Slowly, the United States is loosening its laws around marijuana, and Kentucky might finally join in the movement.
For now, the state laws remain strict. If you’re looking to purchase CBD legally in Kentucky, this article will provide you with all the answers you need, including the local laws regarding marijuana products and the best places to buy them!
If you want to get quality CBD sent straight to your door, your best bet is to shop with a good online supplier.
CBD oil is legal in Kentucky.
However, CBD can be sourced from both flowering marijuana and industrial hemp plants, but only hemp-derived CBD is legal.
CBD products made from flowering marijuana plants are treated the same as weed under Kentucky law. If you are caught with these products, don’t be surprised if you find yourself in trouble with the law.
On the other hand, CBD extracted from industrial hemp will usually contain less than 0.3% THC and can be sold and consumed legally under federal law.
Kentucky has a long history with industrial hemp. The first hemp crops in Kentucky were planted in Danville in 1775. During the 18th and 19th centuries, Kentucky was the United States’ biggest hemp producer.
It was difficult to grow cotton in the Kentucky soil, but hemp plants were able to thrive. Early settlers used the plant to make food, clothing, rope, and woven bags.
At one point, Kentucky Senator Henry Clay advocated for the United States Navy to use rope exclusively made of hemp; this made sense, considering Kentucky was producing three-quarters of the hemp in the United States at the time.
In 2014, the US Government made the cultivation of industrial hemp legal once again under the Agricultural Act. Now, farmers can use industrial hemp to produce food, clothing, fuel, paper, and extracts.
This means that CBD made using industrial hemp is legal to buy and sell in Kentucky and across the United States.
Since the Agricultural Act of 2014, hemp production has ramped up in Kentucky. In 2017, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture approved more than 209 farms to grow over 12,000 acres of hemp.
Now that you know you can legally purchase CBD in Kentucky, where can you find it?
The best option to get CBD sent straight to your door is through a reliable online supplier.
As the industry grows, more people are trying to get their hands on a share of the profits. This means that some companies out there are sketchy and could be selling low-quality CBD products.
The Journal of Regulatory Science found that many of the CBD products found in-store contain almost no CBD at all. There are a few steps you can take to avoid companies selling fake products.
If you follow those steps, you are well on your way to a reliable supplier for all of your CBD needs.
The cheapest way to find quality CBD is by shopping online.
Shopping online for CBD in Kentucky has several benefits when compared with shopping in-store.
The main benefit is that CBD products found online are usually much cheaper than those found locally. Online shops can offer bulk deals and special offers that your local store would be unlikely to match.
If you purchase online, you’re able to quickly verify the source of your CBD products and ensure that an outside lab has double-checked them.
You can easily compare products online without the need to travel from shop to shop. Once you have made your decision, you can get your CBD products sent straight to your door.
With all that in mind, you should still be able to find CBD locally. However, if you would prefer to shop in person, we have included a shortlist of places you can try in the next section.
You should be able to find industrial hemp over the counter in stores across Kentucky. Some of the best places to start include vape stores, head shops, and natural health retailers.
If you have a permit from the state of Kentucky, you may be able to get low-THC CBD prescribed by your doctor.
If you don’t have a permit, check out one of these stores near you. Local shops should have knowledgeable employees who can set you up with a reliable CBD supplier.
CBD can be used to treat symptoms of many different medical conditions, including seizures, pain, anxiety, and stress.
Using CBD as a natural, alternative solution for treating these symptoms is a great way to boost your overall health.
Not all CBD products contain enough THC to get the user high.
There are a couple of different varieties of CBD sold online and in-store. CBD can be extracted from both flowering marijuana and industrial hemp plants.
CBD products made using flowering marijuana plants generally contain THC and will likely cause the “high” associated with marijuana.
If the source of your CBD is an industrial hemp plant, it probably contains less than 0.3% THC and won’t cause any psychoactive effects.
This distinction is significant when it comes to purchasing CBD in Kentucky.
Depending on how your CBD products are made, Kentucky law treats them differently. Therefore, you must understand your local laws before diving into the world of CBD.
What are the laws around marijuana in Kentucky?
Marijuana is not legal in Kentucky, but maybe 2022 will be the year for Kentucky residents. Legalized marijuana, both recreational and medicinal, has met opposition in the past, but legislators will revisit it again, and some politicians are making it a priority. House Bill 136 would legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes, and a Constitutional amendment through House Bill 467 would legalize marijuana for personal use — up to one ounce for those over 21.
Although many other states have been implementing progressive medical and recreational marijuana laws, Kentucky remains one of the few where weed is almost entirely illegal.
This issue is partly because federal law lists marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug under the Controlled Substances Act.
According to the Controlled Substances Act, a Schedule 1 drug:
Other drugs listed as Schedule 1 include heroin, LSD, and magic mushrooms.
To give you some perspective, Schedule 2 drugs (those that have accepted medical uses but still have a high potential for abuse) include cocaine, opium, and fentanyl.
In Kentucky, marijuana possession can come with severe punishments.
In Kentucky, it’s a crime to possess marijuana. Even the smallest amount is a class B misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to 45 days in jail and a $250 fine.
If found with four or fewer marijuana plants, you may receive 12 months in jail and a $500 fine. If found with plants again, the charge you face becomes a felony.
Anything over four plants is a felony as well. If convicted of possession of more than four marijuana plants, you could face five years in a cell.
Therefore, Kentucky is not the best place to be if you enjoy the occasional joint.
What about medical marijuana in Kentucky?
Although you won’t be seeing dispensaries popping up around Kentucky anytime soon, the state has made one tiny step toward medical marijuana.
In 2014, Governor Steve Beshear passed a law that would allow a limited number of epilepsy patients to participate in clinical trials of CBD at the University of Kentucky.
Under Senate Bill 124, you can participate in these clinical trials if you have epilepsy and can obtain a written recommendation from a doctor affiliated with a public university of Kentucky.
The CBD used in the study doesn’t contain THC, so you won’t get high as a result of participating in the trials.
Kentucky tried to pass laws that would have made medical marijuana legal in 2015, but none succeeded.
An anti-marijuana group called the National Marijuana Initiative, along with the Kentucky Baptist Convention took credit for the failure of the two bills, which would have established a system to access medical marijuana in Kentucky.
Legalizing marijuana, for any purpose, has always been an uphill battle in the United States. Kentucky still has a long climb ahead. Luckily, the first step was taken in March 2019.
The House Judiciary Committee initially approved HB 136 on March 6, 2019. The bill would legalize growing marijuana for medical purposes in the state. The plant would be cultivated in Kentucky and regulated by a state system with groups that would work cohesively on the process of cultivation, processing, testing, and dispensing marijuana and marijuana products.
The new law would license physicians to recommend medical marijuana to patients suffering from debilitating illnesses. No smokable marijuana would be allowed — pills and oils would be the priority forms.
Kentucky has banned delta 8 THC.
Delta 8 THC hit the market with a bang and skyrocketed in popularity. Why? This delta 9 THC isomer offers many of the same effects, including the high. However, it’s federally legal if it’s derived from hemp and has less than 0.3% THC. It’s important to note that some states, like Kentucky, have banned it.
For now, you can’t buy it in Kentucky. At least, not legally. Buying it on the black market is not only illegal — it’s also risky. Extracting delta 8 takes chemicals that must be fully removed from the final product. Mess this step up, and you have a dangerous product.
That’s why it’s crucial that you check for third-party tests when buying delta 8. If you ever get the chance, shop online, where you’ll have access to a better product selection and lower prices, plus the peace of mind that comes with it.
The following companies are known for having the highest-quality delta 8 around:
Check out one of these stores for all your CBD needs.
If you decide to make your purchase in-store, remember our checklist above. Although many of these stores should sell trustworthy products, it’s still important that you protect yourself from sketchy companies.
If you don’t see your city on our list, don’t be afraid to try one of the many online CBD suppliers!
Although Kentucky has a long history with hemp, CBD products are off to a slow start in the Bluegrass State. If you think you are eligible to participate in one of Kentucky’s CBD clinical trials, see your doctor for more information on how to get in.
If you’re not eligible for Kentucky’s CBD clinical trials, you can legally purchase CBD across the whole of the United States under the Agricultural Act of 2014.
You should be able to find industrial hemp CBD products easily at your local vape or head shop.
If you are looking to get the best CBD at a great price, your best bet is to shop online.