How & Where to Buy CBD in Spain [2022]

Summary: Buying CBD in Spain

1. Hemp-derived CBD with less than 0.2% THC is legal over the counter
2. Currently, the only legal CBD products sold in Spain are cosmetics and topicals
3. CBD in food and food supplements falls under the EU Novel Food Regulation and is prohibited in Spain
4. CBD manufactured in-Spain can be marketed only if it’s labeled with “product for external use”

Best CBD Oil in Spain:

Number	Product	Total CBD	Potency	Cost per mg CBD	Link
1	Amma Life CBD Oil	400 – 2500 mg	40 – 250 mg/mL	£0.05 – £0.07	Get a Deal
2	Bluebird Botanicals Hemp CBD Oil	83.3 – 2000 mg	8.33 mg/mL	$0.07 – $0.14	Get a Deal
3	CBD BioCare Full Spectrum CBD Oil	500 mg – 3500 mg	16.7 – 116.7 mg/mL	$0.04 – $0.12	Get a Deal
4	Elixinol CBD Oil Tinctures	300 – 3600 mg	10 – 30 mg/mL	$0.07 – $0.10	Get a Deal
5	Endoca CBD Oils	300 – 1500 mg	30 – 150 mg/mL	€0.08 – €0.09	Get a Deal
6	Infinite CBD Isolate Droppers	250 – 5000 mg	8.33 – 166.67 mg/mL	$0.03 – $0.06	Get a Deal

A Brief History of Cannabis Laws in Spain

Arabs were the first to bring cannabis to Spain in the early 8th century. They were already acquainted with cannabis’ psychoactive use and influenced Spaniards to start using marijuana.

In 1150, Spain was still under the influence of Muslim forces, who introduced hemp in Spain to make paper. The first hemp mill was founded in Alicante, contributing to the use of hemp for textiles, clothing, and cordage in Spain during the 12th century.

Historical findings from the medieval castle of Cornella de Llobregat prove that the recreational use of cannabis prevailed during the 13th century. Chemists analyzed the bowl of a pipe discovered in the castle and found cannabis remnants, verifying that Spanish Christians smoked cannabis in the Middle Ages.

Evidence from the same period shows that hemp cultivation increased throughout the Iberian peninsula, where hemp was used for textiles, clothes, rope, and sails for the Spanish ships.

In 1492, Christopher Columbus sailed from Palos, aiming to arrive in Japan for commercial trade for the crown of Castile. His three ships arrived in America instead, carrying 80 tons of hemp.

On his second trip to America, Columbus’ ships brought hemp seeds along with sugar cane, rice, wheat, vines, and orange trees.

From the 16th to the 18th century, the Spanish kings prioritized hemp cultivation, and hemp was used for rigging, food, candles, rope, clothes, and medicine. The hemp tradition continued throughout the 18th century, and farmers were producing hemp for the navy.

In the 20th century, Spanish hemp was considered to be of high quality — the hemp from Valencia and Alicante was highly valued for its suitability for making fine fabrics.

Although Spain signed several international conventions that controlled cannabis cultivation, the country didn’t ban hemp. With the rise in the popularity of synthetic fibers, hemp cultivation almost disappeared in 1972 but was reintroduced in 1999 as a result of the European Union’s subsidies for hemp and flax cultivation.

The Difference Between Hemp & Marijuana

Both hemp and marijuana are cannabis plants, and they’re usually differentiated by their recreational (marijuana) and industrial (hemp) use. However, the main difference between hemp and marijuana is their THC content. THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is a cannabinoid present in both hemp and marijuana, associated with its psychoactive effects.

1. Marijuana 

In Europe, marijuana is any cannabis plant that contains more than 0.2% THC, although the THC threshold can vary from one country or region to another (in most parts of the world, the THC legal limit is 0.3%).

Marijuana usually contains high amounts of THC (up to 30%) and is therefore consumed for its psychoactive properties.

2. Hemp

European countries consider hemp to be any cannabis plant with a THC concentration lower than 0.2%.

Hemp is differentiated from marijuana not just by its THC content, but also by its purpose of use — it’s mainly used for commercial and industrial products (food, animal feed, paper, clothes, rope, bioplastics, and biofuel), and CBD extraction.

Unlike marijuana, hemp doesn’t induce a psychoactive high because it contains only traces of THC.

Is CBD Legal in Spain?

Hemp-derived CBD with less than 0.2% THC is permitted only for external use.

In January 2018, the European Commission announced the Novel Food Regulation. Member states of the European Union aren’t obliged to implement this regulation in their national law but can do so at their discretion. 

The regulation controls the placement of novel foods on the European market and requires authorization from the European Commission for their legal sale.

A novel food is any food that hasn’t been significantly consumed by Europeans before May 15, 1997. The EU Novel food catalog includes hemp-derived CBD.

Before the regulation, you could find various CBD products on the Spanish market. After the Spanish government decided to implement the new rule in the national legislature, AECOSAN (The Spanish Agency for Food Security and Nutrition) and the Ministry of Health ordered companies to stop the marketing and sale of CBD for human consumption.

This ban removed all CBD foods and dietary supplements from the shelves, leaving CBD cosmetics and topicals as the only legal CBD products in Spain. CBD made in Spain can be marketed only as a “technical product” or “product for external use.” 

IMPORTANT: AECOSAN doesn’t permit online purchases of CBD products labeled as health foods.

How is Hemp Cultivation Regulated in Spain?

As a member state of the EU, Spain allows the cultivation of EU-certified hemp with less than 0.2% THC for fiber and seeds for food.

Farmers who want to grow hemp for CBD extraction must be licensed by the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS).

How to Buy CBD Products in Spain

If you want to buy CBD in Spain, you can choose from a wide range of products that fall within the legal frame. You’ll find many CBD products for skin care and the treatment of different skin conditions.

When shopping for CBD, it’s best to make your purchases at specialized CBD shops, or cosmetics, pharmacies, and health stores to avoid any legal trouble. While those are the safest options, there are still businesses that operate illegally, selling banned CBD products — refrain from purchasing CBD from such brands.

Another popular option is to buy online — you can choose from hundreds of stores that sell excellent CBD products.

Now let’s see which option will fit your needs the best, and how to shop for CBD in Spanish stores and online.

1. Buying CBD Online in Spain

Online stores offer many privileges — from affordable prices to broad product selection and the convenience of shopping in your own time from home.

Online stores usually abide by the legal rules due to various international laws.

Just because a retailer operates online doesn’t mean they don’t understand international CBD regulations. It’s their brand and reputation on the line, after all — many business owners can’t afford to run the risk of legal troubles or wasted products.

This doesn’t mean that there are no online frauds, but you’ll quickly recognize them once you learn how to buy high-quality CBD — we’ll share a few tips right after this section.

Shopping for CBD online has many benefits.

First, you have an ocean of brands and products to choose from. Online stores value their customers’ opinions, and most of them have a review section where you can check customers’ feedback.

However, take the reviews with a grain of salt and a dash of skepticism — everyone experiences products differently. There are even some companies that are known to buy positive reviews.

If you want to learn more about a particular product, it’s best to contact the retailer and ask for details.

Thanks to the nature of online stores being 24-7, you can shop from the comfort of your home.

Now let’s see what the obstacles of buying CBD online are. Honestly, there’s not much that would make you avoid online shopping, but it’s good to know the downsides.

Online stores sometimes don’t ship to your country, meaning you’ll have to use a mail forwarding service to shop online. We’ll explain how mail forwarding works once we round up the tips on buying CBD.

When shopping for CBD online, you must be careful with the product choice. If you import something illegal, customs will seize your product or worse.

Pros & Cons of Buying CBD Online in Spain

2. Buying CBD In-Store in Spain

You can shop for CBD in-store in almost every major Spanish city — Bilbao, Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia.

As we’ve said, despite the ban on CBD foods and dietary supplements, many businesses continue to work and supply customers with various CBD goods.

You should be careful when shopping for CBD — it’s not just about legality, but also about the quality of the product.

Most businesses that sell banned CBD operate illegally, which means that no one controls the products’ safety. On the other hand, if you’re shopping for CBD cosmetics and topicals, you can choose from many reputable brands that abide by quality regulations.

Shopping in-store has both its benefits and downsides.

One great thing about physical stores is that they have knowledgeable staff that can help you find the right product.

Most stores have a pleasant shopping atmosphere with carefully curated products. Another positive thing about buying CBD in-store is that you can have your product right after you pay.

However, if you’re a thrifty person and you value your time and money, in-store shopping is not the best choice.

Shopping in-store is generally more expensive because of the overhead costs of running a physical store (lease, staff, utilities, store upkeep). On top of this, physical stores generally operate within standard business hours, which means you need to align your schedule to drop in and shop.

Pros and Cons of Buying CBD In-Store in Spain

Tips on Buying High-Quality CBD in Spain

1. Read about the product before you buy it.

The abundant CBD options can distract you from what’s supposed to be your primary focus — the purpose of use and quality of the product.

Always make sure you’re well informed on the product’s content and benefits. Spanish authorities don’t allow CBD foods and supplements, meaning you shouldn’t buy a product that contains such labeling.

2. Shop from reputable brands.

Avoid retailers that you’ve never heard of but have caught your attention with a social media ad or a flashy website.

Many new brands are trying to get the attention of new customers, but not all of them operate legally and safely. Such risks could cost you your safety and money — to avoid this, shop from reputable brands that can guarantee for their product’s quality. 

3. Only buy CBD that comes with a Certificate of Analysis.

CBD packages should always come with a quality control test certificate conducted by a third-party lab. This document proves that CBD is safe for use.

NOTE: AECOSAN prohibits the online purchase of CBD products sold as health food.

How Mail Forwarding Works

Found a product you’re interested in, but the company doesn’t ship to your country?

This is where mail-forwarding services come in handy.

1. Create your account

Mail forwarding companies operate in different regions of the world. For example, if you want to shop for CBD in Europe, a good option is Skypax. If the CBD brand you like operates in North America, we recommend Shipito’s services.

Once you’re on the company’s website, sign up for an account and go through the steps. The mail forwarding company will provide you with a local address — you will need this to place online orders.

2. Place your CBD order

Once you have your account and the local address, you can make your CBD purchase. Assign the address you were provided with as the delivery address for the order.

The local address serves as a shipping destination, but once your CBD arrives at this address, the mail forwarding staff will change the stamps and send the package to your door.

Before you make a purchase, it’s best to have a general idea of how much would cost you to use a mail forwarding service so you can plan your budget.

Here are Skypax’s mail forwarding rates

Skypax also has a concierge service — where they can place the order for you if you provide them with details about the product you need.

The concierge service is available at 10% fee.

CBD Brands That Ship to Spain

Nordic Oil

4.67 / 5

Buy from Nordic Oil

Endoca

4.83 / 5

Buy from Endoca

Amma Life

3.83 / 5

Buy from Amma Life

Elixinol

4.5 / 5

Buy from Elixinol

Reakiro CBD

4.33 / 5

Buy from Reakiro CBD

Final Notes on Buying CBD in Spain

The implementation of the novel food regulation resulted in a downfall for the Spanish CBD market — the new rule transformed the abundant market into a chaotic one.

If you live in Spain, you’ll have to come to terms with the fact that you’re no longer allowed to buy CBD foods and supplements. On the bright side, CBD topicals and cosmetics are entirely legal, and you’re free to shop both in-store and online.

Refrain from buying banned CBD goods to avoid legal troubles and wasted money.

Don’t forget that your CBD shouldn’t have more than 0.2% THC and that you should look for lab-tested products.