Is CBD Oil Legal In Maryland?

The 2016 HB-443 mandated the Department of Agriculture to authorize institutions to grow industrial hemp for the purpose of academic research. Later on, the 2018 House Bill 698 accorded further expansion to the law, thereby specifically permitting hemp cultivated under the program to be traded, distributed, transported, or processed in the state as well as outside of its geographical boundaries.  

The following passages shall put light on the U.S. hemp harvesting, what are the two common CBD-rich and equal CBD/THC strains, the legality of CBD in Maryland, and how to purchase it legally. 

Maryland is gradually catching up with other leading CBD states across the country with the opening of more and more CBD retail shops. You top options in Little America are: 

• CBD Oil by Every Day Optimal (Arnold, MD) 
• Vape Loft (Edgewater, MD) 
• Maryland Cannabis Physicians (Carroll County, MD) 
• Smoke Shop 1 (Glen Burnie, MD) 
• BUY CBD Store (Gaithersburg, MD) 

Conversely, you can always order your favorite CBD product online.  

U.S. Hemp Harvest  

Today, the hemp plant is commercially cultivated in more than 30 countries, including Canada, the European Union, and Japan. Although the crop grows wild across much of the U.S. and offers no safety or public health threat, it’s still uprooted and regularly destroyed by law enforcement. In fact, about 98% of all the cannabis eliminated each year by the Drug Enforcement Agency’s Domestic Cannabis Eradication/Suppression Program (DCE/SP) is actually hemp. 

Swiss Tsunami – A CBD-Rich Strain  

Swiss Tsunami is a genetic cross of Swiss Gold and Sour Tsunami. It’s an emphatic pairing that can yield more than 14% CBD on average, alongside just a 0.5% of THC content. It’s an uncommon high-CBD strain with a gingery smell and reeks of skunk-like, herbaceous terpenes. It gives you a delicate orange peel flavor on the exhale, and assists in relieving nausea, inflammation, and anxiety.  

Hurkle – An Equal CBD/THC Strain 

Hurkle is a crossbreed between a Querkle indica and the CBD-rich sativa Harlequin and is bred by TGA Genetics. Its typical phenotypes shall levitate around a 1:1 ratio of CBD/THC, but some exceptions can be expected. The equal volumes of CBD and THC team up to decimate pain, anxiety, and stress, thereby leaving you mentally and physically relaxed. The strain offers coffee, grape, and, chocolate flavors, and can occasionally give you a dry mouth.   

CBD Oil Laws in Maryland 

The 2016 House Bill 443 enabled the Department of Agriculture to lawfully authorize higher educational institutions to grow industrial-hemp for academic research purposes. The bill also initiated a licensing program which allowed individuals to grow, harvest, process, and commercially trade industrial hemp in Little America.  

Moreover, the 2018 House Bill 698 lends further expansion to the law, thereby explicitly permitting hemp cultivated under the program to be traded, distributed, transported, or processed in the state as well as outside of its geographical confines.  

Medical Marijuana in Maryland

As of 2018, medicinal marijuana is legal statewide, four years after the Maryland General Assembly inked a law legalizing it. The qualified state residents with the following conditions can procure medical marijuana in the Old Line State. 

• Cachexia 
• Chronic Pain 
• Seizures 
• Nausea 
• Severe muscle spasms 

There are close to 20,000 registered patients across the state, and the medical sales are expected to soar to $45.9 million by the year 2021.  

Recreational Marijuana in Maryland

As of mid-2018, marijuana is classified as a Schedule I controlled psychoactive substance, and possessing even a small amount of it is a civil offense in Maryland. However, the state has decriminalized it to a degree by waiving jail time for first-time offenders with no criminal record. Also, despite Senate Bill 1039 and House Bill 1264 being passed over by the legislatures to legalize adult-use marijuana, hopes are high that all of that will change in 2019. In fact, the projected recreational cannabis sales in Maryland are expected to fetch a monumental $613.1 million by the year 2021. 

Conclusion 

The 2016 HB-443 directed the Department of Agriculture to approve institutions to grow industrial hemp for the purpose of academic research. Later on, the 2018 HB-698 accorded further expansion to the law. As of 2018, medicinal marijuana is legal statewide, four years after the Maryland General Assembly inked a law approving it. However, cannabis is still labeled as a controlled psychoactive substance, and possessing even a trace amount of it is considered a civil offense.  

Of course, you can legally purchase over-the-counter CBD products in Maryland, but the convenience of an online purchase still eclipses a brick and mortar shop.