CBD Oil Legality in New Hampshire: Cannabidiol State Law Regulations in NH, USA

The popularity of CBD and hemp-derived products has exploded in the past few years. As the 2018 Farm Bill is poised to completely legalize the industrial hemp industry in all fifty states, many consumers all over the country are becoming more interested in trying CBD for themselves. But public misconceptions and governmental misunderstandings about the substance are still uncertain.

CBD is a derivative of the cannabis or hemp plant. Though many products derived from cannabis have high quantities of THC and produce a “high,” most CBD does not contain anything but a small, trace amount of THC. In addition to not being able to produce an actual “high,” low-THC CBD products are able to avoid being detected on most modern drug tests.

Additionally, CBD has been shown by researchers to potentially help alleviate a variety of conditions. Severe pain from illnesses like cancer and infection can be mitigated by the healing substance, and even mental conditions such as anxiety can be assisted with a healthy dose of CBD, according to select researchers all over the world.

But despite the realities behind the CBD chemical, governments all over the world continue to regulate the substance as if it is just another way for marijuana users to try to get high. In New Hampshire, the approach to the regulation of marijuana and CBD seems to ignore this trend; the country has an industrial hemp pilot program and a medical cannabis infrastructure in-place.

CBD Laws in New Hampshire

CBD laws within New Hampshire fall into just two categories. First, a medical cannabis program was put into place via House Bill 573 back in 2013. This program has faced a few smaller revisions since that time, but has not been repealed and remains in place today in New Hampshire. This medical marijuana program makes it possible for patients with “debilitating conditions” to gain access to medicinal grade marijuana and CBD, so long as they have a medical marijuana card signed by their physician.

Additionally, the state responded to a spike in public interest regarding CBD and hemp-derived products by passing revisions to New Hampshire statutory code sections 433-C:1 to 433-C:3. This revision put into place an industrial hemp pilot program, which made it completely legal for companies to manufacture and distribute hemp-derived products. The only stipulation is that these products can only have a trace amount of THC content by dry weight.

Age Requirements for CBD in New Hampshire

New Hampshire age requirements are relatively straight-forward, but depend primarily on the type of CBD a user is looking to purchase. For CBD with a significant THC content, the only way to obtain it in the state of New Hampshire is to gain access to a medical marijuana card. This card is only available to patients whose doctor or specialist has signed a document stating the necessity of marijuana and CBD to their treatment plan. Though doctors are typically hesitant to recommend marijuana for minors, this is still a possibility.

But for CBD without this significant THC content, the age requirement is almost invariably eighteen. Occasionally, smoke and head shops within New Hampshire will require that consumers be at least twenty-one before entering the establishment. But for the most part, many CBD products sold in the state are sold to consumers overt he age of eighteen.

Where to Find New Hampshire CBD

New Hampshire CBD can be found in a variety of different shops and stores. Medical marijuana can only be purchased from licensed medical marijuana dispensaries, of which there are many in the state of New Hampshire. These establishments offer some of the most potent and quality CBD that can be found in the state, but they have the strictest requirements for who can purchase their products as well.

Because the state does not have adult-use cannabis yet on the books, the only other legal way to acquire CBD is through the industrial hemp pilot program. This program makes it legal for users to consume and purchase CBD so long as it only has a small amount of THC within its compound. For these laws, consumers can expect to find CBD in gas stations, head and smoke shops, and even in health food shops all over New Hampshire.

Buying CBD Online in New Hampshire

There are currently no laws on the books against obtaining CBD products through the internet in New Hampshire. However, because these purchases will only be legal for consumers under the industrial hemp program, users need to be careful to not purchase CBD products with a THC content higher than the legal limit outlined by New Hampshire law.

Future of CBD in New Hampshire

New Hampshire is already relatively open to CBD products. The next logical step for their government might be to legalize adult-use high-THC CBD products as well.