Is CBD legal in Ireland?
In recent years, CBD and CBD-based products have become mainstream throughout Ireland. With a continually growing range of CBD products appearing in the Irish market, CBD has become a much touted aid in the fight against depression, anxiety, insomnia, aches and pains, epilepsy, inflammatory pain, arthritis, heart health and even acne!
Today we are going to look at the legality of CBD-based products in Ireland and their link to cannabis.
What is CBD?
CBD is an abbreviation of cannabidiol, a natural compound that is found in a high abundance in the hemp plant. It is one of over 85 compounds found in hemp, known as cannabinoids. CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid.
There are many types of products containing CBD and the list is constantly growing as the industry matures. Some of the most popular products include buds and flowers, oils, vapes and e-liquids, tea, coffee, cosmetics and even CBD gummy bears!
Another well-known cannabinoid is THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol. THC is the dominant cannabinoid which is found in the marijuana plant and is the chemical compound which is responsible for the feeling of “intoxication” or “euphoria”.
So what makes these products legal and available for legal sale over the counter or online? To establish this we need to look more at what CBD actually is.
Is CBD a drug?
No, CBD is not psychoactive in the same way THC is, so it won’t make you high. Its pharmacology is different to that of THC. Marijuana plants are abundant in THC, while hemp plants are specifically cultivated to contain an abundance of CBD, with little to no THC.
CBD is also not addictive. According to the World Health Organisation:
“In humans, CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential”
Is CBD legal?
So now that we have a brief overview of the difference between CBD and THC, let’s look at how one is legal and the other is illegal!
In Ireland it is legal to purchase CBD and CBD infused products. CBD is not illegal under the misuse of drugs act. According to David Finn, professor of pharmacology and therapeutics at NUI Galway, “In Ireland, we can buy CBD so long as it contains less than 0.2% THC. People can buy it online, in health food stores, and in some pharmacies. They can use it legally.”
So CBD under certain requirements is legal in Ireland, but is THC illegal? As THC can allegedly cause symptoms associated with psychosis, products or plants that contain THC are subject to strict controls under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 to 2016. These controls make the use of THC illegal and with it controlled drugs like marijuana.
So is CBD really a form of “legal weed”? Although CBD is legal, it’s not true to say it’s weed or marijuana. There may be some similarities but its overall effect is quite different. The growing use and research into CBD products is great to witness as people continue to seek out natural remedies. So while we can’t guarantee CBD will cure all your ailments, you should not be worried about breaking the law so long as you are purchasing from a reputable source!
It is also interesting to note that the use of the hemp plant already has a long history in Ireland. Hemp is not just useful for CBD products. Industrial hemp can be used as a greener, more environmentally friendly alternative for a variety of things such as building materials, paper and even clothing.
Will we ever see fully legalised weed with high THC limits in Ireland?
Given the global shift towards legalisation it is likely that we will see it in Ireland one day. Minister for Health Simon Harris has even suggested the possibility of farmers in Ireland growing cannabis in the future as part of his plan to push legalisation of medicinal marijuana! A move we are very excited to see take place!