What have you heard about 0.3 THC?
If you’re familiar with federal laws regarding cannabis, chances are that you associate the number 0.3 with the CBD THC limit. Cannabidiol products nowadays tend to be a very efficient way to reduce the symptoms of various diseases, relieve stress, and improve your overall well-being. But the truth is that not all types of it are considered legal in most parts of the world.
The truth is that the legal amount of THC in CBD products has to be no more than 0.3%. Having that said, it’s natural to wonder why this number exactly, what it means, and how you can be sure that someone won’t come and tell you that the substance you just used to manage your stress is illegal and you’re breaking the law.
In this Happy Garden guide, we’ll define THC, point out the differences between CBD and THC, and explain everything you need to know about the threshold for this substance in cannabidiol products. In the end, you’ll probably no longer doubt how much THC can be in CBD legally anymore.
People often get confused about the difference between these two substances: CBD and THC. One thing is for sure – both of these substances come from the same plant. That’s exactly why people associate them with cannabis. However, the word “cannabis” is also associated with marijuana, hemp, and cannabinoids. But guess what? Not all of them are the same!
In fact, CBD and THC are indeed both associated with either hemp or cannabinoids, but they contain different chemical structures. This means that these substances affect our bodies and minds in their own unique ways. Therefore, the US legal system perceives them in different terms, meaning that the legal THC limit isn’t the same in all cannabidiol products.
Let’s see how these two substances differ chemically from each other:
Cannabidiol comes in different forms: full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and isolated CBD. Even though each of these types leads to unique health benefits, each of them relieves stress and calms our minds and bodies.
The chemical formula of this substance is also C21H30O2, but unlike CBD, it also contains an additional 6-membered ring which is developed through carbon and an oxygen atom. The important thing is that THC isn’t found only in marijuana. Instead, various types of hemp also contain this substance, but usually in lower amounts.
Other than these two substances, you should also know that cannabinoids in general are compounds found in cannabis that have the potential to enhance sensory perception and positively affect our health. Cannabis, on the other hand, is just a type of plant that is used both for medical purposes and as a drug. While marijuana contains high levels of THC and produces psychoactive, mind-altering responses, industrial hemp has lower levels of THC and is often used in medicine.
Considering that different amounts of THC lead to different effects on our physical and mental health, the scientists and federal governments in various countries decided to develop a specific threshold for this substance to avoid health adversaries. Thus, the THC threshold expresses how much of this substance is present in the cannabinoids, and its purpose is to regulate cannabis use.
What’s more, the THC limit is used for classifying different types of cannabinoids. Specifically, that’s the main criterion that is used to divide cannabis-based drugs and medical substances from each other. Therefore, cannabis products are assessed in legal terms based on the THC limit. Depending on the threshold, sometimes CBD might even show up on a drug test, but cannabidiol products that are created for medical purposes are usually derived from .3 THC hemp.
So, the magic number “0.3” is the answer to the questions of what is hemp and what is marijuana. This means that most US states consider cannabis products as marijuana if they exceed this threshold, while less than 0.3% THC is considered hemp and is allowed in most countries.
Are you wondering what is the legal limit of THC in CBD? In order to easily determine the federal THC limit for using cannabis-derived products, you should rely on the laws regarding the threshold in specific parts of the world.
According to the 2018 Farm Bill, CBD products that contain less than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol are considered legal. However, based on the FDA Regulation of Cannabis and Cannabis-Derived Products, you need to know the exact amount of THC in your cannabidiol products because sometimes 0.3% is allowed, while in some places, it has to be less than this number.
So, what THC level is legal in the US?
Under federal law, using or owning cannabis products that contain over 0.3% THC is considered illegal. However, cannabidiol below this threshold that is derived from hemp is perfectly legal.
Now let’s understand why the governments have chosen this particular number and how much is 0.3 THC exactly.
CBD users often wonder how much is .3 THC and what is so special about the number 0.3 and why did the federal government choose this number to regulate cannabis products?
The history of this number dates back to 1976 when Ernest Small and Arthur Cronquist published a paper called “A Practical and Natural Taxonomy for Cannabis.” In this paper, they classified different types of cannabinoids based on the amount of THC they contained. The scientists relied on the data from cannabis users and determined that CBD over and under 0.3% THC leads to different effects.
That’s how the “magic number 0.3” originated and became the threshold for differentiating drugs from hemp-derived substances. Afterwards, the federal governments of the US, Canada, and some parts of the EU and Australia used this number as a standard.
People who’re thinking about using CBD products such as oils, gummies, or creams to receive health benefits should understand how THC affects our bodies. In simple words, the higher THC means more intense effects. As a result, sometimes, instead of receiving health benefits such as reduced stress, pain relief, or weight regulation, using cannabidiol products might lead to some adverse effects.
But what is considered a high level of CBD? Or can you feel 0.3 THC at all? The truth is that at least 50 mg of cannabidiol per 1 mL serving is considered strong. And 0.3 is the ideal amount to feel the effects of this substance and receive benefits. Nevertheless, every individual is unique, and that’s why it’s important to consult a professional before deciding what amount of THC your body requires.
According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, tetrahydrocannabinol stimulates the release of dopamine in the blood and brain and activates the brain’s reward system, which causes pleasant sensations. In general, higher THC levels work more quickly and easily, while lower levels have a slower effect on our minds and bodies. However, if cannabidiol contains a lower amount of THC, it doesn’t lead to getting “high” and can be used for medical purposes.
Happy Garden offers a wide range of products that contain THC legal amount:
If you take a look at our shop of cannabidiol oils, you’ll easily notice that most oils contain this substance at a level of below 0.2%, meaning that they’re in line with the standard of the CBD oil THC limit.
Surprisingly, a great part of the cannabis industry is against the existing threshold and believes that the standard should be determined by individual experiences. Indeed, sometimes 0.03 THC in cannabidiol products can be enough to relieve stress or deal with skin problems, but if an individual requires CBD for more serious problems such as cancer or multiple sclerosis, lower levels may not be enough for the desired effect.
This is the main argument of the part of society that believes CBD should come in at a different consistency and the limit of .03 THC should be increased. In fact, this movement introduced the Hemp Economic Mobilization Plan (HEMP) Act of 2020 and demanded an increase in the THC limit for hemp up to 1.0%.
It’s unclear whether the government will support this act or not, but one thing is for sure – the 1.0% threshold movement is becoming more and more popular these days.
All in all, a lot depends on the THC content in CBD when it comes to legal issues. So, if you’re thinking about using cannabidiol products, make sure that they don’t transcend the legal THC limit in CBD.
The key to choosing the safest products is to choose a reputable provider, read the labels of the products, and make sure that these products are derived from hemp. That’s why we recommend getting cannabidiol oils, gummies, balms, or flowers with us at Happy Garden. Keep in mind that all of our products meet the standards of GMP-ISO 7 production and are safe for daily use.
