When it comes to cannabis you’ve probably heard of it. You may have even smoked it. You know that it’s not legal and in most countries, it can be a jailable offense to carry more than a personal amount. But that doesn’t mean that the laws and regulations surrounding cannabis products are the same. There have been several scientific developments within the cannabis industry that have discovered that certain aspects of the Cannabis Sativa plant have medical benefits for a huge number of different ailments and diseases. This meant that the laws had to be revisited to accommodate its incredible potential. But what are the main laws and regulations surrounding cannabis in Europe?
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Medical & Retail
First, we need to understand that there are two markets when it comes to cannabis products, medical and retail. The retail market is mainly made up of products such as CBD oil, which has low levels of THC and comes in other forms like edibles and vapes. The majority of sales are made online, but with the popularity growing it’s likely to see these products in retailers all over.
The medical market is more regulated and will depend on which country you’re in, but it’s regulated by high-quality standards. Medical cannabis is sold as medicine and distributed by pharmacies.
CBD
It took a while, but in 2018 the World Health Organisation declared that CBD has no public health risk attached to it, neither does it contain any abuse potential. This meant that within the European Union it was allowed to be sold, distributed, and possessed by anyone above the age of 18. The EU declared it legal but put the decision into the hands of its countries. The experts at cannaunion.com explain that each country has the right to choose whether they allow the sale and use of CBD products. It’s currently not essential for it to be regulated, but this might change in the future. It would be a good idea to ensure there isn’t anything else going into products that are freely sold to the public.
Hemp
The hemp market is enormous and has the potential to be used in a wide variety of products including clothing, paper, beauty products, and even food. Within the EU the cultivation and supply of hemp are legal as long as it adheres to a few rules. The THC content of the hemp plant must not exceed the limit of 0.2%. It’s been seen that any country joining the EU for the first time with strict cannabis laws have been urged to change them due to the wide variety of uses hemp has.
Recreational Cannabis
Whilst the majority of countries still maintain the standpoint of marijuana being illegal, there are a few exceptions. The Netherlands is known for its relaxed approach and allows cannabis cafes that tourists flock to every year. Spain has cannabis social clubs and the Czech Republic has completely decriminalized it. There’s still some legal framework that needs work, but the movement is leaning towards more countries legalizing it.
There are many benefits of the cannabis plant and it’s something that needs more research. CBD legality has had some incredible effects on diseases such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and even severe pain. The hemp industry could save millions of trees every year and stop the wasteful production of clothes. If there was even an answer to a host of problems staring us in the face, it’s this one.
