Is CBD legal in Denmark?
You have probably noticed that CBD and its related products have started appearing around Europe. On top of that, demand for CBD products has increased in recent years.
All of this could be a result of the many studies conducted on CBD, which point to the possible health benefits of CBD oil and similar products.
As stated, public opinion on CBD products is changing fast. To keep in step with this, governments must rethink their stance on CBD oil and similar products. To put it simply, this means that governments are changing their drug laws so that they better fit with the growing CBD market. Even the European Union as a whole has recognised the trend and tried to harmonise the regulation of CBD in its member states. The process has had some success, but we can and should do more.
This is why, we at Essentia Pura, believe in informing you of the regulations in your country. Whether you are a consumer hoping to use CBD oil or an aspiring entrepreneur starting up a company, our articles try to bring you up-to-date information on the legal status of CBD wherever you are located.
To help you, we have prepared a comprehensive article covering the EU that you can access here. We have also written in-depth articles on several states in Europe. You are welcome to read our articles about Portugal, Ireland, Spain, Germany, France, Poland, Italy, and Austria.
We are continuing this series of articles with an in-depth analysis of Denmark and its stance on CBD. We will answer the question of whether CBD is legal in Denmark as well as explain all the important aspects of CBD and cannabis regulation there.
To start we will discuss what CBD is. Then we will provide you with basic information about cannabis and CBD products. After that, we will focus on the legal status of cannabis and CBD oil in Denmark. In the last part, we will advise you on how to buy or sell CBD products in Denmark.
CBD basics
CBD comes from the cannabis plant. Cannabis is without a doubt one of the most widely known plants in Europe. Cannabis-based products are becoming more popular. Nonetheless, there are still major issues in its regulation. Furthermore, opinion on it differs from person to person.
Some people see it as a herb with plenty of health benefits. Some see it as a fun way to relax. Others see it as a dangerous drug.
So how come that people view the same plant through such different lenses?
Some of the answer is most likely found in the part of the cannabis plant called THC. This is what causes the famous high feeling, but we know the cannabis plant is rich in other stuff as well.
There are two main types of cannabis that you should know about. We will now analyse both of them.
Marijuana
First, there is the famous marijuana. This is a type of cannabis rich in both THC and CBD. It is usually considered an illegal drug, this means that it is not legal to sell it, and even personal use of marijuana is prohibited. We do not recommend any illegal acts. It could land you in major trouble, so be careful!
There are, however, some exceptions. In some countries, it can be used for medicinal purposes, in order to treat certain health problems. This is commonly known as medical marijuana.
Hemp
There is, however, another type of cannabis plant. Unlike marijuana, this one contains almost no THC but is still rich in CBD. People usually know it as hemp, or sometimes industrial hemp. It has been used around the world for centuries, even millennia. It is still popular in many different aspects of life and it is usually regulated by the government. You can find hemp products, for example, in food products or clothing, as well as many other industries. Usually, the CBD oil you buy and use is hemp oil.
So far, so good. But we still haven’t answered the crucial question. What exactly is CBD?
Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of 113 cannabinoids that comes from the cannabis plant. Scientists extract CBD from cannabis so that they isolate it from other cannabinoids. Most importantly, you can separate it from THC, the psychoactive element in cannabis. This is the short answer. If you want an in-depth answer, please read our article on CBD here.
We have now provided you with some basic information about cannabis. Now we will move on to the main topic of our article. What is the regulation of CBD like in Denmark?
Denmark regulations
Denmark’s CBD laws follow most of Europe in its regulation of CBD oil and other products. Danish law prohibits you from selling cannabis. Even possession of marijuana is prohibited. Furthermore, the personal use of marijuana is illegal in Denmark. Since possession is not allowed, legal use is difficult. However, the use of hemp is generally speaking legal – we will explain this in more detail later on.
You might be asking yourself if you can grow cannabis?
The Danish government does not allow you to grow marijuana. Hemp cultivation, however, has been legal in Denmark since 1998. It is a thriving and growing business. Nonetheless, you have to register your cultivation at the agricultural agency of Denmark.
When we talk about cannabis in Denmark we must mention the story of Freetown of Christiania. This “freetown” is a part of Copenhagen, the capital city of Denmark. From 1971 until the early 2000s Christiania was the one place where cannabis was freely sold. This was not really legal. However, the authorities, especially the city council, tolerated this. Since the early 2010s government has enforced Danish law in Christiania. This means that the free zone in Copenhagen is now under the control of the authorities.
Medical cannabis regulation
As we mentioned above, scientists are currently very busy conducting experiments on cannabis. A great deal of research is showing the possible health effects of cannabis products. In response to this, authorities are changing their view of the drug. More and more countries allow doctors to treat certain problems with cannabis products. We know these products as medicinal cannabis.
Denmark started with a four-year-long medicinal cannabis pilot programme in January 2018. At that time medicinal cannabis products were legal in Denmark. They are not, yet, free to buy. If you want to use a medical cannabis product, you will need a doctor’s prescription. This means that only patients with certain health issues can use medical cannabis. Furthermore, the drug is only available in pharmacies. On top of this, only a couple of cannabis-plant-based products have been approved for sale in pharmacies, for example, Sativex.
To get approved they need to go through a rigorous process run by the Danish Medicines Agency. Nonetheless, we hope that patients will benefit from this new policy.
CBD regulation
Denmark follows most countries in Europe in distinguishing between marijuana and industrial hemp. The most important threshold for the distinction of the plants is its THC content. If the plant has less than 0. 2 % THC content it is considered to be industrial hemp under Danish law. If the THC content is above 0. 2% of THC it is considered marijuana.
In July 2018 Denmark decided that cannabis with less than 0. 2% THC content would no longer be on their list of euphoriant substances. You can read more about this here.
Essentially, this makes products such as hemp seed oil legal in Denmark. CBD oil derived from industrial hemp is legal in Denmark. On the other hand, CBD oil derived from marijuana is illegal. It is legal if you get it with a prescription – this means that it is treated as medical marijuana. You should also keep in mind that the less than 0. 2% THC content rule is not enough for the product to be legal.
CBD oil and similar cannabis products must also follow all other necessary regulations. This means that you should study pharmaceutical regulations and regulations for food supplements. The Danish Medicines Agency has a list of frequently asked questions focusing on medical cannabis and CBD oil. We recommend you visit their website here.
Where to buy CBD in Denmark
If you are a consumer and you are interested in buying CBD products in Denmark we can offer you some advice. In most countries, you can either buy CBD oil online, in a pharmacy, or in health food stores. In Denmark however, this is a sort of grey area.
The Danish government thinks that most CBD oil currently sold in Denmark is illegal. Not because of THC, but because it does not observe all the necessary standards. So does that mean that it is not legal to buy CBD oils? What does this mean for you?
Don’t worry, the current practice is to punish the store and the producer of the product and not the consumer. You can still use your CBD oil. Nonetheless, be careful! Products that do not meet the necessary legal standards might not be safe! We recommend that you avoid any store that makes exaggerated health claims.
To get medical cannabis you need a prescription from your doctor. You can buy at only at licensed pharmacies.
How to sell CBD in Denmark?
As explained above, CBD oil is legal to sell under Danish law. You need to make sure that the CBD is derived from hemp and not marijuana. This means that it must contain less than 0. 2% THC. Your product might qualify as a medicine. This has to be approved by the Danish Medicines Agency, but this is a difficult process.
You also need to make sure that you follow all the necessary regulations. We recommend you talk to a specialist to walk you through this process. If you are looking for a business partner to supply your CBD-related company, take a look at Essentia Pura. We are 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. If you want further information, please contact us at our email address. Our professional staff will get back to you as soon as possible.
Conclusion
So is CBD oil legal in Denmark? Let’s recap the regulations.
CBD is derived from cannabis. Generally speaking, there are two types of cannabis in Denmark. Marijuana is not legal, because of the high THC content and fear of excessive drug use. It is not legal to buy or sell this type of cannabis. Since January 2018 some patients can use medicinal cannabis that contains THC. They can only do that with a prescription and only for drugs approved by the Medicines Agency. Hemp contains very little THC. It is legal to grow it in Denmark, but you need a proper permit to grow cannabis.
So, CBD oil derived from hemp is legal under Danish law. You have to be careful to follow all other regulations that apply to food or health products. Again, please be careful to follow the law when you are dealing with CBD.
We hope this has answered all your questions about CBD oil in Denmark. If you would like to learn more please contact us at our email address or leave a reply in the comment section.
