Cannabis and CBD Laws: How Regulation Differs by Country

Read this first

Cannabis laws change often and differ between countries, states and provinces. This page describes only places where we read an official or regulator's own page on 2026-10-22. It is not legal advice. Where we could not read a source, the table says "not verified" rather than guessing. For travel, never assume a product that is legal at home is legal elsewhere.

Regulatory status

Three different questions are often mixed together: the cannabis plant with intoxicating THC, hemp and CBD products, and approved medicines. They are treated separately in most laws.

United States

At the federal level, marijuana was classed as Schedule I because of its potential for abuse and the lack of a currently accepted medical use. [1] A law-firm summary of a Drug Enforcement Administration order says that, effective April 28, 2026, marijuana in an FDA-approved drug and marijuana under a state medical license moved to Schedule III, while other marijuana stays in Schedule I and a hearing on broader rescheduling was set. [2] We did not check whether that hearing has produced a further change.

State laws differ. NCCIH notes that whether food with THC or CBD can be sold within a state depends on that state's rules. [3]

Hemp is changing. The 2018 Farm Bill defined hemp as cannabis with no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC on a dry-weight basis. [1] A Congressional Research Service note says a November 2025 law changes the test to total THC and excludes final hemp-derived cannabinoid products with more than 0.4 milligrams of THC per container, taking effect November 12, 2026. [9] We could not confirm whether that date has since moved. The FDA says CBD products remain subject to its rules whatever the hemp definition. [1] See hemp vs marijuana.

Canada

Health Canada says adults must be of legal age (18 or 19 or older depending on the province or territory) and can possess up to 30 grams of legal dried cannabis or its equivalent in public. [4] Its provinces page lists the legal age as 18 in Alberta, 21 in Quebec and 19 in the provinces listed such as British Columbia and Manitoba. [5] It is illegal to take cannabis, including products with CBD, across the Canadian border in either direction. [4] The text on that older page may be out of date, so check the current Health Canada page.

United Kingdom

The Home Office factsheet says cannabis is a Class B controlled drug, and that CBD as an isolated substance in its pure form is not controlled. It adds that it is highly likely CBD products contain controlled cannabinoids such as THC, in which case they are Class B, Schedule 1 drugs unless they meet the exempt product definition. [7] The NHS says CBD oil or hemp oil is available as a food supplement but with no guarantee of quality or benefit. [8]

International rules

In December 2020 the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs voted 27 to 25 to remove cannabis from Schedule IV of the 1961 Convention; it stays in Schedule I and under all levels of control. [10] The World Health Organization's drug dependence committee recommended that preparations considered pure CBD not be internationally controlled because it was not found to have psychoactive properties or potential for abuse or dependence. [11] Each country still sets its own laws.

Where to go next

For approved medicines see approved cannabinoid medicines. To understand labels see CBD products, forms and labels. For medicine safety see talking with a health professional.