Philadelphia, with a population of over 1.5 million people, is Pennsylvania’s largest city.
Residents of Philadelphia can buy, use, and possess CBD products even without their doctor’s recommendation, provided that the product’s CBD is sourced from industrial hemp.
CBD sourced from marijuana, on the other hand, is only available to qualify medical marijuana patients with valid cards.
The city’s CBD laws may be a bit confusing, so to help you understand them better; we’ve created this article to discuss the differences between CBD from hemp and CBD from marijuana.
This article also talks about hemp and cannabis’ legality in the city and how to choose legal CBD products.
The short answer is yes, CBD from both marijuana and hemp is legal in Philadelphia according to Pennsylvania state law.
In April of 2016, the state of Pennsylvania legalized medical marijuana. This allowed patients with qualifying medical conditions to buy, use, and possess marijuana for medical use.
Qualified patients with valid medical cards are allowed to possess up to a 30-day supply of marijuana products, including marijuana-derived CBD products with high THC content.
That same year, the state also launched its Industrial Hemp Research Pilot Program, allowing the cultivation and research on industrial hemp.
The passage of House Bill 967 in 2016 also legalized the cultivation and processing of industrial hemp with less than 0.3% THC. This bill had set the standard THC limit of 0.3% on industrial hemp.
HB 967 gave residents of Pennsylvania, including Philadelphians, the right to buy, use, and possess hemp-derived CBD products containing no more than 0.3% THC.
The passage of the 2018 Farm Bill further legalized industrial hemp. Not only did this federal law legalize industrial hemp (including all its parts, cannabinoids, extracts, isomers, etc.) containing 0.3% THC — it also made hemp-derived products accessible to all Americans.
No possession limits or age restrictions were imposed on the use of hemp-derived CBD products, as long the THC content doesn’t exceed 0.3%.
Of note, hemp containing more than 0.3% THC is considered marijuana and is, therefore, federally illegal.
To summarize the CBD laws in Philadelphia, marijuana-derived CBD products can only be used by registered patients with valid medical marijuana cards, while hemp-derived CBD products are available to all Philadelphians.
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Medical marijuana is legal in Philadelphia, and registered patients are allowed to possess up to a 30-day supply.
All forms of marijuana products are allowed, except for smokable marijuana.
Home cultivation of marijuana for medical use is prohibited.
To get into the state’s medical-marijuana program, you have to register through the Medical Marijuana Registry. You also have to see an approved physician and be diagnosed with one of the qualifying medical conditions.
Once approved, you can now finish your application and pay for your medical marijuana card, which costs $50. With your marijuana ID card, you can buy marijuana for medical use from approved dispensaries.
Recreational use of marijuana, on the other hand, still remains illegal in Philadelphia and the whole of Pennsylvania.
However, marijuana possession of 30 grams or less was decriminalized in Philadelphia in October 2014 through a city council ordinance. Residents caught may only incur a $25 fine as well as a citation.
Delta 8 THC is a psychoactive compound found in both hemp and marijuana.
When THC (also called delta 9 THC) degrades, it’s naturally converted into other compounds or cannabinoids like CBN (cannabinol) and delta 8 THC.
Delta 8 THC, similar to delta 9 THC, is also psychoactive and can get you a little high. However, its potency is markedly weaker than delta 9, which is the major psychoactive cannabinoid.
In Philadelphia, delta 8 THC is legal.
State hemp laws allow the use of industrial hemp and all its parts, including all the naturally occurring cannabinoids, derivatives, extracts, isolates, concentrates, resins, and other compounds.
Psychedelics remain illegal in Philadelphia.
Residents are prohibited from selling, buying, using, and trading illegal psychedelics, including magic mushrooms, which contain a hallucinogenic compound called psilocybin.
When shopping for CBD in Philadelphia, you have to consider your needs and the different types and forms of CBD products.
Below are the most common forms of CBD and how they’re used.
For fast-acting CBD products, choose CBD tinctures and oils. You only have to place a few drops under your tongue, and after a few minutes, you’ll start feeling its effects.
Best CBD oils in Philly:
If you’re looking for a longer-lasting CBD effect, then choose CBD gummies and edibles. It may take some time for you to feel its effects, but the effects last longer since CBD stays longer inside the body.
Best CBD gummies in Philly:
CBD hemp flower may be smoked or vaporized. You can roll it up yourself or throw it in a dry herb vaporizer. This method also offers a fast onset of effects.
Best hemp flower brands in Philadelphia
You’re given many options when it comes to delta 8 THC — from D8 vape cartridges, D8 tinctures, and D8 gummies — so choose a method that you’re most comfortable with.
Best Delta 8 THC brand in Philly:
To fully enjoy CBD and delta 8 THC, you also have to consider these factors.
You’ll see CBD products that contain pure CBD only (CBD isolate), CBD with other cannabinoids and terpenes (called broad-spectrum CBD oil), and CBD with other terpenes and cannabinoids, including THC (called full-spectrum CBD oil).
For better and more potent effects, choose full-spectrum CBD oil. The addition of trace amounts of THC strengthens CBD’s potency without getting you high.
Another factor to consider in buying CBD and delta 8 THC in Philadelphia is the manufacturer.
Make sure that you only buy products from trusted brands.
Reputable brands comply with state and federal laws. They also send their products to certified testing facilities to check for any impurity as well as check the product’s safety, quality, and potency.
Read product reviews and check out the consumers’ testimonials and feedback. These will help you reach a more informed decision.
To avoid any confusion regarding the city’s CBD laws, all you have to remember is that marijuana-derived CBD is only for registered patients with valid marijuana cards, while hemp-derived CBD is available to all Philadelphians.
You don’t need to present any card or doctor’s recommendation to buy hemp-derived CBD in Philadelphia, nor do you have to be diagnosed with a medical condition.
There are also no age restrictions or possession limits to hemp-derived CBD, as long as it’s derived from industrial hemp with a THC level of no more than 0.3% THC.
You can buy CBD and delta 8 THC products online, where you’re given more brands, types, and potencies to choose from.