Buying CBD oil in Virginia is a bit complicated. Despite being the most exciting new developments in the world of health supplements, not all forms of CBD are legal in the state. The regulations on cannabis are cloudy because different laws apply to hemp and marijuana — the two main sources of CBD oil.
In this article, we’ll cover the Virginia cannabis laws and point you in the right direction for finding a trustworthy source of CBD online and locally.
Research is a very important part when shopping for CBD. The market is largely unregulated, making it difficult for first-time consumers to weed out sketchy companies, for which the hype on CBD oil has created space recently.
Let’s start by breaking down the legal status of CBD in Virginia.
Is CBD Oil Legal in Virginia?
Yes, but it must come from cannabis plants that meet the federally accepted limits on the THC content.
CBD can be extracted from hemp and marijuana. Both plants belong to the same family — Cannabis sativa L. — but have different ratios between its major cannabinoids.
Marijuana is naturally high in THC, the compound that gets people high on top of providing the health benefits associated with using cannabinoids.
Hemp contains higher concentrations of CBD and only a trace amount of THC (0.3% or less). CBD oils made from this type of cannabis can’t get you high.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the Virginia CBD laws by source.
Marijuana CBD Oil in Virginia
Marijuana is illegal for both medicinal and recreational purposes in Virginia. Penalties for marijuana possession carry harsh financial fines and possible jail time.
Possession of a small amount of marijuana in Virginia is treated as a misdemeanor. If this is your first offense, you can spend up to 30 days in jail and pay a fine of $500. Subsequent charges increase the penalty to $2500 and up to 1 year in prison.
It’s also illegal to distribute, sell, grow, and give marijuana to other people; doing so results in felony charges that can make you poorer by $2500 and incarcerated for the next ten years.
Can Doctors Prescribe CBD Oil in Virginia?
Virginia doesn’t really have a medical marijuana program, but the state provides access to high-CBD low-THC marijuana CBD oil for people with intractable epilepsy. In 2017, Virginia handed out licenses to five cannabis providers that can grow, process, and distribute marijuana products.
CBD products for medical marijuana patients must contain a minimum of 15% of CBD and up to 5% THC.
To make things clear, a doctor’s recommendation for marijuana doesn’t prevent you from getting arrested if you get caught with it. You only have the right to legal defense under House Bill 1251 introduced by Governor Ralph Northam in 2018.
How does hemp-derived CBD oil fit into cannabis laws in Virginia?
Hemp CBD Oil in Virginia
Hemp and its derivatives, such as CBD extracts, are legal in all 50 states under the 2018 “Farm Bill.”
The amended Agricultural Act removed hemp from the list of controlled substances and reclassified it to an agricultural commodity.
Hemp can be grown for commercial purposes, including paper, clothing, fuel, building materials, food, and health supplements such as CBD products.
If you’re looking to buy legal CBD oil in Virginia without a doctor’s recommendation, hemp is the only possible source.
But how do you find a quality product in an unregulated market like CBD?
Where to Buy CBD Oil in Virginia?
Despite its strict marijuana laws, Virginia is a good place to be if you’re looking for hemp-derived CBD oil. There are many head shops and vape stores where you can find a few forms of CBD, but the best deals on hemp supplements are found online.
Here’s why we recommend placing your order with a reliable online store:
Benefits of Buying CBD Online
If you go online for your CBD products, you’ll save valuable time and money.
Online retailers offer better products for less money. Running a physical store is very expensive, and the prices always reflect that. Online stores cut out the middleman, so they can offer discounts, bulk pricing, and reward programs that you won’t find locally.
For example, at Royal CBD, you can join our Royalty Program, where you earn special crowns with each purchase. You can later spend these crowns on your next order to save more money on your favorite products or try a new form of CBD for less.
When shopping for CBD online, you can browse through a variety of products. Right now, you can find CBD in oils, concentrates, topicals, edibles, capsules, vapes, and even pet treats. Shopping locally doesn’t offer as many different forms of CBD due to limited shelf space.
Last but not least, it’s easier to research your potential supplier online. Local stores usually don’t hire specialists, so it may be difficult to decide if you’re looking at a quality product by relying just on the customer service’s knowledge. When you shop online, you can read the company’s website, ask for lab reports, check user reviews, and reach out to people on social media and forums for advice from experienced users.
Local CBD Retailers in Virginia
Don’t get us wrong, the above doesn’t mean that you can’t get quality CBD oil in Virginia somewhere near you. If you feel the need to see the product for yourself, touch it, and talk to customer service about your CBD needs, below we share a list of the top-rated stores in the state.
CBD Stores in Virginia Beach
- Hemp House Wellness: A CBD Boutique
- AVAIL Vapor Virginia Beach
- Vapor Chasers
CBD Stores in Norfolk
- Diversity Vapes & CBD
- The Hemp Spectrum
- The Vault Norfolk
CBD Stores in Chesapeake
- Happy Daze
- Pioneer Vapes
- VA Vape Shop
CBD Stores in Richmond
- Your CBD Store
- RVA Vapes
- Bob Marley Tobacco
If you don’t see your city on our list, you can check if your local vape store or head shop carries any CBD products. Otherwise, we recommend placing your order with an online store. At Royal CBD, we’ll ship your package to Virginia within 2-4 business days.
How to Find Quality CBD Products in Virginia?
Although CBD is widely available across the state of Virginia, there are many companies selling fake or dangerous products. The CBD industry is growing like crazy, and in some states, it’s sitting somewhere in a legal gray area, meaning there are very few regulations when it comes to what products can be sold as CBD.
Doing a little bit of research will save you time and money. Here’s what you can do to protect yourself from dishonest companies and always choose quality products:
- Always ask for third-party lab reports. Third-party laboratories analyze the CBD content of the product and detect potential contaminants, such as pesticides, solvents, and heavy metals. By publishing third-party lab reports, companies can prove that their products are free from harmful chemicals and that the amount of CBD in the product matches the advertised potency.
- Don’t buy from companies claiming CBD is a miracle drug. CBD can certainly help you manage a wide range of symptoms, but it’s not a cure-all. As a health supplement, CBD is highly versatile. But if a company is trying to sell you CBD by saying it’s a miracle drug, it’s likely that you’ve come across a scammer.
- Look for the “low THC” stamp. This is more about protecting yourself from the law than finding quality CBD oil. The Virginia law makes it clear that any cannabis product with more than 0.3% is illegal. Therefore, if you’re caught with CBD that has high levels of THC, you’ll likely get charged with possession. That’s why it’s important to double-check the THC content in your CBD oil.
- Look for full-spectrum products. CBD can be made from the entire hemp plant or isolates. Isolates are based on bits and pieces of the plant, whereas full-spectrum products use the whole plant, which captures more beneficial compounds, such as terpenes, minor cannabinoids, and flavonoids. These compounds help your body process CBD more efficiently, so if you want to get the most out of the CBD, full-spectrum is the way to go.
- Choose CO2-extracted CBD. CO2 extraction is the best method to produce CBD oils. It doesn’t require additional heat or solvent, yielding consistent potency in hemp extracts without hurting the environment on the way. If a company uses CO2 extraction, this means it is committed to the quality because the equipment required for this technology is very expensive.
At Royal CBD, we make our extracts using organic, non-GMO hemp from farms in Colorado. These healthy CBD-rich plants are then extracted with supercritical CO2 to ensure consistent potency in each batch without using toxic solvents. We test the entire Royal CBD line in a certified laboratory and provide the testing results upon request. You can rest assured that you’re buying safe, ethically made products.
Looking for a risk-free way to try out our CBD oil? We offer a 30-day money-back guarantee; if you’re not satisfied with the results, you can return the product for a full refund!
Key Takeaways on Buying CBD Oil in Virginia
Although Virginia isn’t the best place for marijuana consumers, you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding a reliable source of hemp-derived CBD products locally and online.
While shopping for CBD somewhere near you sounds convenient, you may want to reconsider your choice once you’ve learned about the benefits of buying CBD online. Doing so gives you access to a wider range of products, better price deals, and saves you the time you would have otherwise spent on bouncing between stores to get the right product for your needs.
Regardless of how you shop for CBD, always do your homework about the quality standards of CBD products and double-check the credibility of your potential supplier.
