Florida has come to the hemp party a little later than most US states. It first made the use of CBD products (under specific conditions) legal in 2014. The medical use of marijuana was permitted in 2016 and implemented in 2018. That’s the short version of the law within the state but knowing that isn’t enough. Here are more details on the laws and regulations.
CBD Oil In FL – The Sunshine State
The use of CBD was specified with a law saying that patients with cancer, muscle spasms, seizures, and terminal illness can use CBD oil and other CBD products that have less than 0.8% THC. In 2016 a law was passed saying that people can use marijuana for medicinal purposes, and in 2017 a law was enacted, allowing an industrial hemp pilot program allowing the growth of industrial hemp in this state.
Basic CBD Info
The cannabis sativa plant has many varieties, and all of these produce compounds known as cannabinoids. The varieties producing a high dose of THC are known as marijuana, and those producing high doses of CBD are known as industrial hemp. Apart from CBD production, the hemp plants have other uses and can be used for creating paper, fiber, textile, fuel, animal feed and more.
While THC has psychoactive properties, CBD has no psychoactive effects but has great beneficial properties. It is used for relieving pain, anxiety, nausea, seizures, PTSD and other health problems.
There are varieties of marijuana that have high CBD content as opposed to THC. These are favored by the people that need to use marijuana for their health problems. Two of the most famous and most used CBD-rich strains are ACDC and Harlequin.
- ACDC is a sativa-dominant strain that has an amazing 1:20 ratio of CBD vs. THC. It is very closely related to Cannatonic, another very potent medicinal marijuana strain. This weed strain is favorite among people that need relief from pain, have issues with epilepsy, ALS, multiple sclerosis and even battle cancer. The high CBD content helps the body, while the low THC content does not affect the mind, allowing the user to stay focused and energized.
- Harlequin is a CBD-rich strain that has a ratio of 5:2 in favor of CBD vs. THC and is very effective in treating pain, stress, and depression, is very helpful when dealing with PTSD or inflammation. It produces smooth, sweet smoke that provides sedative effects on the body, while the mind stays focused and uplifted.
Floridian CBD laws
The Floridia law allows the use of CBD oil and other CBD products only if they contain less than 0.8% THC. As of 2017, the Florida state has allowed a pilot program for growing industrial hemp for research purposes, while commercial growing should begin in 2019.
Florida CBD-Specific Marijuana Law
This means that in Florida the use of cannabis extracts as long as they are rich in CBD and have low THC content is allowed. This is only done in cases where a doctor has recommended such a treatment and the patient is fulfilling the required conditions. The state prescribes that the CBD oils and other CBD products need to have less than 0.8% THC to be completely legal in Florida.
Medical Marijuana in Florida
A patient with a severe illness such as ALS, cancer, PTSD, glaucoma, epilepsy, seizures, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s or Crohn’s disease or HIV/AIDS can use marijuana for medicinal purposes in FL. As per the law, the patients need to be registered and can get their medical marijuana from state-licensed dispensaries.
Today there are 22 state-approved medical marijuana centers with 128 locations across the state, serving the registered people. Patients still can’t grow their own marijuana, as this is illegal in Florida, and can possess only 2.5 oz of medical marijuana, and anything more is punishable by law.
No Weed for Floridians
The adult use of marijuana is strictly forbidden in the Sunshine State. As per the legal stipulations, any possession of marijuana is a misdemeanor/felony, and depending on the amount of weed one is caught with, it can be a year in prison and $1000 fine for up to 20 grams, and anything more is 5 years in prison and fines starting from $5000.
Even though many Floridians have initiated a constitutional amendment on November 6, 2018, called the Florida Cannabis Act, it was not on the ballot in Florida. Sorry Floridians, but it seems like the recreational use of weed is far from being legal on the East Coast.
CBD Oil Buying Options In Florida
The CBD industry is booming in the USA, and because it is completely legal to buy and use CBD oil with less than 0.8% THC in Florida, many stores start offering CBD products. There are a lot of these all across the state where people can go and try out any product before they purchase it.
There is also the online ordering of CBD products. This is one of the safest ways of ordering, provided you order from a respectable manufacturer. You can take a look at the lab test results published on the manufacturer’s site and read customer reviews about the CBD brand you are planning on buying. Plus, you can get free shipping on your order.
There are a few brands that you should consider using if you’re living in Florida. I’d start with the Medterra products and if you’re into gummies, give the Not Pot gummies a shot. You can give Hemplucid products a shot too. They’re based out of South Florida and a top choice for many residents.
Conclusion
The people of Florida can use CBD oil legally as long as it has less than 0.8% THC. It has been decided in 2014, and in 2016 the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes was legalized as well. Today it is possible for qualifying patients that have been registered with the Office of Medical Marijuana Use to get a lot of CBD-rich weed strains in Florida from state-licensed centers. However, the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes in Florida will need to wait for better days.
