Is CBD legal in the Netherlands?

Who hasn’t heard about the Dutch relaxed attitude towards cannabis and its products? Some cannabis enthusiasts seem to have almost a religious devotion towards cannabis coffee shops in the Netherlands. But is the same progressive stance true for the CBD market?

CBD has been moving upwards in the past decade. It is one of the latest trends in the health and food industry. There are more and more people using CBD products in Europe and around the world. We believe this is due to the promising research that scientists are discovering with CBD.

We are sure that you have come across some articles describing how good CBD is supposed to be for your well-being. In this article, Essentia Pura will try to answer the question: What are the laws regarding CBD in the Netherlands?

You are probably thinking that this will be a short and boring article. After all, the Dutch government tolerates cannabis use in coffeeshops, so why would it have issues with CBD? Well, things are not quite so straightforward. In fact, the whole thing is rather confusing.

If you are interested in the topic, please read on. In this article you will learn:

• What is CBD?
• The difference between hemp and marijuana.
• Some possible medical effects of CBD.
• Is CBD legal to use in the Netherlands?
• Where to buy CBD in products in the Netherlands?
• How to start your own CBD business in the Netherlands?

The  Basics  of CBD

Let us start with some basic information about CBD in general. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a component of the cannabis plant. To say this in simpler words, CBD is derived from cannabis. Now there is more than one type of cannabis plant. In order to better understand CBD and its regulation, we must first explain a bit about cannabis plants. For our purposes, it will suffice to discuss the difference between hemp and marijuana.

Marijuana

Marijuana is without any doubt the more famous of the duo. Especially in the Netherlands, marijuana is what most of the buzz is about and cannabis tourism is a part of our image of Amsterdam.

The main aspect of marijuana is a component known as THC. This part of the plant is the one responsible for the intoxicating feeling you get from marijuana. You know, the famous “high” feeling. This intoxication is also the main reason why authorities are wary of the plant and usually regulate it, or even outright prohibit it.

So how is Marijuana regulated in the Netherlands?

Well, despite the popular opinion claiming otherwise, marijuana is actually illegal in the Netherlands but is considered to be in the soft drugs category, this means that the sanctions will be more lenient than if you have hard drugs. According to the Opium act, it is illegal to grow, cultivate, sell, deliver, carry, and transport drugs in or outside the Netherlands.

It is however decriminalized for personal use. Coffee shops in Amsterdam and recreational use are tolerated. So for our purposes, is its legal? Well, no.

If you are a consumer the difference is minor, but there can be some nuisance for you. That the government tolerates recreational use essentially means that authorities should not bother you just for smoking cannabis. On top of that, as long as you have up to five grams of cannabis you should be fine – however, what you have can be confiscated. To ease your mind, this usually happens on border crossings or when they stop you in your car.

If you have up to 30 grams of marijuana, it will be treated as a misdemeanor – you will get a fine. Any drug possession above that can get you into more serious trouble, but still not as serious as if you have hard drugs. So make sure you stay within the boundaries of the laws.

Coffeeshops

We all know about the famous Amsterdam coffeeshops where you can freely use cannabis. How does this work if cannabis is not legal? Well ever since the 1970s, the authorities sort of let coffeeshop owners do their thing and they tolerate some amount of drug use in the country as a fact of life. The result of that decision of course was that coffeeshops started springing up all over the place, significantly cutting off the black market.

Medicinal cannabis

Cannabis products are being used more and more even in the pharmaceutical industry. This means that doctors now prescribe cannabis for medical use.  Medical cannabis is legal in the Netherlands since 2003. There are currently 5  medical cannabis drugs on offer in Dutch pharmacies, that have different levels of THC and CBD. 

Hemp

The second variant of the cannabis plant is hemp, sometimes known as industrial hemp since it is used a lot in textile and other industries. The crucial difference between hemp and marijuana is in its THC content. So hemp has virtually no THC, but it is still very rich in CBD, making it very useful for people that want to harness the health benefits of CBD while avoiding intoxication that is caused by THC.

As we said above, hemp plants have been used in western societies for thousands of years.  Despite the long tradition and important cultural heritage of hemp the Opium act, at least technically, prohibits it.  There had been an amendment in the government that now allows for cannabis cultivation if the THC content is below 0,2%. 

Hemp cultivation is only allowed with a permit that must be granted to you by the government. We advise you to talk to a local professional that will guide you through the process.

Back to CBD in the Netherlands

So to recap, CBD is a component of the cannabis plant and it does not get you high. CBD oils have low THC content so they do not have psychoactive effects. Nonetheless, they retain the possible health benefits that come from CBD. There is an increasing amount of research that is showing that you can use hemp cannabidiol (CBD) for pain management, anxiety, and similar issues

You might be wondering how exactly is CBD derived from the cannabis plant?

In short, scientists extract CBD from the plant so that they isolate it from other cannabinoids. Most importantly, they separate it from the psychoactive substances (THC). They can then use the extracted substance to make CBD-infused cannabis oil or other products.

Regulation of CBD in the Netherlands

So what do Dutch laws say about CBD? As we explained above CBD is a cannabis derivative. Consequently, this means that CBD is considered a soft drug under the Opium act.  But as we have also shown, there is a rift between how the governments regulate cannabis on paper and how it enforces the rules. So how do the authorities treat CBD oil?

CBD is in grey area since the Opium act does not mention it directly. It is still supposed to be part of the drugs. But, as things currently stand CBD with less than 0,05% THC level is tolerated by the government and is sold over the counter all across the Netherlands. This is significantly less than the content allowed for hemp production, which causes problems for CBD oil producers. But if you are a consumer you can still order CBD oil and other products online from the common market in Europe. In this case, the THC limit is a bit higher – 0.2%.

There are even more significant problems with CBD production in the Netherlands. It seems that under current Dutch laws, hemp can only be grown in the Netherlands. Apparently, this means that hemp must be exported, and then finished CBD oil or other products are imported back to the Netherlands.

Buying CBD in the Netherlands

As we explained above, buying CBD oil is not a problem in the Netherlands. You can do that online or in person, although legal THC levels are different. The upside of the online shopping experience is without a doubt a wider variety of products that are available. Almost all CBD producers in the EU community have an online store. But even if you prefer going to a physical store you can still find a lot of them in Amsterdam and other major cities across the country.

On top of that, you should be careful to avoid any shops that make exaggerated health claims regarding their products.

Selling CBD in the Netherlands

If you are thinking about selling CBD in the Netherlands your company should of course strictly follow all regulations regarding CBD and cannabis.  You have the option of selling online or having an in-person, maybe even both. The e-commerce route offers you a bigger market and maybe a bit more security as you only need a warehouse and a website. There is however a unique position of the Netherlands in the CBD and cannabis community, which you can capitalize on with an in-person store.

We recommend that you thoroughly examine your supplier beforehand. Focus on whether they follow all essential cannabis laws so that you avoid any legal troubles. You should only work with accredited buyers and dealers of CBD products. Your supplier should show you CBD oil that does not contain THC and is extracted from hemp. Check that they follow other guidelines issued by the authorities.

If you are looking for a partner to supply your CBD-related shop, Essentia Pura is a Slovenian company that offers the bulk sale of CBD extracts. We take pride in ensuring strict compliance with national and EU regulations. We are a trusted wholesale partner for your CBD-oriented company with plenty of experience. 

If you have any questions regarding the bulk sale of CBD oil and other products, as well as any legal questions about cannabis regulations in Slovakia or other EU member states contact us at our email address.

Conclusion

So what is the verdict? Yes, CBD oils are legal in the Netherlands, but things are not as straightforward as the public thinks. So let us quickly review the article:

• There are two types of cannabis, hemp, and marijuana.
• Both are rich in CBD, but hemp contains very little THC which gets you high.
• Cannabis use is tolerated in the Netherlands but is still a soft drug.
• People are using more cannabis and CBD oil every year.
• Selling cannabis and CBD is permissible only in certain conditions – coffee shops, pharmacies, etc.
• Medical use of cannabis is legal in the Netherlands.
• There are currently five medical cannabis remedies in Dutch pharmacies
• CBD derived from hemp plants is legal, if it contains less than 0,5% THC.
• CBD products can be sold both in-person and online.

2023 update:

In the Netherlands, CBD enjoys a stable legal status, fostering a thriving market with diverse products gaining popularity.¹ Authorities approach CBD as a novel food with care, subjecting products to rigorous evaluations for safety and labeling compliance.³ Prioritizing consumer protection, the Netherlands embraces responsible practices as CBD’s potential benefits are explored by consumers and businesses alike. This approach ensures the industry’s growth while safeguarding public health in this rapidly evolving market.²

We hope this gave you an answer to most of your questions regarding CBD in the Netherlands. If you want any additional information, do not hesitate to contact us, our staff will get back to you as soon as possible.

You are also welcome to read our articles about other countries:

• Germany
• France
• Italy
• United Kingdom
• Ireland

Future of CBD in the EU: The Novel Foods saga

With the introduction of the Novel foods regulation the future of CBD industry in the European Union is a bit uncertain. A recent ruling by the European Court of Justice sheds some light on this issue. Nonetheless a lot of doubt remains, but perhaps, there is now a sense that things are moving in a positive direction for the CBD market. 

We, at Essentia Pura, understand that businesses need a stable, certain environment to be successful. Unfortunately, in the fast growing and rapidly changing world of CBD, this is not always possible. Therefore, we strive to provide you with up to date information that can help you make better decisions and enhance your business. 

In this article you will learn:

• Basic information about the CBD market in the EU.
• Basic information about the Novel Foods regulation. 
• How the regulation affects the CBD market.
• Background of the landmark legal case and the ruling of the court.
• How this case might change the CBD industry in the EU.

If you are interested in any of these topics, please read on!

European Union CBD market

We want to jump straight into the main topic of this article, but we must give a brief introduction to CBD first. 

CBD is a component of the cannabis plant, it is usually extracted from hemp, which is a type of cannabis that is both rich in CBD and has low THC content. This means that it does not have any intoxicating effects, it is however, linked to many possible health benefits. 

If you would like to get a better insight into CBD, how it is extracted and what type of benefits might come from it you can learn everything on our blog. 

Now let’s get to the analysis of the EU CBD market.

The EU has the world’s biggest CBC consumption. On top of that the EU can boast with 25% of hemp cultivation on earth – hemp is the plant from which CBD is extracted and CBD products are made from. 

The European Union is the world’s biggest single market, with half a billion consumers that are among the world’s richest population. It comes as no surprise then, that we believe that there is plenty of room to grow. CBD market outlook is, in our opinion, excellent, as things seem to be moving in a positive direction in many of the biggest countries in the EU.

If we take a closer look at CBD, we can see that it is far from a monolith market. This means that CBD is used in different industries, ranging from health, food supplements, cosmetics, as well as some others. If you want to learn more, please read our article on CBD market analysis and 2021 opportunities. 

Each of the industries has its own challenges. In some sectors the problem is too little regulation, meaning that companies can make exaggerated claims that could potentially harm consumers. 

However, if we look at the food supplements part of the CBD market, probably the biggest challenge facing is regulation that is too strict and stifles innovation and development. This is mostly regulation that prohibits or severely limits the use of CBD and hemp extracts. Unfortunately, this could also be the case with the EU Novel Foods Regulation.

EU Novel foods regulation

The first Novel Food Regulation was introduced in 1997 by Regulation (EU) 258/97 with the aim of establishing a food safety mechanism to control newly developed, synthetic, or genetically produced food. An updated version of the regulation came into force on 1st January 2018 (Regulation (EU) 2015/2283).

To put it briefly: novel foods are foods which were not used in the European Union before the 15th May of 1997. 

In 2019 European Commission added cannabinoids to the Novel Foods catalogue. This means that CBD needs to go through an extensive approval process, which usually takes years. On top of that, we do not even know if every company must go through the process or not. Consequently, this has the potential to bring the whole industry to a halt. 

Immediately, a lot of hemp farmers decided to move away from hemp cultivation to a crop with a more secure market. 

CBD as a narcotic?

To make matters worse, in July 2020 the European Commission issued a statement saying that it will be pausing all CBD novels foods proceedings as CBD might be considered a narcotic drug and therefore can never get a novel foods approval. This of course sent shockwaves around the CBD community. Such a decision would effectively prohibit the sale of CBD as a food product and considerably harm the development of a rising multibillion-euro industry.

Don’t worry, the story gets better from here. This is where the Court ruling comes in. 

Origins of the ECJ case

The story starts with a company from the Czech Republic that sells electronic cigarettes with CBD and hemp oil. The hemp they use is grown in the Czech Republic, on top of that the whole product is manufactured in the Czech Republic and is in compliance with the Czech laws. According to the countries regulation the entirety of the plant is used in the process. The company exports most of its products to clients in different member states of the EU, including France. This is where things got tricky.

France strictly regulates CBD products. For example, French authorities regarded CBD produced from the entirety of the plant, this means that the leaf and flower of cannabis are included, as a narcotic. It started numerous proceedings against the company and its leaders. 

The procedure resulted in a suspended prison sentence of 18 and 15 months for both leaders of the company due to infringement of the legislation on poisonous substances, as well as a 10.000 and a 5.000 euro fine for each of the two directors. 

On appeal on the judgment, the judges of the Court of Appeals asked the European Court of Justice for its opinion, in essence, if CBD can be considered a narcotic drug under the EU law? In addition to that, the question they asked is if a member state can prohibit CBD as a narcotic drug and therefore prohibit the marketing of CBD products lawfully produced in another member state? They questioned if such a prohibition is an unlawful restriction on freedom of movement of goods. 

The ECJ ruling

The European Court of Justice delivered its opinion in November 2020. It first considered what law is applicable for CBD products. It decided that CBD is not an agricultural product, since it is extracted from the plant and is not a plant per se. On top of that, CBD is not included in the catalogue of the agricultural products. 

When deciding if CBD can be regarded as a narcotic, the Court made references to UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs – the same one European Commission referred to in their statement proclaiming CBD as a narcotic. 

The Court stressed that: “according  to  the  current  state  of  scientific  knowledge,  which it is  necessary  to  take  into account, unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (commonly called THC), another hemp cannabinoid, the CBD at issue does not appear to have any psychotropic effect or any harmful effect on human health.” 

It emphasised that it is true that a literal reading of the UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs  would treat CBD as a narcotic, but it went on to say that such reading of the text would run contrary to the intent of the convention. CBD is therefore not a narcotic under the EU law!

The Court, furthermore, recognized that such a prohibition of marketing CBD products is a restriction on freedom of movement of goods. At the end of the judgment it stressed that a member state might prohibit the sale of CBD on the grounds of public health but: “the  national  court  must  assess available  scientific  data  in  order  to make sure that the real risk to public health alleged does not appear to be based on purely hypothetical  considerations.  A decision  to  prohibit the  marketing  of  CBD,  which  indeed constitutes  the  most  restrictive  obstacle  to  trade  in  products  lawfully  manufactured  and marketed  in  other  Member  States,  can  be  adopted  only  if  that  risk  appears  sufficiently established”

The Court previously established that there seem to be no psychotropic effects or harmful effects on human health, so a decision of the French authorities prohibiting CBD based on such risks seems unlikely. 

European commission response to the ECJ ruling

The ruling had immediate and tangible effects on the CBD industry. The European Commission quickly reversed its controversial stance that CBD might be a narcotic and therefore prohibited and resumed the novel foods proceedings. 

This is very good news! 

Does the ECJ ruling solve all the problems and obstacles that the CBD industry faces? No, but it does give it a bit of breathing space. 

Organizations of CBD producers, such as European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA) quickly went to work and started negotiating with the Commission on the next steps forward with the common aims to enable safe products for customers. We hope these talks will lead to a good compromise for all stakeholders in the CBD industry.

Conclusion

Let us quickly review what we have learned in the article:

• CBD is a fast-growing industry in the European Union.
• Regulation is often confusing, demanding or completely lacking.
• Novel Foods Regulation applies to CBD products as well, which means CBD must undergo a rigorous approval procedure.
• CBD is not a narcotic and can be sold in the EU.
• Freedom of movement of goods applies to CBD products.

If you have any other questions regarding the CBD industry or regulation, please do not hesitate to contact us on our email address. Our staff will get back to you as soon as possible.

.

Is CBD legal in Slovakia?

CBD has been moving upwards in the past decade. It is one of the latest trends in the health and food industry. We believe this is due to promising research that is done on CBD. We are sure that you have come across some articles describing how good it is supposed to be for your well being. Perhaps even your social media feed is full of CBD posts.

But is this all just a temporary trend or is it a thing to watch out for? Even more importantly, how are countries around the world responding to this surge in demand and production of CBD? To put it simply: Is CBD legal?

We, at Essentia Pura, understand that all of this new information can be confusing for some people. There are many sources telling you different things, some of them obviously exaggerated. We want to set the record straight.

We consider it our mission to explain in layman terms the regulation of CBD around the EU. This is why we are preparing detailed articles about CBD products, ranging from its regulation in European Union member states to CBD products for your pets and other innovations in the market. 

In this article, we will take a deep look at the Republic of Slovakia and try to answer your questions. Hopefully, by the end of this article you will learn:

• What is CBD?
• The difference between hemp and marijuana.
• Some possible medical effects of CBD.
• Is CBD legal to use in Slovakia?
• Where to buy CBD in products in Slovakia?
• How to start your own CBD business in Slovakia?

If you are interested in any of these topics, please read on.

CBD basics

Let us start with some basic information about CBD in general. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a component of the cannabis plant.

Cannabis has been present in human society for a long time, but nowadays it is commonly associated with narcotic drugs, which is giving it a bad reputation. But this is not the whole story.

There are actually two major types of cannabis plant – marijuana and hemp. They differ significantly in chemical aspects as well as in how the law treats them.

Marijuana

Marijuana holds a special place in people’s minds and marijuana consumption is increasing in European countries. The debates surrounding it often end with significant disagreements. Mostly this is due to a thing called THC. THC and CBD are both components of the cannabis plant and marijuana is especially rich in THC. As THC affects your mental state it is listed on the list of psychotropic substances under the psychotropic substances act.

Essentially this means that marijuana is illegal in the Slovak Republic and is considered a drug. Selling, purchasing, growing even small amounts of marijuana can cause you serious trouble. Possession of marijuana or its personal use is not allowed according to the law.

The other thing you might have heard about is medical marijuana. It is also causing a disruption in the medical field, but Slovakia is, unfortunately, lagging behind. There are currently no active medical cannabis programs in Slovakia. There were a couple of unsuccessful pushes in the Slovak parliament to regulate marijuana and especially medical marijuana. Perhaps the Slovakian government will reconsider its stance.

Industrial hemp

The second type of cannabis is industrial hemp. The main distinction from marijuana is in its THC level. Industrial hemp contains virtually no THC, which means that, unlike marijuana, it does not affect your mental state. To say things more plainly, hemp does not get you high. It has been an important part of human society and it is used in the food industry, textile industry among many others.

Industrial hemp production is allowed under the law and is rising in Slovakia. Specifically, in the last decade, more and more Slovakians are starting to grow hemp products. Nonetheless, we believe that there is still ample room for growth.

Back to CBD in Slovakia

So CBD is a component of cannabis that does not make you feel high and might have some medical benefits. But how do scientists get CBD from the plant into oil or other products? In short, scientists extract CBD from the plant so that they isolate it from other cannabinoids. Most importantly, they separate it from the psychoactive substances (THC). They can then use the extracted substance to make CBD infused cannabis oil or other products.  We also offer you an in-depth, scientific look at CBD.

There is an increasing amount of research that is showing that you can use hemp cannabidiol (CBD) for pain management, anxiety, and similar issues. Slovakian authorities do not recognize such claims, so CBD in Slovakia cannot be used for medicinal purposes.

Regulation of CBD in Slovakia

Now we know what CBD is, but what does the law say about CBD oil in Slovakia? Is CBD legal?

This is a difficult subject matter. Slovakia has not removed CBD from the list of controlled substances, despite the fact that this is not in accordance with EU and WHO recommendations. This could mean that Slovakia is the only EU country that does not allow CBD products to be sold.

Things are a bit more complicated.

Slovakia is a member state of the EU. This means that the sale and purchases of hemp CBD products are legal as part of the free movement of goods. This view was confirmed in 2020 by the European Court of Justice.

The decision of the court threw CBD products into legal limbo in Slovakia. For example, CBD is not considered to fit into the category of food supplements, neither is it is considered a medical remedy under the law. Above that, it is technically still considered to be in a ‘Controlled Substance Group 2’, this means that it is only legally sold with permission from the Ministry of Health.

But to make matters even more complicated, this regulation is only there because of the drug Sativex. Sativex however, contains both CBD and THC, so this standard is questionable.

As we mentioned above, the dominant view now is that CBD can be legally sold in Slovakia, due to its membership in the European Union and the fundamental principle of free movement of goods.

As elsewhere in the EU, CBD oil is only legal in Slovakia if the CBD is derived from hemp. This means that the THC level in CBD oil must be really low.

Furthermore, hemp CBD products cannot be advertised as medicinal products. If you are starting your own company, we recommend you seek specialist advice regarding advertising.

UPDATE MARCH 2021

As promised we are keeping you up to date with information about the development of CBD regulation in Slovakia. On the 18th of March, the government succeeded in removing CBD from the list of controlled substances in the Slovakian parliament. This means that it is following the new judgment of the European Court of Justice and the new opinion of the European Comission. 

So how will this change the CBD industry in Slovakia?

Even though the law has passed the parliament and will come into force on the 1st of May, many open questions remain. Things will become clearer in the coming weeks and months, as all of the stakeholders will adjust to the new reality. 

We will watch out to see how the authorities will interpret the law, this means that you should look for opinions issued by the Ministry of Health and other similar authorities. The second thing to keep an eye on is, if CBD suppliers will feel comfortable with a bolder marketing strategy with the new law. Last but not least, you should look for signs of increased demand from consumers, this means looking at surveys and yearly/monthly consumption data. If consumers will respond to the new legislation its good that you are ahead of the curve with bold and imaginative CBD products.

Two things are clear as of summer 2023: EFSA is still holding Novel Food approval applications, and CBD products have finally started selling in Slovakia.¹However, there are still some limitations. Selling CBD oil for oral intake would still be an issue. However, the Slovakia government now allows the sale of CBD products as cosmetics.^2,3 This means that the CBD business had already started flourishing in the nation. Some time will still have to pass before CBD products can be sold as food supplements, but the legal situation for now looks quite promising.

You can always come to us, with any questions regarding your CBD business. 

Buying CBD

CBD is unfortunately not readily available for buying in Slovakia. You can however buy hemp CBD products online. The online version usually offers a wider variety of products to choose from. We recommend you are careful and double-check that the CBD oil on sale complies with all of the rules issued by the authorities. 

We are firm believers that this will change with the 1st of May 2021, as the new law takes effect and CBD is no longer considered a controlled substance. Lots of open issues remain, but at least there is a profound sense of optimism about the future of CBD industry in Slovakia. 

Selling CBD in Slovakia

If you are setting up your own CBD oil company in Slovakia you have to of course strictly follow all the regulations about cannabis cultivation and production.

This can be hard, as the status of CBD in Slovakia is unclear. The government is introducing a law that will clarify the status of CBD in Slovakia. More specifically it is trying to remove CBD from the list of psychotropic substances. We will closely follow the new bill and let you know as soon as CBD legal situation is a bit clearer.

Nonetheless, it is always helpful to have a bit of a head start overbefore your competition. We will offer you some advice and some things to consider before you start making preparations.

You should first decide whether you want to work as an agent for some firm. This means that you help distribute their CBD oils. The other option is to forge your own path from the start. There are benefits to both, in the former a big part of the business is secure, whereas in the latter you are your own boss.

The second thing to consider is if you want to sell your CBD products in Slovakia only or if you want to take the e-commerce route. Usually, the e-commerce option allows you to market your CBD oil products to a wider audience. You also do not need to rent out a store, some storage space should be enough, and as the year 2020 has taught us, e-commerce is more resilient to shocks to the economy.

On top of that, please make sure that you follow all legislation regarding consumer protection regulations, data protection law, and advertising act.

We recommend that you thoroughly examine your supplier beforehand. Focus on whether they follow all essential cannabis laws so that you avoid any legal troubles. You should make sure that you work only with accredited buyers and dealers of CBD products. Your supplier should show you CBD oil that does not contain THC and is extracted from cannabis with less than 0.02% THC. Check that they follow any other guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health or other authorities.

If you are looking for a partner to supply your CBD-related shop, Essentia Pura is a Slovenian company that offers the bulk sale of CBD extracts. We take pride in ensuring strict compliance with national and EU regulations. We are a trusted wholesale partner for your CBD-oriented company with plenty of experience. If you have any questions regarding the bulk sale of CBD oil and other products, as well as any legal questions about cannabis regulations in Slovakia or other EU member states contact us at our email address.

Conclusion

So is CBD legal in Slovakia? Let us review what we have learned:

• CBD is derived from cannabis, but it does not get you high.
• Cannabis with high THC content is illegal in Slovakia even for personal use and is a controlled substance.  UPDATE MARCH 2021:  CBD is no longer considered a controlled substance and CBD products will be legal for personal use from 1st of May onwards. 
• CBD oil is legal and can be purchased online, due to Slovakian membership in the EU.
• The sale of CBD oil in Slovakia is in a gray area, we will update the article as soon as more is known, UPDATE MARCH 2021: CBD is now legal
• Make sure that you are in compliance with all other legislation.

We hope this gave you an answer to most of your questions regarding CBD in Slovakia. If you want any additional information, do not hesitate to contact us, our staff will get back to you as soon as possible.

You are also welcome to read our articles about other countries:

• United Kingdom
• Japan
• Czech Republic
• Poland
• Germany
• Austria

Is CBD legal in Croatia?

CBD products are without any doubt gaining in popularity across the European Union. You can see this with the amount of news coverage CBD is receiving, or if you count the number of CBD stores that are present in your community.

This surge of CBD products also means a great deal of uncertainty for some people. On the one hand, governments cannot keep up with the quick industry development, so the drug laws often put CBD in a weird mixed status, causing reluctance among some entrepreneurs. On the other hand, people who are not quite familiar with CBD are wary of the products they might consider drugs and they do not know what to expect. Still, public opinion is shifting fast.

We, at Essentia Pura, want to set the record straight. This is why we are writing a series of articles covering all aspects of CBD, from its legality in member states of the EU to possible health benefits of CBD oil, as well as keeping up with rapid market innovation.

In this article, we will explain if CBD oil is legal in Croatia. Whether you are thinking about starting a cannabis-related company in Croatia, just want to buy some CBD oil in the country, or you are taking your summer vacation on the Croatian coast, this article will try to answer your questions about the CBD status in the country. By the end of this article you will learn:

• Is CBD oil legal in Croatia?
• The regulations of cannabis in Croatia?
• Is the use of cannabis permitted in Croatia?
• Can you use medical cannabis in Croatia?
• How to start your own CBD business in Croatia?
• How and where to buy CBD in Croatia?
• Can I bring CBD products to Croatia?

If you are interested in any of these topics, please read on.

What is CBD oil

If you are just trying to get some information about CBD law you might be wondering what exactly CBD is? CBD stands for cannabidiol, which is a part of the cannabis plant. It is gaining in popularity, as scientists are learning about its many possible health effects. At the same time, as we will see, it is possible to avoid any unwanted side effects of drugs.

We think that most of you are familiar with cannabis. Nonetheless, cannabis plants still have a bad reputation in the law all around the world and we would like to briefly discuss this.

Cannabis is often put in the same basket as other drugs. But things are more complicated

First, cannabis consists of many different compounds called cannabinoids. CBD is one of them but by no means the only one important. There are 144 different cannabinoids in cannabis, each one of them contributing something unique to it.

Another thing that you should know is that there is more than one type of cannabis plant. Broadly speaking we must discuss the difference between marijuana and hemp.

Marijuana

Marijuana is the type of cannabis plant, largely responsible for the bad reputation. This is because it contains THC, which causes you to “feel high” if you use it.  This can impair your psychomotor functions and is therefore prohibited by the law.

Most member states of the European Union prohibit the personal use of marijuana, Croatia is no different. Under the Criminal code and Drug Abuse Prevention Act amendment of 2013 cultivation, possession, and use of marijuana are prohibited. You should note that cannabis is considered a part of light drugs, possession of a small amount of marijuana for recreational purposes is considered a misdemeanor and not a criminal offense.

This means that you will only get a fine and no jail time. Still, due to its high THC content, cannabis is still illegal in Croatia, and if you grow or sell larger amounts of cannabis or other drugs that are obviously not for personal use. If you are caught you can be prosecuted and jailed for three years or more.  We urge you not to do anything criminal or against the law.

There is some indication of change, against the backdrop of public pressure, a bill had been introduced in the Croatian parliament which would decriminalize recreational use of cannabis and even enable personal cultivation.

Medical marijuana

Recreational use is illegal under Croatian laws. However, there is more and more talk about medical cannabis in the news. This is a type of cannabis that is used for treating multiple sclerosis or other diseases.

There is good news on that front. Since 2015 medical cannabis has been legal in Croatia for treating certain diseases. This means that if you have a prescription from your doctor, you can buy a limited amount –up to 7. 5 grams of medical cannabis per month. You should also note that the law limits the validity of the Croatian prescription for cannabis to 30 days.

Hemp

The second type of cannabis is hemp, sometimes known as industrial hemp. It has been in use around the world for centuries now. Until the second half of the twentieth-century hemp was a common sight in the countryside. It was used for textile, food, even construction. This different usage of hemp is reflected in the law.

So how exactly is hemp different? The most important part is that it contains virtually no THC, so it does not get you high. The usual threshold of THC content is 0. 2 %. At the moment hemp teachers this threshold it is no longer part of the drugs regime. This makes it legal to cultivate and use hemp in Croatia.

Before you plow your field to start growing any amount of your own hemp, you should be aware that you need to register with Croatian authorities, which must grant you a permit. If you do not have the appropriate licenses you can get a fine from the Croatian authorities.

Back to CBD

We hope you now have a better understanding of cannabis. But how do scientists create CBD oil from merely a component?

We should emphasize that CBD is isolated from cannabis in such a way that you preserve its possible medical benefits, but you do not have any other side effects, such as psycho-motor function impairment, commonly associated with drugs.

In the next step, the isolated CBD is attached to oil or another carrier, in this way scientists produce CBD oil or similar CBD products.

If you want to learn more, read our article on CBD extraction.

So why do people use CBD? Scientists have been doing extensive research on cannabis and a lot of promising articles have been published. These articles are linking CBD to various possible health benefits. If you want to learn more about this research, you can read our in-depth article here.

So according to all of this, is CBD oil legal in Croatia? Yes, but only under certain conditions.  For example, it must be produced from hemp, so this means that CBD oil must not contain more than 0. 2% THC. If you do not stay within limits it is likely that you would even face a fine from the authorities.

Buying and selling CBD in Croatia

We want to provide you with a couple of tips on how and where to buy or sell CBD products in Croatia.

Especially if you would like to start your own CBD business you should note a couple of things.

Buying CBD

CBD products are readily available for personal use in stores around the country, as well as in numerous online shops. As we mentioned earlier, if you want to use CBD to alleviate health issues you need to get a prescription from your doctor, only with a valid prescription can you purchase medical CBD products in licensed pharmacies.

However, if you are buying CBD for personal relaxation purposes or as a food supplement then you can freely buy it in stores or online. E-commerce enables you to purchase a wider variety of products from out of the country, especially Europe.

Selling CBD

If you are setting up your own CBD oil company in Croatia you have to of course strictly follow all the regulations about cannabis cultivation and production.

There are a couple of things to consider. You should first decide whether you want to fork as an affiliate or agent for some firm, so help distribute their CBD oils or you want to forge your own path from the start. There are benefits to both, in the former a big part of the business is secure, whereas in the latter you are your own boss. 

The second thing to consider is if you want to sell your CBD product in person or if you want to take the e-commerce route. Usually, the e-commerce option allows you to market your CBD oil products to a wider audience. You also do not need to rent out a store, some storage space should be enough, and as the year 2020 has taught us, e-commerce is more resilient to shocks to the economy.

We recommend that you thoroughly examine your product supplier beforehand. Focus on whether they follow all essential cannabis laws so that you avoid any legal troubles. You should make sure that you work only with accredited buyers and dealers of CBD-related products. Your supplier should show you CBD oil that does not contain THC and is extracted from cannabis plants with less than 0.2% THC.

If you are looking for a partner to supply your CBD-related shop, Essentia Pura is a Slovenian company that offers the bulk sale of CBD extracts. We take pride in ensuring strict compliance with national and EU regulations. We are a trusted wholesale partner for your CBD-oriented business with plenty of experience. If you have any questions regarding the bulk sale of CBD oil and other products, as well as any legal questions about cannabis regulations in Croatia or other EU member states contact us at our email address.

Conclusion

So is CBD legal? Let’s quickly review the Croatian cannabis laws.

• High THC cannabis is illegal.
• Medical CBD has been legal in Croatia since 2015.¹
• Possession of a small amount is only punishable with a fine.
• Cultivating and selling larger amounts is a criminal offense.
• Low THC cannabis (not more than 0. 2% THC)- hemp is, generally speaking, legal and free to possess, grow, and use.
• Before you start growing your own hemp you need to obtain a permit.
• Selling and buying CBD products in Croatia is legal, as long as CBD is extracted from industrial hemp or if you sell registered and approved medicinal products.

In fact, there is even a cannabis museum in Croatia’s capital, where one can learn about the rich history of cannabis. One may also buy CBD products that are either THC-free or with THC below 0.2% in the museum.²

Finally, a word of caution, even though CBD is legal to sell and buy in Croatia if it meets specific standards, Croatian and EU-wide laws are constantly changing. Thus, checking the latest regulations before embarking on any business initiative is always a good idea.

Further, it is also worth knowing that although EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) considers CBD a Novel Food, getting Novel Food approval is still challenging. EFSA says that though they recognize CBD as safe, there is a significant data gap. Therefore, keeping a close eye on EU-wide or EFSA guidelines and any nation’s national guidelines is always good.^3,4 

That said, we still believe that public opinion is changing in Croatia, and CBD products have a bright future. Therefore, we do not foresee any problems with the CBD business in the nation in the near future.

If you want to learn more about cannabis laws in a different country, you can read our articles about these countries in Europe:

• Germany
• Spain
• Italy
• United Kingdom
• France
• Denmark
• Greece

Is CBD legal in Japan?

CBD has taken the world by storm and Japan is no exception. It is hard to miss the numerous articles and advertisements for innovative CBD products. The spike in demand is commonly attributed to an increasing amount of promising scientific research done on CBD.

While this certainly means that it is a great opportunity to dive into the CBD business, there are still a lot of things to watch out for. For starters, you need to fully understand what CBD is and what it can do. Broad-spectrum CBD oil, full-spectrum oil, all of this terminology can be confusing.  There is a large amount of misinformation about CBD, ranging all the way from misrepresenting scientific data to outright wishful thinking.

This is why we at Essentia Pura want to set the record straight. We want to explain the origins of CBD and the legal status of CBD oil.

In this article, you will learn:

• What is CBD?
• Basic information about the cannabis plant.
• History of CBD in Japan.
• Difference between marijuana and hemp and their regulation.
• The legal status of CBD oil in Japan.
• Is CBD oil legal for military personnel in Japan?
• How to launch your CBD product on the Japanese market.
• How and where to buy CBD oil and other products in Japan.

If you are interested in any of these topics, please read the article in full.

What is CBD

CBD, otherwise known as cannabidiol is a part of the cannabis plant. What makes it interesting is that, unlike the famous THC, it does not affect your psycho-motor functions. In other words, it does not make you feel high, at the same time it retains some of the possible health benefits.

If you are not that familiar with CBD terminology, you might not understand the above. This is why we will try to break it down for you.

Cannabis

Cannabis is so famous, that you without a doubt know something about it. Throughout time, the regulation and treatment of the plant went through various stages. In some parts of the world, it was and still is celebrated for its beneficial effects on human health, in other parts it has been prohibited and its uses were made illegal.

On top of that, you should know that there are different types of cannabis plants. The most famous two are marijuana and hemp, and they differ significantly in the chemical aspect as well as in the legal aspect. We will take a closer look at both, but let’s first describe the history of cannabis in Japan.

Cannabis has been an important plant in Japan for thousands of years. Findings of cannabis seeds and woven fibers date back to 10.000 BCE. There is no historic evidence of smoking cannabis in Japan, but there are some signs that the plant had been used for medical use. On top of that, it has tremendous symbolic value in Japan and it was used for building shrines.

The main law dealing with cannabis is the Cannabis Control Act, passed in 1948 – under the occupation of the United States. The second major piece of legislation is the Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Act. The laws prescribe harsh treatment of cannabis and consequently difficult conditions for CBD use. All of this presents a big barrier to enter the Japanese CBD market and makes it difficult to produce competitive CBD oil and other products in Japan.

Marijuana

Marijuana is certainly the most famous of the two. It receives much more attention than hemp, due to its high level of THC, which causes users to feel intoxicated and impairs their normal abilities. It is currently illegal. Possession, use, and sale of marijuana are punished with up to 10 years in prison and a hefty fine. We advise you to strictly follow the law, or you might find yourself in big trouble.

Despite the effort of some groups and growing evidence of its benefits, Japan does not have a medical cannabis program. Unfortunately, this means that patients cannot legally purchase medical cannabis to alleviate their health issues. Hopefully, this will soon change.

Hemp

The second type of cannabis is hemp, sometimes it is called industrial hemp, as it is usually used for industrial means – you can find it in the food industry, textile industry, and elsewhere. Hemp does not contain THC, which makes it interesting if you want to benefit from the possible health effects of cannabis. It is also legal under Japanese laws, albeit with some restrictions, that are a bit stricter than it is usually outside of Japan.

For example, if you want to grow hemp you need to obtain a permit from the authorities. There are different permits, depending on THC content in your product, it is much easier if your hemp has low THC content. You should take care that your THC content is virtually zero, as Japan is strict on the matter of THC. So we advise you to carefully plan and choose your hemp seeds.

Back to CBD

So CBD is a part of the cannabis plant that does not make you  feel high and might have some health benefits. But how do scientists get CBD from the plant into oil or other products?

In short, scientists extract CBD from the plant so that they isolate it from other cannabinoids. Most importantly, they separate it from the psychoactive substances (THC). They can then use the extracted substance to make CBD infused cannabis oil or other products.  If you want an in-depth, scientific look at CBD, please read our article here.

CBD laws in Japan

Generally speaking, CBD products are legal in Japan, but you have to be careful in what way you sell them and how you extract the CBD from the plant. Unlike most countries in the western world, Japanese laws strictly regulate CBD products and their uses. However, the laws do not strictly differentiate between various types of cannabis. The Cannabis Control Act regulates which parts of cannabis you can use to make CBD oils and other products. These products must be THC free.

The strict regulation of CBD products is both a blessing and a curse. It can be hard to navigate the regulatory world of CBD oil, which makes it harder to launch your product in Japan. On the other hand, when you are dealing with your business partners you can trust that their products meet rigorous standards.

Despite the strict regulatory regime, the CBD market is expanding, and quality CBD products can be found in health food stores in big cities such as Tokyo and at major transportation hubs, like Haneda airport.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the provisions of the laws.

CBD oils sold in Japan must be THC free, as even small amounts of THC are illegal in Japan and are heavily punished.

Furthermore, CBD oils and similar products can only be marketed as food supplements or food products on the Japanese market. Any mentioning of CBD health benefits is not allowed. There is some hope that this might change, as the public opinion regarding new products seems to be changing fast.

To recap, CBD oil is legal in Japan, if it does not contain THC and is labeled as food or cosmetics and not a medicinal product.

Is CBD oil legal for military personnel in Japan

With CBD becoming increasingly popular all around the world, people of different professions are trying it out to help with their issues. The profession of a person usually has nothing to do with what they consume – as long as it is legal, but if you are a member of the armed forces things can get a bit trickier.

There are plenty of US military members stationed around Japan, and they, like other people, would like to buy CBD in Japan, but is this legal?

According to the information from the US Defense department use of products containing CBD is not legal for people employed in the US military, as the use of CBD might result in a false positive drug test.

Selling CBD oil

If you are thinking of starting your own CBD business, there are a number of things to consider.

You are free to sell CBD oil if you meet the following – so your product is extracted from proper parts of the cannabis and does not contain THC, it is not advertised for medical purposes but only as a  food supplement.

• Your product is extracted from the proper parts of the cannabis plant
• Contains virtually zero THC
• Not advertised for medical purposes but as a food supplement

We urge you to carefully check out your hemp supplier. As explained above you can only bring CBD products to the market if they contain virtually zero THC. 

If you are looking for a trusted supplier of CBD oil, we recommend Essentia Pura. We are a young Slovenian company, specializing in the wholesale of CBD oils. We take pride in being compliance-oriented and thoroughly researching the regulatory landscape of the country of business. Please, check out our website for more details. If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact us. Our professional staff will get back to you as soon as possible.

Exporting CBD oil to Japan

Many established brands in the west would like to export their CBD oils to new markets, such as Japan. As we now know, the regulation of CBD is a bit more strict in Japan than in Europe. Exporting your CBD products from the west to Japan can be a difficult task.

You should of course follow all the regulations from the Cannabis Control Act. On top of that, you have to consider regulations of your product that differ from product to product. If you are selling food supplements the permits you need to obtain are different than if you are exporting cosmetics.

We advise you to find the local legal counsel that will guide you to the process of getting all the necessary permits for your products.

Buying CBD in Japan

Buying CBD is possible both online and in a regular shop. We usually recommend e-commerce stores due to a wider range of CBD oil on offer, but in this case, we urge you to be careful. The strict regulation of CBD in Japan means that any product produced outside of Japan should be carefully examined. You could quickly find yourself with an illegal product.

Consumers on the Japanese market currently have a wider variety of products available than you might think. You can choose between CBD isolate products or broad-spectrum CBD.

At this moment we think it is wiser to buy CBD oil from established Japanese brands. There are a number of Japanese companies that are compliance-oriented and offer proven high-quality products. – such as Healthytokyo or MUKOOMI.

We recommend you check out some online stores and pay a visit to your local CBD shop for a taste of high-quality CBD products made in Japan.

Conclusion

Let us quickly review what we have learned in the article:

• CBD oil is legal in Japan but only under strict conditions. 
• It can be used if you isolate CBD from hemp and if it does not contain any THC. 
• Nonetheless, the number of people that regularly use CBD is rising and you can freely shop for CBD online and in cities such as Tokyo. 
• There are a number of prominent brands, such as Healthytokyo that offer broad-spectrum CBD for you to buy.
• Despite the strict regulation of CBD oil in Japan, we believe that the future of CBD oil in Japan is bright, as public opinion is shifting fast in recent years.

If you want to learn more about the regulation of CBD oil in other countries, you are welcome to read our articles about:

• United Kingdom
• Germany
• Ireland
• Spain
• France