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Is CBD Oil legal in Spain?

CBD oil and many other CBD-based products

In recent years, there has been a considerable increase in demand for products made with cannabidiol (CBD), a phytocannabinoid extracted from Cannabis sativa L.

Different countries have different laws regarding this substance. In fact, some laws change from one state to another.

While in some countries the production and sales of CBD are strictly forbidden, it is safe to say that CBD is legal in Spain. Click here if you’re interested in CBD laws in Germany.

Continue reading to find out more.

Spain is one of the most liberal hemp producing countries in the European Union, right after the Netherlands. Spanish laws are in favour of the general EU law on industrial hemp to officially allow the production and purchase of CBD products containing less than 0,2% of THC. Some of the autonomous regions in Spain allow the sales of medical products containing above the specified percentage of THC, but Spain doesn’t allow it on a state level.

In 2018, the EU banned the use of CBD oil as a food additive for human consumption. Hemp seeds and skincare products are still allowed under EU legislation, though.

Spain is both a hot spot of industrial Hemp cultivation as well as one of the largest hubs for Cannabis research in Europe. This is also shown through the fact that Spain hosts the biggest cannabis event in Europe called Spannabis. It is an annual event that has been held in Barcelona since 2002.

In Spannabis you can find products related to the cannabis plant, and its industrial uses like cosmetics, footwear, textiles, building materials, or food.

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Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of 113 cannabinoids that comes from the cannabis plant. CBD is extracted from the cannabis plant in such a way to make it isolated from other cannabinoids. Most importantly, it is separated from THC, the psychoactive element in cannabis, which makes CBD legal in Spain. CBD is then added to a carrier oil to make CBD oil.

Medical cannabis is not regulated in Spain and cannabis cultivation in Spain for the purpose of extraction of cannabinoid is subject to prior authorization from the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Medical Products or AEMPS.

Cannabis can be cultivated and used only for personal purposes. As long as the plants are not visible from any public areas, there is no ban on growing hemp and producing your own CBD oil. Any purpose other than trade or sale of cannabis is legal.

This grey area led to the formation of cannabis clubs and user associations. These clubs and associations were formed as non-profit organizations and sold cannabis to its members.

Although Spain is a major cultivator of hemp and hemp products, the country is more is exporting the majority of its product to foreign markets, where Cannabis legality is in a grey zone, or outright illegal.

Where can you buy CBD Oil in Spain

Cbd Oil is legal only for personal usage

Since January 2019, the EU has categorized CBD which is added to food supplements as ‘novel food’, which means products need to be evaluated and authorized before they are permitted to be placed on the market.

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 skincare and the treatment of different skin conditions. You will most likely find it in alternative medicine shops or pharmacies.

For businesses looking to buy CBD in bulk, we’re offering CBD products in wholesale quantities at Essentia Pura.

Wherever you choose to buy it from, it should be purchased from accredited buyers and distributors only. This will reduce the chances of buying a low-quality product or breaking the law.

Regulations on buying and shipping CBD

CBD oil has become increasingly popular and mainstreamed in recent years, but there are still laws and regulations that must be followed. Even though it is legal in Spain, there are still many countries in which CBD is not legal.

In the last years, many countries worldwide started legalizing the usage and shipping of CBD products as long as they contain a low concentration of THC.

In the USA and most EU countries, CBD containing less than 0,3% THC is legal to be purchased and sent by mail.

When it comes to Spain, it is worth noticing that CBD oil products are being sold legally in the nation, and there are many online shops. Thus, leaving little doubt about the legality of CBD in Spain.

However, it is worth noticing that, like many other nations, there are no specific regulations governing CBD sales and consumption in Spain, which means that international and EU regulations mainly apply.1,2

This means there would be no issue in selling or buying CBD products in Spain that were legally produced in the nation or other EU states. Or products that have Novel Food approval from EFSA.

But, regretfully, things are a bit hazy in the EU. EFSA regards CBD as a “Novel Food.” However, applications for Novel Food approval by EFSA are on hold, as the agency cites the lack of sufficient safety data. It means that there are no CBD products that have received Novel Food approval by EFSA. This also means that selling CBD oil, gummies, or other  oral formulations may be an issue.3

Nevertheless, experience shows that CBD products containing THC within permitted limit are available nationwide. However, high-THC products are not legal.

Additionally, in 2022, the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) took some steps to legalize high THC products. It is planning to allow the sales of high-THC products through pharmacies.4 But, these legal changes do not concern CBD producers, as medical cannabis is different.

Finally, it is also worth remembering that Spain has many autonomous regions, which may have different regulations. Therefore, those planning to import or sell CBD in Spain must always take legal guidance, as rules in the various areas of Spain may differ.

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Which countries have legalized CBD oil

CBD oil law and regulations for medical and recreational use of hemp and cannabis are constantly changing in most countries around the world. As the popularity of both species of the plant increases, countries start to reduce the legal restrictions on cultivation, production, distribution, sales, classification, and taxation of hemp and its derived products.

Cannabidiol is listed in the EU Cosmetics Ingredient Database and in some countries, CBD-based products for topical use can be sold as cosmetics. Furthermore, today you can acquire those that are classified as prescription medications, but only in some countries and only with a medical prescription.

Recreational use of cannabis is prohibited in most countries. However, many countries have adopted a policy of decriminalization to make possession of small amounts of cannabis a non-criminal offence. Others have much more severe penalties, even imprisonment for several years. CBD as a non-psychoactive cannabinoid is usually not used in the same way and does not receive the same harsh treatment from the authorities.

Besides CBD being legal in Spain, it is also legal (at least to some degree) in the following European countries: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, and United Kingdom.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the use and production of CBD-rich products are entirely legal in Spain as long as the product is designed for topical use only, for example, skincare products and medicinal balms and oils and it contains less than 0,2% of THC.

The agency in charge of regulating topical CBD in Spain is the Medicines Agency. This agency is stating which products are legal in Spain, and which are not. The agency is planning to make medical cannabis legal, though, which is a step forward.

When it comes to CBD for oral ingestion, like CBD oil or gummies, the legal framework is unclear. There is no local legal framework, and EFSA has put Novel Food regulations on hold. It means that selling CBD products for oral intake would be challenging in the nation.