Find Out is CBD Legal in Germany

History of CBD in Germany

As with any other country in the world, Germany does also have a history with cannabidiol and cannabis products, in general. Anyone who’s looking to find out “is CBD legal in Germany?” should, first of all, be aware of at least the fundamental aspects of that history.

When it comes to Europe, Germany is actually one of the leaders in regards to CBD products legalization and a progressive outlook on the matter. Back in the 1990s, people were already wondering “is CBD legal in Germany?” - the country was one of the first nations in the region to start dealing with the topics of “hemp”, “cannabis” and everything in between.

Unlike many other countries, Germany should also receive some credit in the sense that it does a pretty good job at differentiating between cannabis- and hemp-derived CBD products. This, in turn, allows the country to have adequate laws concerning the two types of products, even though there are still some inconsistencies and unclarity floating around.

In any case, if you want to know “is CBD legal in Germany?”, you should first understand the different color-coding aspects of all of the countries and states in the world.

Germany - A Green / Amber Country

Because each state in the US has its own rules and regulations in regards to CBD products and their legality, the CBD enthusiasts of the country have implemented a certain specific color-coding system in place. This system is actually genius - while it might have some shortcomings, it does help people get a “first impression” and a better understanding of the laws on CBD in their own, respective states.

While the system was developed for the US, with some alterations, it works fine with other countries around the world, too. Remember, though - it should not be seen as “a tell-all option”, but should instead just help you answer the question “is CBD legal in Germany?”. The colors themselves are:

• Green countries. These countries allow people to use CBD freely, and have a favorable outlook on cannabis-derived products, too.
• Amber countries. These countries allow the free use of hemp-derived CBD products, but also possess somewhat unclear laws regarding cannabis products.
• Amber-Red countries. Here, you can only use hemp-derived CBD products, and only under some very strict rules and regulations.
• Red countries. Everything related to cannabis and hemp is illegal.

Now, all things considered, the answer to the question “is CBD legal in Germany?” should be a strong “YES”, with emphasis on the fact that Germany is a Green country… Right?

Well, kind of. When it comes to CBD oil Germany, the country is actually somewhere in the middle between Green and Amber countries.

That’s mostly due to the outlook that Germany has towards cannabis-derived products, though. While there seems to be a lot of effort being put into making cannabis-based laws a bit more clear (and lenient!), as of writing this article, the situation is still a bit tricky.

Hemp Seed Oil - Don’t Get Tricked!

Whenever you go out to purchase CBD oil in Germany, you might notice that many shops sell CBD hemp SEED oil. Well, I’m here to tell you that these are NOT the products that you’ve originally intended to buy.

You would probably be surprised how often people get tricked because they are not aware of the differences between hemp-derived CBD oil and hemp seed oil. In all honesty, there are quite a few companies and shops that do also try to make it as difficult as possible for customers to actually tell the difference, too!

Hemp seed oil is just a simple food additive, just like any other oil that you’d use in making food products. Sure, it might be good for you, but it certainly won’t give you the effect that you wanted whilst buying it and thinking that you’ve just acquired hemp-derived CBD oil.

That’s mostly because of the fact that hemp seed oil does not contain all that much CBD. Cannabidiol is usually extracted from other parts of the hemp plant - not the seeds.

No matter if you’re wondering “is CBD oil legal in Germany?” or already looking for the CBD products that would suit you best, it’s important that you’d be able to tell the difference. Don’t get tricked!

Medicinal VS Recreational

Over the years, there has been a lot of research done concerning the topic of CBD - some results came out positive^[1], others - not so much. There is a general agreement, however, that CBD can, in fact, help people deal with some certain health conditions by alleviating their symptoms.

In Germany, it is legal to manufacture and sell hemp-derived CBD products, but with some conditions (other than the 0,2% THC one, that is). For example, CBD providers cannot market their products as “medicine” or as having “medicinal effects”. That said, CBD products can still be prescribed by doctors for patients to use for medicinal purposes - this is especially true with CBD isolates.

That’s actually the main difference between medicinal and recreational use of CBD, too. While anyone wondering “is CBD oil legal in Germany?” can rest assured that such products are legal to be used for both types of purposes, if you want to use CBD in order to treat some medical condition, you’ll have to possess a doctor’s prescription.

Not the case when it comes to recreational use, though. In this regard, CBD oil Germany can be used without any restrictions, prescriptions, documentation, or anything else of that kind.

Where to Buy CBD Oil in Germany?

The last thing we should address in this article is where to actually get yourself some CBD oil in Germany. I mean, we’ve figured out that the answer to the question “is CBD legal in Germany?” is a positive one, so the next logical step is to go and try it out, right?

Well, you have two choices available for you - buying CBD products online, or doing so from a local supermarket, CBD retail shop or pharmacy. While the former option is usually the preferred one, it might prove to be a tad bit tricky. We’ll get to that, though - first, let’s talk about CBD shops in Germany.

Buying CBD Offline

Here are some of the more popular CBD retailers in Germany.

Hanf in Glück CBD Shop - Great Customer Service

This shop has seemingly built a reputation of having some of the best customer service in the Germany’s CBD products shop scene! The store also sells a variety of different products, so everyone should be able to find the ones that’d suit them best.

CBD Shop Berlin Hempvizer - Good Quality Products

Hempvizer sells some great quality CBD products. Customers also note that all of the products come in some affordable prices, which only adds to the reasons why you’d want to visit this shop!

HANFGÖTTIN - Good Variety of CBD Products

Judging by customer reviews left online, the shop in question sells some decent quality CBD products. Also, there’s a pretty good variety of products to pick from - definitely worth checking out!

Buying CBD Online

Needless to say, buying your CBD products online is going to be a better alternative than doing so in one of the shops in Germany.

Online, you’ll be able to purchase the products directly from the providers themselves - this means that you’ll be able to rest assured that everything from quality all the way to the delivery process is going to be top-tier.

Furthermore, buying CBD online means that you’ll have the entirety of the internet to pick from. There are many amazing CBD brands out there - a lot more than would fit in a single shop!

Now, that being said, there is one, small issue. Most brands that sell their CBD products online deal in CBD that contains up to 0,3% THC - in Germany, CBD is legal only if does not breach the 0,2% THC mark.

So… What’s the solution here?

Simple - before purchasing the product that you’d like, you should email the company and inquire about the amount of THC that their products possess. More often than not, it should fit the norm. Never purchase CBD online before making sure, though!

That being said, here are some options for the best CBD providers that are currently on the market.

Charlotte’s Web - Two Types of Products to Pick From

Charlotte’s Web offers customers two types of products - full-spectrum CBD oils and CBD isolates. In Germany, isolates are usually products that are prescribed to patients in order to be used for medicinal purposes, so let’s concentrate on the full-spectrum oils. While they are of superb quality, the issue is that they might contain up to 0,3% THC - make sure to inquire before purchasing!

Charlotte’s Web CBD oil prices go from $74,99 up to $188,99.

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CBDistillery - High-End CBD

As far as high-end CBD brands go, CBDistillery is certainly “up there” at the very top. The company also deals in both CBD isolate powder and full-spectrum products, but while the latter definitely doesn’t breach the 0,3% THC mark that’s put in place in the US, the products might also contain less than 0,2% of THC. Again, do write them a quick email and ask about this before making a purchase!

CBDistillery CBD oil cost from $30 up to $260.

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cbdMD - No THC

cbdMD is, frankly, the leader here. The company sells some very unique CBD products - broad-spectrum oils. They are not isolates (since they contain multiple cannabinoids, not just CBD), but are also almost completely THC-free. Honestly, it’s the perfect option for anyone wondering “is CBD legal in Germany?”, and looking for products that would fit the country’s legality framework. 

The costs for the cbdMD oil ranges from $29,99 up to $339,99.

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Conclusions

Once and for all - anyone wondering is CBD legal in Germany can rest assured that hemp-derived CBD products are going to be completely legal within the country, both for medicinal and recreational use. There are some regulations in place, but the ones that are important for the user are that the products have to be made from hemp, and not contain more than 0,2% THC.

Finally, if you’re interested in getting yourself some CBD products in the country, you can visit one of the local shops and check their selection out there. Purchasing CBD online, however, is generally viewed as the better alternative - do make sure that the products that you’re buying to breach the legal THC mark, though!

Scientific References

1. David L. Arndt and Harriet de Wit: 'Cannabidiol Does Not Dampen Responses to Emotional Stimuli in Healthy Adults'