Using cannabis and CBD in the US is complicated, to say the least. There are federal regulations as well as individual laws for each state, so you may use a product that’s perfectly legal in one state but illegal if you drive ten minutes to the next state. Sometimes the federal laws and state laws pair well together and sometimes they don’t.
That’s why it’s important to do your research on the laws in your area and how to get legal and safe cannabis products. Let’s take a closer look at the cannabis laws in Minnesota, how they govern CBD compared to THC, and how to legally get the products you want.
What Are the Laws on Cannabis in Minnesota?
You may already know that federally in the US, CBD is legal if it is derived from hemp.
\with less than 0.3% of specific types of THC. This has been the case since the Hemp Farming Act of 2018.Because of this, CBD with less than 0.3% THC is legal in Minnesota as long as it abides by testing and labeling requirements. For example, CBD cannot be labeled as a treatment, cure, or preventative measure for any disease. Growers and processors who produce CBD products also need a specialized license from the state.
THC is a different matter. Recreational use of marijuana and THC products is illegal in Minnesota. The state legalized medical marijuana in 2014, so patients who qualify can legally buy and use THC products, but this program is limited.
How to Get Legal CBD in Minnesota
Because CBD products with less than 0.3% THC are legal in Minnesota, they are widely available. You can purchase them at many health and wellness stores and pharmacies. You can also legally buy CBD products online and ship them to your Minnesota address.
What Types of CBD Products Are Available?
There are limitations on the form that CBD can come in throughout Minnesota. In accordance with FDA guidelines, Minnesota does not allow any food or drink products that contain CBD, like CBD gummies for example.
Outside of this, you can legally buy CBD products in several forms in Minnesota. This includes capsules, oils, and vape juices. Topical products with CBD, like creams and balms, are legal and widely available too.
How to Get Legal THC in Minnesota
Legal THC is more complex than CBD in Minnesota. The state has a closely regulated medical marijuana program to determine who can buy and use THC products and for what purposes they can use them.
Minnesota’s medical marijuana program allows physicians to recommend patients for medical THC products only under specific circumstances. To be recommended for the program, you need to be diagnosed with one of these conditions:
- Cancer
- ALS (also called Lou Gehrig’s disease)
- Glaucoma
- Severe epilepsy
- HIV or AIDS
- Crohn’s disease
- Tourette’s syndrome
- Multiple sclerosis or MS
- Intractable pain
- Post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD
- A painful terminal illness with a prognosis of no more than a year of survival
If you are diagnosed with any of these conditions, a doctor can refer you to the Minnesota Department of Health’s Office of Medical Cannabis. You’ll register for the medical marijuana patient registry online and will be notified when your account is approved.
Once you’ve been added to this registry, you will be able to buy your legal THC products from specified Cannabis Patient Centers located throughout the state. These centers provide knowledgeable pharmacists who can help you determine the best types and dosages of medical THC.
What Types of THC Products are Available?
While Minnesota’s medial marijuana law does allow people with specific medical conditions to buy legal THC products, it limits the forms in which these products can be sold. You’ll find medical THS as a liquid, a pill, and a vape oil. You won’t be able to purchase other forms like traditional marijuana to smoke.
What Is Delta-8 and Is It Legal in Minnesota?
This is a type of THC that has been getting a lot of attention from the cannabis community called delta-8. To understand delta-8, you need to understand a bit about cannabis plants.
When you hear about THC, the part of the cannabis plant that causes a “high,” this is generally talking about a type of THC called delta-9. Delta-9 is psychoactive so it causes the distinctive high that you would expect from marijuana and THC products. Delta-8, then, is a similar compound but its psychoactive effects are generally milder than those of delta-9. So, you would still get a high from delta-8, but it won’t be as strong as a high from delta-9.
Is delta-8 legal in Minnesota? This is a tricky question. Technically, the federal 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp and defined hemp as a cannabis plant that contains less than 0.3% delta-9 THC. Because delta-8 can be derived from these types of plants, it’s legal.
Some states view this as a “legal loophole” and are taking steps to close the loophole. As of June 2021, 14 US states have made delta-8 illegal. Minnesota is not one of them, but there is always a possibility that this could change.
Choosing Your Cannabis Products in Minnesota
Cannabis products have a host of known and believed medical benefits, from pain management to cancer care. As helpful as these products can be, the laws in this area are tricky and have a tendency to change often, so it’s important to educate yourself about the laws in your state and any state where you travel.
Remember, if you purchase cannabis products that are legal in your state but you take them to or through another state where they’re illegal, you’re subject to the laws of the state where you’re traveling. But fortunately, if you’re living in or traveling to Minnesota, there are several types of legal cannabis products available. With this guide in hand, shop for legal cannabis products in Minnesota or begin pursuing your medical marijuana access today.
