Virginia is the same state where our nation’s Founding Fathers once proudly grew hemp for fiber and medicine. Now that hemp is legal in Virginia again, is the state an excellent place to grow and enjoy Cannabis sativa once more?
In this guide, learn the ins and outs of Virginia CBD law and how it applies to both CBD users and hemp vendors. By the end, you’ll know your rights as a Virginia resident, and you’ll know exactly where to get the best CBD products in Virginia.
What is CBD and How Is It Different from THC?
CBD and THC are both natural compounds found in hemp and cannabis. THC, though, is generally considered an illicit substance, while CBD is federally legal. What, exactly, is different about the two compounds?
Mostly, CBD and THC are different because THC is intoxicating and CBD is not. The differences between the compounds go deeper than that, though. There also might be surprising similarities between CBD and THC you weren’t aware of.
CBD
Cannabidiol (CBD) is the second-most abundant active compound in Cannabis sativa. It’s non-intoxicating, and cannabis plants containing primarily CBD are usually called “industrial hemp.”
Even though it doesn’t get you high, CBD is used for dozens of different conditions and ailments. Millions of people have reported that CBD helps them get to sleep at night, overcome pain, and manage anxiety.
THC
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the primary compound associated with the illegal drug “marijuana.” It is intoxicating and banned on the federal level.
Many states have passed laws allowing cannabis products containing high concentrations of THC to be sold. At the federal level, though, any cannabis product containing more than 0.3% THC is illegal.
Virginia State Laws on CBD
Hemp-derived CBD products are legal in Virginia. The state has also legalized adult-use cannabis, which would seemingly clear the way of any misunderstandings.
The tax revenue generated from recreational cannabis shops, however, is threatened by hemp products sold in general market stores. As we’ll see, these pressures have contributed to a hemp commerce environment in Virginia that has already prompted residents to turn to the online CBD market in droves.
Historical background of CBD laws in Virginia
Hemp was a key component of the agricultural economy of Virginia up until the early 20th century. Prized for its utility for sailcloth and other textiles, hemp was also grown in Virginia as seed fodder for animals and served many other utilitarian purposes.
Between the 1930s and the 1970s, Virginia followed suit as the rest of the country imposed increasingly onerous penalties on the production of anything related to hemp. By the time CBD oils began rising in popularity in the early 2010s, Virginia’s hemp economy was all but nonexistent.
Again embracing this latest swing in national politics, Virginia then allowed and encouraged hemp cultivation following the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized CBD nationwide. As Virginia lawmakers swiftly found out, however, regulating cannabis is not as easy as selecting percentages and imposing fines.
Key Legislation Affecting CBD in Virginia
Over the years, a few different laws have reshaped the political landscape in Virginia for growing hemp:
Senate Bill 955 (2015)
This initial piece of legislation followed laws passed in nearby states allowing the cultivation of industrial hemp within the boundaries of strictly defined university program guidelines. It laid the groundwork for Virginia to eventually allow the cultivation of hemp more generally.
House Bill 1251 (2018)
In the run-up to the federal 2018 Farm Bill, several states expressed their approval of hemp by passing laws further allowing its production. HB 1251 was Virginia’s answer to the call for an increase in hemp production from farmers in the state, and it helped support the federal Farm Bill’s passage later that year.
House Bill 1839 (2019)
HB 1839 was Virginia’s first attempt to reign in a state hemp industry already threatening to grow out of control. It firmly established that hemp products in the state could not contain more than 0.3% THC cutoff mandated by federal law.
Senate Bill 903 (2023)
Legalizing CBD in Virginia inadvertently allowed the explosion of a gray market of other cannabinoids, which prompted lawmakers to pass this piece of legislation targeted at keeping THC products away from minors.
Is CBD Oil Legal in Virginia in 2024?
Yes, CBD is fully legal in Virginia so long as it contains less than 0.3% THC. New laws, however, may have caused retailers to shy away from carrying hemp products of any kind. Small, family-operated Virginia shops are commonly facing losses in the tens of thousands of dollars if their hemp products simply do not meet new and extreme labeling requirements.
Product selection at physical Virginia CBD retailers is likely to be paltry, and sentiment toward CBD has soured considerably among Virginia store owners. Users of CBD have nothing to fear from their state government in Virginia, but they still simply may be better off buying their products online.
Do You Need a Prescription to Buy CBD in Virginia?
No, a doctor’s prescription is not necessary to buy CBD products in Virginia — whether you’re shopping physically in a store or online. To be legal in Virginia, though, hemp-derived products must contain less than 0.3% THC.
Where to Buy CBD Oil in Virginia
What are the best places to buy CBD in Virginia? Though you might have luck with specialty stores and similar vendors, Virginians are just the same as other Americans — in that the Internet is likely to be the best place to buy CBD products.
Online
Online, you have access to FDA-registered and GMP-certified hemp brands like Colorado Botanicals, opening up your options to include the very best CBD products available anywhere in the nation. Your product options multiply substantially, too, along with opportunities for saving and transparency regarding ingredients and processes.
Cannabis Dispensaries
Adult-use cannabis is legal in Virginia, so naturally, there are a great many state-run cannabis dispensaries to choose from. They all offer the same very small selection of state-approved Virginia cannabis products, though, and they’re very unlikely to carry CBD products at all. Any CBD products you do find are almost guaranteed to be low-quality but also highly taxed.
CBD Stores
Virginia may still be host to a few struggling CBD specialty stores, but the state’s new draconian hemp laws have made business very difficult for CBD entrepreneurs. Shoppers have nothing to fear from visiting these stores, but just don’t expect either a warm welcome or a wide selection of affordable and high-quality hemp-derived products.
Natural Food Shops
Generally speaking, natural food stores and food co-ops throughout the nation carry at least a few CBD products in their health and beauty sections. Natural food retailers and vitamin shops in Virginia, though, may have stopped carrying CBD oils out of fear of reprisal from state government agents.
Supermarkets
Over the last five years or so, certain national supermarket chains have started to tentatively carry CBD oils and other products in a limited capacity. Laws like those recently passed in Virginia, though, may cause supermarket chains — even outside the state — to rethink the viability of stocking CBD products on their shelves.
What to Look for When Buying CBD in Virginia
When you’re buying CBD in Virginia, it’s just as important to choose wisely as it is when making a CBD purchase anywhere else. Not much else changes, however, since the world’s best CBD oils are always at your fingertips no matter which state you’re in. Below, we’ll cover some of the points it’s important to keep in mind as you select a CBD product that’s right for your needs:
Ask for Third-Party Lab Reports
With hemp-derived CBD oil, it’s important to check independent lab reports just to confirm that THC concentrations are below 0.3%. Checking lab reports also helps you ensure the products you’re considering don’t contain any dangerous toxins. If lab reports for CBD don’t cover mycotoxins and heavy metals, perhaps you could choose a better CBD company.
Don’t Buy CBD from Companies That Make Crazy Claims
It’s illegal to claim that CBD heals or improves medical conditions. Companies that make these claims either are ignorant or do so even knowing full well that these types of claims break the law and mislead consumers. In addition to running afoul of state consumer services departments, CBD companies that make these claims also simply can’t be trusted.
Search for Company Reviews
The internet can reveal a lot about a company — even information they might rather you not know. Independent review sites like Trustpilot can tell you even more than reviews on a CBD company’s website. Dig deep to make sure you can trust the CBD company you’ve selected.
Buy Full Spectrum or Broad Spectrum CBD Products
When it comes to types of CBD oil, isolate CBD is outdated. There’s a better alternative to full-spectrum CBD now if you’d still prefer to avoid THC entirely: broad-spectrum CBD oil. Full-spectrum is also still a favorite among CBD users, and it might offer an even-more enhanced effect. Try a 750mg Full Spectrum CBD Oil, then compare it to a same-dose 750mg Broad Spectrum CBD Oil to determine which type you like more.
Are CBD Gummies Legal in Virginia?
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has not specifically banned CBD gummies. A 2023 Virginia law, however, places strict requirements on edible CBD products. As a result, retailers are now unlikely to carry CBD gummies and similar edibles.
Is CBN Legal in Virginia?
Virginia has not made any determinations on other non-THC components of the hemp plant, such as CBN. As a result, Virginia State Law reverts to the federal standard, which treats CBN the same as CBD so long as it contains less than 0.3% THC.
Is CBG Legal in Virginia?
Yes, CBG is just as legal as CBD in Virginia. The Virginia General Assembly has not passed or even voted on any laws related to this relatively obscure hemp cannabinoid.
Is Delta-8 THC Legal in Virginia?
The cannabinoid delta 8 is entirely banned in Virginia. Crackdowns on delta 8 THC largely led to the current anti-hemp climate in the state.
Conclusion: Is CBD Legal In Virginia?
Virginia CBD laws may be more complex than the laws found in other states, but they mainly apply to producers and sellers of CBD products, not users. For the average CBD user in Virginia, the only issue you’re likely to face is lack of product selection at local shops.
This can be easily remedied, though, by taking your CBD shopping online. Trust Colorado Botanicals as your premier source of top-quality CBD products regardless of where you may be located in the nation.
