The Ultimate Guide to CBD (And Other Cannabinoids) in Brooklyn, New York

Is Marijuana Legal In Brooklyn?

Marijuana is considered any Cannabis sativa plant that produces more than the legal limit of 0.3% THC by dried weight. These plants are psychoactive and classified as a Schedule I substance on a federal level in the United States.

New York has a medical marijuana program that grants access to the herb to patients with specific medical conditions. You’ll need to keeps this card on you at all times if in possession of marijuana products.

Approved conditions as part of the New York medical marijuana program include:

• Cancer
• HIV/AIDS
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease)
• Parkinson’s disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Spinal cord damage
• Epilepsy
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Ulcerative colitis
• Crohn’s disease
• Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy
• Neuropathies
• Huntington’s disease
• Chronic pain
• Post-traumatic stress disorder

Possession of marijuana in New York could result in a jail sentence. However, possession of fewer than 25 grams of marijuana only brings minor penalties — $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second offense, and $300 and a 15-day jail sentence for a third offense.

Is Delta 8 THC Legal in Brooklyn?

Delta 8 THC is another type of THC that’s been getting a lot of attention lately in Brooklyn as a legal alternative to marijuana.

It carries many of the same psychoactive effects but without the anxiety or stimulation that often accompanies the effects of THC. It feels like a combination between THC and CBD.

Delta 8 THC is technically legal in the entire state of New York. This cannabinoid isn’t mentioned on any federal or state bill involved in the regulation of marijuana products. In fact, only the delta 9 THC isomer is specifically listed as prohibited, which makes any other non-synthetic versions of THC (such as delta 10 THC) legal in the state of New York — and therefore Brooklyn.

Where to Buy CBD In Brooklyn

There are a few brands that have their headquarters based in New York, but just because they’re from the same state doesn’t mean they’re the best products to order. The best source for CBD products in Brooklyn is online.

The cost of ordering products online is cheaper than most shops, and you have a much larger selection of products to choose from. Even if you order products from the other side of the country in California (where most CBD brands are located), shipping times are rarely longer than three days, and they’re usually covered by the CBD company.

Related: Where to Find CBD Products in Queens, the Bronx & Manhattan.

Shop CBD By Category

1. CBD Oils & Tinctures

CBD oils are made by dissolving the active cannabinoids, including CBD, with a carrier oil such as MCT or hempseed oil. They’re highly bioavailable, cost-effective, and have a long shelf-life.

Best CBD oils in Brooklyn:

• Royal CBD Oil — Most Effective CBD Oil
• Kiara Naturals CBD Oil — Runner Up
• Charlotte’s Web CBD Oils — Great Value

2. CBD Vape Pens

CBD vape pens fit in your pocket for easy access throughout the day. They contain a small heating element that vaporizes a chamber inside the device that holds a CBD concentrate or E-liquid. Pens have a fast onset of effect, offer a cost-effective means of using CBD, and are extremely easy to use.

Best CBD vape pens inBrooklyn:

• Social CBD Vape Pens — Best Vape Pen For Sleep
• CBDfx CBD Vape Kit — Best Vape Pen Starter Kit
• CBDistillery CBD Vape Pen — Best Isolate Vape Pen

3. CBD Hemp Flower

Hemp flower is the raw starting product for all other hemp products. You can use the flower in a dry herb vaporizer or roll it up into a joint. Hemp flower can also be used to make DIY hemp products like tinctures, concentrates, or edibles at home.

Best hemp flower brands in Brooklyn:

• Industrial Hemp Farms — Best Source of Hemp Flower Overall
• Cannaflower — Runner-Up, Excellent Source of High-Quality Flower
• The Brother’s Apothecary — Best CBD Flower Blends

Quick Facts About Brooklyn, New York

New York is the largest metropolitan area in the world — covering 4700 square miles. It’s also one of the most densely populated regions of the world, making up a large portion of the Northeast Megalopolis — which is home to nearly 50 million people (6% of the US population).

Of the five boroughs in New York City, Brookly is the largest — home to over two and a half million Americans.

New York City is also one of the oldest cities in the United States, first founded in 1624 as a Dutch Colony. When it was founded, the city was named New Amsterdam, but after it was traded to the English for an island now called Suriname, it was renamed New York.

What is CBD?

CBD is short for cannabidiol  — it’s one of the primary active ingredients in the cannabis plant.

There are well over 100 active cannabinoids produced in the plant, but CBD is the most predominant in hemp by far.

It’s entirely non-psychoactive and has been the subject of countless clinical trials and journal articles. There’s evidence to suggest CBD is helpful for managing a variety of chronic health conditions ranging from neurodegenerative disorders and cancer to anxiety and autoimmunity.

What are the Benefits of CBD?

There are many associated benefits of CBD — most of which have been backed up by scientific research. Here are three of the most well-researched benefits of CBD and related cannabinoids.

1. CBD For Pain

CBD interacts with three key processes involved with the pain response — the endocannabinoid system (ECS), the vanilloid receptors, and inflammation.

The primary painkilling effect comes from this compound’s interaction with the ECS — which is a series of interconnected receptors that are responsible for regulating homeostasis (balance). Part of this balance includes the pain response. When pain signals are too strong, the ECS steps in to turn it down.

The second painkilling effect of CBD comes from its interaction with the vanilloid receptors. These receptors work alongside the opioid pain receptors to mute or dull pain signals before they reach the brain.

The third mechanism for blocking pain happens at the source of the pain itself. By regulating the inflammatory process, CBD can help cut down on the strength of the pain signal at its site of origin.

2. CBD For Anxiety

There are few herbal extracts as useful for managing stress and anxiety as hemp. CBD, as well as other cannabinoids (such as delta 8 THC, CBC, CBN, and CBG), all work together to reduce hyperactivity in the brain and central nervous system.

These cannabinoids increase the activity of a neurotransmitter known as GABA — which is the chief compound responsible for reducing anxiety and hyperstimulation.

CBD also helps by promoting a sense of calmness and wellbeing, improving sleep quality, and relaxing tight or tense muscles that may be contributing to the symptoms of anxiety.

3. CBD For Sleep

CBD is not a sedative, but it can offer substantial benefits on both the duration and quality of your sleep.

Numerous studies have shown that CBD not only makes it easier to fall asleep, it increases the duration of time spent in deep REM sleep — which is where most of the cognitive resoration takes place during the night.

CBD can help improve sleep by eliminating anxiety that may be keeping you up at night, relaxing muscle tension, and alleviating joint or back pain that may be waking you up throughout the night.

For best results, aim for the higher end of the dosage spectrum and take your dose about an hour before bedtime for best results.

Full-Spectrum vs. CBD Isolates

There are three main types of hemp products to choose from:

Full-spectrum hemp extracts maintain all the active cannabinoids, terpenes, and other phytochemicals produced in the hemp plant. These products are non-psychoactive but may contain trace amounts of THC. Avoid these products if you’re required to take drug tests for work or athletics.

CBD isolates are a more refined version of a full-spectrum oil. They contain nothing but pure CBD — all the other cannabinoids, terpenes, or other hemp-derived ingredients have been removed from the extract.

Broad-spectrum extracts are the middle-ground between full-spectrum extracts and a CBD isolate. They’ve had all the THC removed but maintain many of the other cannabinoids and terpenes naturally produced in the plant.

Other Cannabinoids

There are over 100 cannabinoids in the hemp plant. CBD is the most common and has the largest pool of research behind it, but there are many other useful compounds that deserve some attention as well.

Other prominent cannabinoids in hemp include:

1. CBC (Cannabichromene) — CBC is the third most abundant cannabinoid in the plant. It’s very similar to CBD but with a greater emphasis on the antianxiety and anticancer benefits.
2. CBG (Cannabigerol) — CBG is often regarded as the cannabinoid stem cell because it’s the starting molecule for CBD, THC, and CBC. This cannabinoid is great for reducing inflammation, increasing appetite, and supporting chronic pain.
3. CBN (Cannabinol) — CBN forms as THC breaks down, which means it’s found in low concentrations in hemp. This cannabinoid is about 10% as psychoactive as THC and has a strong relaxing effect profile.
4. Delta 8 THC — There are two types of THC, the delta 9 form found in marijuana products and delta 8, which is less psychoactive and much less likely to cause side effects such as anxiety. Delta 8 can be made from hemp legally.
5. THCV (Tetrahydrcanavarin) — THCV is similar to THC but with more stimulating effects. This cannabinoid is legal but is only about 25% as strong as THC in terms of psychoactive effects.

What’s The Difference Between Hemp & Marijuana?

Both hemp and marijuana are the exact same species of plant — Cannabis sativa. However, there’s a key difference between these two plants from a regulatory standpoint.

While the DNA of hemp and marijuana are identical, the way they express these genes is very different.

Hemp plants don’t express the genes involved with THC production and therefore produce only trace amounts of THC. The official definition of a hemp plant is any Cannabis sativa plant that produces 0.3% THC by dried weight or less.

Marijuana plants are classified as any cannabis plant that makes more than the legal limit of 0.3% THC. This also includes products made by a related species — Cannabis indica.

There are some other differences between these plants as well:

• Hemp is stalkier and grows larger than marijuana
• Hemp plants are very hardy and can grow in almost any condition
• Hemp has a very high fiber content, which makes it a valuable source of textiles
• Marijuana is psychoactive; hemp is non-psychoactive
• Hemp produces higher concentrations of CBD and CBD than marijuana

What to Look for When Shopping for CBD Products

There are a lot of excellent CBD products on the market these days. But the high public demand for these products has also attracted a lot of unethical manufacturers as well. It’s common to find CBD products that are either underpowered or overprices (or both) — so it’s important to know what to look for when shopping for CBD either in-store or online.

1. Check For Third-Party Testing

The only way for a CBD company to prove the claims they’re making about their products is through independent, unbiased, third-party testing.

Third-party testing is a process where a CBD vendor will send a sample from their most recent batch to a dedicated testing facility. The lab will run tests to check the quality of the oil, search for signs of contamination, and measure the exact CBD concentration. The results are then sent back to the company.

A reputable vendor will post these lab tests online for the public. If you don’t see these tests readily available on the company website, it’s a good idea to keep looking until you find one that does.

This step is much harder to do when visiting a local shop compared to shopping online.

2. Measure the Cost in mg/mL (CBD Oils)

It’s easy to get caught up in the overall cost of CBD products — especially CBD oils.

Some bottles cost as little as $30, while others are upwards of $300 for a bottle.

What’s the difference? Why is one CBD product so much more expensive than another? What’s the best value for your money?

The best way to compare CBD oils (and other CBD products) is to calculate the cost for every 1 mg of the active ingredient — CBD.

This is done by dividing the total cost of the product by the total CBD content.

Once you’ve got the cost in mg/mL, it’s easy to compare the price of CBD products of all different potencies and bottle sizes.

In most cases, the larger or more concentrated products with the highest initial price deliver the best value when measured in mg/mL.

3. Look For Reviews About the Company

It’s difficult to tell the difference between a high-quality CBD brand from a low-quality brand by looking at the bottle. The best way to know for sure is by checking the most recent third-party lab test and searching for online reviews.

Enter the companies name into Google and see what sort of results show up.

If most of the reviews for the company have negative sentiment, or you can’t find any reviews or brand mentions at all, you may want to look elsewhere for a brand with more recognition.

4. Buy Organic Hemp If You Can

Hemp is a bioaccumulator — which means it has a habit of absorbing and concentrating elements from the environment in which it’s grown. This means that if hemp was grown in polluted air or soil, the hemp products made from that plant are likely to contain contaminants as well.

Heavy metal contaminants can lead to neurological damage, autoimmunity, chronic inflammation, and more.

The best way to avoid contaminants like this is to use organically grown hemp.

Organic farming imposes strict regulations on how the plants are grown and what pesticides are allowed to be used during production. It also involves a rigorous approval process designed to ensure the soil and air quality is contaminant-free.

Will CBD Make Me High?

CBD is completely non-psychoactive — which means it won’t make you high no matter how much you take.

Even full-spectrum CBD oils that contain trace amounts of THC aren’t going to make you feel high. Just make sure to check the product you’re ordering is either THC-free or contains 0.3% THC or less.

While CBD doesn’t make you high, it can produce a strong sense of peace and relaxation. Some people suggest this effect feels like they’re floating or hovering. This is very different than being high because it doesn’t change your perception or cognitive functioning.

Buying CBD Online vs. In-Store in Brooklyn

There are two ways to buy CBD in Brooklyn — you can order it online and have it delivered, or you could walk into your local dispensary and pick some up in p[erson.

There are some pros and cons to each, but most people prefer ordering their products online because it’s cheaper, the selection is better, and you can easily check for important factors like third-party testing, compare pricing, and read reviews from past customers.

The benefits of buying online include:

• Ordering directly from the manufacturer is cheaper
• Shipping times are very short in Brooklyn (less than 72 hours)
• You can easily compare prices & check third-party tests
• You have a greater selection of products
• It’s pandemic-friendly
• You don’t need to leave the comfort of your own house

Conclusion: Where to Buy CBD in Brooklyn

Brooklyn is the largest metropolitan area in the United States in terms of both size and population.

In order to service this large population of people, there are hundreds of individual dispensaries serving cannabis products to citizens.

Despite a large number of dispensaries in Brooklyn, most people prefer ordering their products online and have them delivered. In general, ordering online is going to be more cost-effective and much more convenient.