Amazon seems to sell just about everything under the sun.  But if you’ve shopped online for Cannabidiol (CBD) I’ll bet you’ve learned that you can’t buy it on Amazon.

Why isn’t CBD sold on Amazon?  Amazon specifically bans the sale of CBD in sub-section 7 of the “Drugs and Drug Paraphernalia” section of their Restricted Products Guide.  Amazon has simply banned CBD products generally and does not make any distinction between CBD derived from hemp and CBD derived from marijuana.

The reason they’ve banned CBD is that up until 2014 CBD was illegal in the USA regardless if it came from hemp or marijuana.  Then the 2014 farm bill was signed into law and it made hemp-derived CBD legal in the USA.  But Amazon didn’t change their policy.  You can buy CBD online from any number of retailers (and I’ll link to some of them below) so it’s feasible that Amazon could change their policy at any time.  But they have made no announcements as to when this may happen.  So, for now, you’ll need to go somewhere other than Amazon to purchase your CBD products.

Should I be concerned about using CBD if Amazon won’t sell it

The fact that Amazon doesn’t allow for the sale of hemp-derived CBD products on their website does not mean that they aren’t safe or that you shouldn’t use them.  CBD is a useful health supplement that many people around the world are using for a variety of conditions.  I’ve written a blog post about the possible side effects of CBD.  And the bottom line is that CBD is a very safe compound derived from nature that is effective for many people.

The only thing to remember about CBD is that it can be derived from both hemp and marijuana.  If it’s derived from marijuana then it’s likely to contain THC.  THC is the compound in marijuana that gets you “high”.  For many people, this is not what they’re looking for when they start considering taking CBD to improve their health.

CBD from hemp contains less than 0.3% THC which is not enough to even come close to producing any sort of high or psychoactive effects.  If you’re buying CBD online from a reputable source, the products will be coming from hemp and will contain less than 0.3% THC.  In fact, you can even purchase CBD isolate products which, as their name suggests, contain only CBD with no THC.  These are the only types of CBD products that can be sold legally online.

What does it mean that CBD is on the FDA “Schedule 5” list

As I just explained in the previous section, CBD from hemp is legal in all 50 states.  CBD from marijuana, however, is not, and this is the form of CBD that is on the FDA’s schedule 5 list of control substances.  In fact, in order for CBD from marijuana to qualify as a schedule 5 drug, it must contain less than 0.1% THC.  This is to ensure that manufacturers process the raw materials in a way that will remove essentially all the THC.  Otherwise, CBD from marijuana can have high levels of THC and these products remain on the list of schedule 1 drugs.

Schedule 1 drugs are those which the FDA has determined have no medical value and have a high risk of abuse.  Other drugs that are on this list include heroin, LSD, and ecstasy.  Personally, I think including marijuana products on schedule 1 is a mistake.  Cocaine and meth are only schedule 2 drugs.  To suggest that marijuana is more dangerous and addictive than meth is ridiculous.

There is plenty of evidence to show that marijuana provides many medical benefits and is not highly addictive like the other schedule 1 and 2 drugs.  It is extremely likely that marijuana will be reclassified by the FDA in the next few years.  But even when that happens, marijuana is still a psychoactive drug that really should be prescribed by a doctor in my opinion.

Schedule 5 drugs are those which have a very low risk of abuse and have a medical purpose.  You still need to have a prescription for these medications.  These drugs are typically cough syrups with small amounts of codeine in them as well as mild painkillers and some diarrhea medications.

The fact that marijuana-derived CBD is now on schedule 5 will make it easier for additional research to be done on it.  This additional research will help add to the growing evidence that CBD is an effective treatment for many conditions.  And because CBD is the same whether it comes from marijuana or hemp, you can start taking advantage of its benefits now by buying the hemp version.

Why did the FDA reschedule CBD

The FDA basically had to reschedule CBD from marijuana because in June 2018 they approved a drug called Epidiolex.  This medication is basically CBD derived from marijuana.  It is processed in such a way as to contain less than 0.1% THC.  Epidiolex is used to treat two very rare forms of epilepsy in children and adults.  From all reports, it works very well for many people who suffer from these rare diseases.  It doesn’t solve the underlying problem but it does really well at treating the symptoms.

The approval of Epidiolex was the first admission by the FDA that there is medical value in marijuana.  The drug company who got it approved was able to show that the drug is generally safe and effective for these forms of epilepsy.  Given the evidence, it became obvious that this CBD medication did not belong on the list of schedule 1 drugs so the FDA had to reclassify it.  There are several other marijuana-derived CBD medications now in the approval process with the FDA.

Differences between CBD and Hemp oil

As you’ve likely seen as you’ve shopped for CBD, there are tons of “hemp oil” products on Amazon.  And you are probably wondering if these products contain CBD since hemp contains CBD.  But sadly the answer is No.  It can get confusing when you shop for hemp products.  Even retailers sometimes make it confusing.  I did an entire blog post about the difference between CBD and hemp oil, but I’ll try and summarize the differences below.

Generally, hemp oil is obtained from hemp seeds.  Hemp seeds do not contain any CBD.  It does contain some beneficial essential fatty acids and can be a good supplement.  But it’s not going to provide you with nearly the same benefits as a CBD product.  CBD is obtained from the stalk and leaves of the hemp plant.  So don’t be tricked into buying hemp oil on Amazon if what your looking for is CBD.

Can I return a product if I don’t like it

Besides free shipping with Amazon Prime, one of the great things about Amazon is the ability to return products.  There is one company I’ve found so far that allows for the return of the product for up to 90 days.  And they accept returns even if it’s been opened.  The companies name is CBDPure and you can find their website HERE.  I actually included CBDPure in my recommended Tincture page.  Their willingness to return opened product is one of the reasons I recommend them.  This is especially important for people who are just starting out with CBD.  If you don’t like their product or it isn’t working, you can send it back.

I’ve checked out a lot of websites that sell CBD and so far CBDPure is the only one I’ve found that accepts returns of opened products.  Most products won’t accept returns of an opened product because there’s no way to resell it since there’s no way to know what’s in it.  The product simply goes to waste.  CBDPure does charge a few dollars more for their CBD oil and it’s worth it in my opinion for the peace of mind that you can return it if desired.  Once you start buying in bulk, their prices become price competitive with most of the other websites that sell high-quality CBD oil.

Where can I buy CBD with free shipping like Amazon Prime

I know most people, myself included, love shopping on Amazon because of the free shipping.  It almost hurts now to pay shipping for anything.  But honestly, I wouldn’t select a CBD product just because it has free shipping. You’re buying CBD because you want to improve your health.  You are looking for the most helpful product out there so don’t let shipping costs prevent you from getting the product you think will help you the most.  CBD products typically come in small vials or small packages anyway so shipping isn’t that expensive.

If you just can’t bring yourself to pay for shipping, there are a few websites that have free shipping deals on CBD products.  Here they are (if I find more I’ll update the list):

 

Nu Leaf Naturals (only offers CBD tincture but shipping is free on all orders within the USA)

CBD Oil Buy (free shipping on orders of $50 or more)

CBD Essence (free shipping on orders of $99 or more.  This is one of our recommended vendors as well.  Solid company and really great products!)

As a quick summary, here are a few thoughts about CBD, Amazon, and shopping online:

• You won’t find CBD products on Amazon
• CBD derived from hemp is safe and legal in the USA
• Hemp oil on Amazon is not the same as CBD oil; don’t be fooled
• Most retailers won’t allow you to return opened products
• There are some retailers who offer free shipping but don’t let that stop you from getting the product you think will help you the most

Related Questions

How much should I spend on CBD oil

The cost of CBD oil will vary based on potency (mg of CBD/mL), overall volume, and the vendor you purchase from.  But a 30 day supply of a high-quality full spectrum CBD oil with 10 mg/dose should cost you between $45 – $55 before shipping costs.