Houston is Texas’ biggest city, with a population of over 2.3 million people.
Residents in Houston, Texas, can buy over-the-counter, hemp-derived CBD without a physician’s recommendation.
It’s also legal to buy marijuana-derived CBD oil, but products like these are only available to register medical marijuana patients.
To get to know the city’s current CBD laws, we’ve created this quick guide for you.
Not only will we discuss the CBD laws, but we’ll also give you tips in choosing the best CBD oil and information on other popular cannabinoids such as delta 8 THC.
The answer is yes, according to Texas state law — but only if it comes from hemp, not marijuana.
Texas hasn’t legalized medical marijuana yet, so Houstonians are still prohibited from using marijuana for medical purposes.
However, if you’re diagnosed with one of the state’s qualifying medical conditions, you’re allowed access to marijuana-derived CBD with a THC content of up to 0.5%.
The qualifying medical conditions include incurable neurodegenerative diseases, intractable epilepsy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis, seizure disorders, autism, and terminal cancer.
Texas, although it allows marijuana-derived CBD, has one of the most restrictive marijuana laws in the country with its low THC limit.
As for hemp-derived CBD, it became available to Houston residents when the 2018 Farm Bill became law.
According to federal law, all parts of industrial hemp are now legal, including its stalks, leaves, flowers, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, and derivatives. It’s now federally legal to grow, cultivate, and process industrial hemp, as long as its THC level doesn’t exceed 0.3%.
This law gives access to hemp-derived CBD products, including CBD oil. It also doesn’t impose any age or possession restrictions, so anyone can legally buy over-the-counter, hemp-derived CBD, as long as the THC content doesn’t go above 0.3% THC.
In 2019, Governor Greg Abbott approved HB 1325, aligning state laws with federal laws.
The only marijuana-derived CBD products that are legal in Houston are those that contain no more than 0.5% THC.
The only way to obtain such a product is to get into the state’s medical-marijuana program. To do this, you need to see a registered physician and be diagnosed with any of the qualifying diseases mentioned above.
Once you complete the necessary requirements, your physician will then enter your name along with your prescription into the Compassionate Use Registry of Texas.
When the prescription is ready, you can then visit any of the state’s licensed dispensaries to have your prescription filled.
As for recreational marijuana, it remains illegal in Houston.
However, Harris County, which includes Houston, passed an ordinance in 2017 that decriminalized possession of marijuana.
Houstonians caught with less than four ounces of marijuana will no longer be prosecuted. Instead, they’ll have to pay a fine of up to $150 and participate in a drug education class.
There’s some confusion right now regarding the legality of delta 8 THC, another type of psychoactive cannabinoid.
Delta 8 THC is a minor cannabinoid formed from the degradation of THC or delta 9 THC, the major psychoactive cannabinoid that naturally occurs in both hemp and marijuana plants.
Similar to delta 9 THC, delta 8 THC also produces psychoactive effects, but its psychedelic effects are significantly less potent than delta 9 THC.
Now, according to state laws, all parts of industrial hemp with less than 0.3% THC on a dry weight basis are legal.
This includes not only the seeds, stalks, leaves, and flowers but its derivatives, cannabinoids, extracts, isomers, acids, salts, etc. as well. This, of course, also includes hemp-derived delta 8 THC.
Psychedelics are currently illegal in Houston, Texas. It’s a serious crime that can land you years in jail with a hefty fine.
Houstonians are prohibited from selling, buying, and possessing psychedelics, including psilocybin found in magic mushrooms.
You can purchase CBD products in Houston, Texas, from your local dispensary.
For more options, you can shop for CBD online. Not only will you see more CBD brands to choose from, but you can also take advantage of the many freebies and discounts offered by online shops.
Below are some of the best CBD products in Houston, Texas.
CBD tinctures and oils, are commonly placed under the tongue. Effects can be felt immediately since CBD is easily absorbed by the cells.
Best CBD tinctures in Houston:
CBD gummies are perfect for those with chronic medical conditions since CBD stays longer inside the system. Its effects though, can take between 30 minutes and an hour.
Best CBD Gummies in Houston:
CBD hemp flower can be smoked or vaped. Similar to tinctures and oils, this method also delivers fast CBD effects.
Best hemp flower brands in Houston:
Hemp-derived delta 8 THC is offered in many forms. It’s infused in D8 gummies, D8 tinctures, and D8 vape cartridges as well.
Best Delta 8 THC brand in Houston:
CBD’s popularity has led to the exponential growth in the number of CBD producers.
With many CBD brands, potencies, forms, and even types to choose from, how will you know you’re getting a premium product?
Below are some important factors when choosing CBD in Houston, Texas.
When shopping for CBD in Houston, you’ll see products labeled as pure CBD (CBD isolate), broad-spectrum CBD, and full-spectrum CBD.
All contain CBD, but what sets them apart are the other ingredients.
Pure CBD, of course, only has CBD.
Broad-spectrum and full-spectrum CBD both contain other cannabinoids and terpenes. However, full-spectrum has the added benefit of a little THC.
The THC content isn’t enough to get you high, but it boosts the therapeutic effects of CBD, making the CBD product stronger and more effective.
When choosing a good CBD product, consider full-spectrum CBD for its more potent effects.
CBD also comes in many forms — tinctures, oils, edibles, gummies, capsules, topicals, and even flowers.
For a faster onset of effects, choose inhalable and sublingual CBD. These products bypass the stomach and the liver, so CBD goes directly into the bloodstream. The effects are pretty immediate and can be felt within a few minutes.
Chronic health concerns will benefit more from ingestible CBD. CBD passes through the stomach and the liver, where it’s metabolized before entering the bloodstream and absorbed by the cells.
The effects usually take about half an hour to an hour, but CBD stays longer in the cells, producing longer-lasting effects.
Topicals are, of course, perfect for skin problems like pimples and itching. These may also be used for muscle aches and joint pains.
Now you know how to choose a CBD product based on your needs. The next step is to know which brand to choose.
To avoid bogus CBD makers, look for the product’s laboratory test results. Trusted CBD brands always have their products tested for quality and potency control.
We also recommend reading reviews made by consumers. These testimonials, in a way, already give you an idea of the product’s effects.
Finally, choose brands that are compliant with state and federal laws. They don’t make false health claims, and they follow the gold standard in the CBD industry.
CBD is legal in Houston, Texas, and is readily available in local dispensaries and online CBD shops.
If you need higher THC content, we suggest joining the state’s program. Otherwise, you can always buy hemp-derived CBD products in Houston even without joining the program or presenting a doctor’s recommendation. Just make sure it’s sourced from industrial hemp with a THC level of not more than 0.3%.
Alternatively, you could try using delta 8 THC, which has a similar psychoactive profile as marijuana, but less anxiety-inducing and legal.