are permitted with THC ≤1%.

Thailand 🇹🇭

CBD removed from narcotics list (Aug 2019). CBD legal with THC < 0.2% by weight.

Uruguay 🇺🇾

CBD is completely legal to sell, purchase, and use; cannabis is legal.

United Kingdom 🇬🇧

CBD is legal if produced from EU-approved industrial hemp with THC < 0.2%. EU hemp strains are used to ensure low THC.

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VikaczSb0lo

United States 🇺🇸

Federally, CBD occupies a complex space: the DEA classifies cannabis extracts as Schedule I, but the 2018 Farm Bill permits hemp cultivation and hemp-derived products under strict conditions. In practice, state laws govern sale and use; enforcement varies.

As a rule of thumb, hemp-derived CBD with THC ≤0.3%, sourced from licensed growers and compliant with both state and federal rules, is permitted. Availability and rules vary widely by state.

Examples of state approaches (selected):

Indiana: Legal if THC < 0.3% (no prescription required).
Kansas: CBD is legal but must be THC-free.
Georgia: Prescription CBD allowed; ≤20 oz; THC ≤5%, CBD equal or higher than THC.
Texas: Generally illegal, but allowed for epilepsy patients.
Virginia/Wisconsin: Prescription CBD permitted for any condition.
Multiple states: Restrict CBD to certain medical conditions (e.g., epilepsy) or specific programs.

Bottom line: Check local state law. Retail availability doesn’t always equal legal compliance.

U.S. Virgin Islands 🇻🇮

CBD is legal if pre-packaged and THC < 0.3%.

Countries where CBD is illegal

Albania 🇦🇱

No legal distinction between CBD and cannabis. Buying, selling, and using CBD is illegal. Personal use is decriminalised only for a “single dose.” Doctors cannot prescribe CBD.

Belgium 🇧🇪

Sale of products containing THC (including CBD) is not allowed; external-use CBD may be purchased.

Hong Kong 🇭🇰

As of February 2023, CBD is classified as a “dangerous drug.” Possession/consumption can bring heavy fines and up to 7 years’ imprisonment; manufacturing/import/export can carry life imprisonment.

Iceland 🇮🇸

Legal grey area. CBD is allowed only if it contains no THC. Since most CBD contains trace THC, legality is uncertain in practice.

Russia 🇷🇺

All cannabis products are illegal, regardless of THC content.

Singapore 🇸🇬

CBD is a controlled substance. Buying/selling isn’t specifically illegal, but possession is illegal. Do not bring CBD into Singapore.

Serbia 🇷🇸

All cannabis-derived products are illegal for both medical and recreational use, regardless of THC content.

Final words on CBD legal countries

CBD laws vary dramatically worldwide and are evolving quickly. If you plan to travel with CBD, always check current local regulations—including THC limits, product type (edible vs. topical), and whether a prescription is required.

Wherever you buy CBD, choose premium products with transparent lab testing to verify cannabinoid content, THC levels, and product safety.

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Is CBD Oil Legal or Illegal? The Ultimate List of CBD Legal Countries