Is Buying CBD Oil Legal in Kentucky? (2023 Guide)

There was a time when buying any cannabis product in Kentucky meant you were brave or out of your mind. The state is known for its heavy handed marijuana penalties and only when CBD became federally legal were residents allowed to purchase CBD — a non-psychoactive, non-addictive natural compound boasting genuine wellness benefits. You can buy CBD oil in Kentucky but it’s hard to say it’s recommended if shopping at a local store.

Cannabidiol (CBD) has become part of the daily wellness regimen of millions of people. CBD is available without a prescription and given that it can help combat muscle pain and aching joints, anxiety, depression, sleep issues and high blood pressure from stress, its continuing popularity is all but a foregone conclusion.

In the event that you’re a resident of Kentucky who hasn’t tried CBD and is wondering what all the fuss is about — we’ve created this article for you. Though shopping in person isn’t the best option in this southern state, the best CBD oil is sold online, and shipped directly to your door.

Buying CBD Oil in Kentucky: The Best products

• Balance CBD Oil – Best CBD Oil Overall
• Mixed Variety Pack – Best CBD Gummies
• Balance CBD Oil for Pets – Best CBD Oil for Pets
• Full Spectrum Capsules – Best CBD Capsules
• Dani Pepper Sleep Gummies – Best CBD for Sleep
• Balance CBD Muscle Relief – Best CBD Cream

Is CBD Legal in Kentucky

CBD oil is legal in Kentucky and throughout the United States of America. The 2018 Farm Bill made it legal to cultivate and sell CBD products provided that they meet specific criteria:

• Cultivated from industrial hemp
• Contain no more than 0.3% THC

CBD oils that are extracted from marijuana plants are illegal in Kentucky.

Guide to Buying CBD In Kentucky

Shoppers who live in Kentucky and want to shop in-store must exercise caution. There’s some suggestion that local stores are selling products with poor testing standards and that there’s a lack of enforcement. When you shop for CBD oil in Kentucky, set your expectations high and look for the following qualities:

• Lab Results: Independent Laboratory testing verifies the content of your cannabidiol products; through these reports you can see THC and CBD potency, other cannabinoids, and confirm the products are pesticide-free. If a brand is using an in-house lab, then there’s a definite conflict of interest. When shopping in person, inspect the packaging before you purchase to see that there’s a QR code so you can personally verify the results.
• Full Spectrum vs. Broad Spectrum vs. CBD Isolate: CBD oils are available in a variety of formulas, and also with infusions of botanical oils, minor cannabinoid tinctures, and flavors too. Most CBD oil fits into one of the following categories.

Full spectrum

Full spectrum CBD oils offer the greatest potential benefits because these tinctures contain all beneficial cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids, and 0.3% THC — a non-psychoactive concentration — to provide benefits of all plant compounds. This can produce an entourage effect.

Broad Spectrum

Broad spectrum CBD products blend CBD, minor cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids; there’s no THC content, but trace amounts could exist in these products.

CBD isolate

Isolate oils contain pure CBD and a carrier oil such as coconut oil. These CBD oils have zero THC. The oils are great for people who are new to CBD and want to test it out or those who want absolutely no other compound in their system.

• CBD Strength: CBD products are sold in varying potencies, from low 300 mg products designed for mild to moderate needs to very high-strength products such as Balance CBD’s 5000 mg tincture. It’s wise to compare the potencies of one brand against another to ensure that the price tag makes sense for the product’s potency.
• CO2 Extraction: Extraction methods are extremely important. CO2 extraction is considered the best method for extracting CBD because the process is solvent free and cleaner for the environment; the CO2 is often recycled and reused for later extraction. Unfortunately, some companies use ethanol extraction instead, and the process

How Old Do I Need to Be To Buy CBD In Kentucky?

Kentucky residents who are 21 years of age and older can legally buy CBD oil in Kentucky.

Where’s The Best Place To Buy CBD Oil In Kentucky?

Buying CBD oil in Kentucky is a challenge if you’re shopping in person. Residents of Covington or Louisville will have an easier time shopping than those in rural towns, but even so, the selection pales when compared to what’s available through online CBD suppliers.

Why Buy CBD Oil Online?

• Comparing CBD brands is effortless — no need to drive from store to store.
• Shopping online offers a better variety. You’ll find more products online and in a greater range of potencies from 500 mg tinctures up to and including 5000 mg bottles.
• Buying CBD online is typically cheaper. Many brands provide incentives like free shipping and money back guarantees. Chances are, you won’t find these offers at in-person stores.
• Exercise caution when buying CBD from large online retailers — we don’t recommend that youbuy CBD oil from Amazon. They don’t sell real CBD.

Buying CBD Oil Online Checklist

There are countless online CBD vendors, all of whom are claiming to provide the most efficacious, the cheapest, and the highest-quality CBD products. For new CBD shoppers these competing brands may look the same and finding the lowest cost brand might require too much investigative work for many shoppers.

Transparency

Many of the problems with local CBD stores in Kentucky revolve around a lack of transparency. You’ll notice that some local products lack any testing information and leave out relevant details about ingredients and potency. When you shop online, you’ll still need to keep an eye out for unscrupulous companies — verify test results, read ingredients, and make certain that the product you buy contains real cannabidiol.

Money Back Guarantee

When you shop online from a company with a money back guarantee you can return your product for a full refund if needed; otherwise, you can only return unused and unopened products. Balance CBD — and any other leading companies — offer money back guarantees to empower shoppers and provide certainty that the products perform as advertised.

Free Shipping

Free-shipping incentives are popular and very common for most online stores, but this is not the case with online CBD stores. Many companies make consumers pay their shipping fees no matter how much money they spend — always buy from brands that make things cheaper for you.

Sales

Who doesn’t love discounts? CBD is sold at full price, more often than not, and the companies that sell their oils online have grown comfortable with this service model. The best CBD companies sell their products for discounted prices and through regular sales, rewarding consumers for their loyalty. Give your business to the brands that value you as a customer.

Where Can I Buy CBD In Kentucky

The most common local stores for CBD are vitamin and supplement suppliers, hemp stores, and large pharmacy retailers. Limited selection and higher than average prices may deter you from seeking out a local store; as well, third-party verification isn’t always possible when shopping in person.

If you value trust and consistency, shop from major pharmacy chains such as CVS and Walgreens. Note;Walmart doesn’t sell CBD oils so don’t bother to shop at your nearest location.

Walgreens – Covington, KY

Departments: COVID-19 Drive-Thru Testing, Pharmacy, Photo

Address: 1220 Madison Ave, Covington, KY 41011, United States

Hours: 8am – 10pm

Health and safety: Masks are required for staff and customers. Staff get temperature checks and are required to disinfect surfaces between visits. Safety dividers at checkouts.

Phone: +1 859-491-9883

Walgreens – Lexington, KY

Departments: COVID-19 Drive-Thru Testing, Pharmacy, Photo

Address: 2290 Nicholasville Rd, Lexington, KY 40503, United States

Hours: 8am – 10pm

Health and safety: Masks are required for staff and customers. Staff get temperature checks and are required to disinfect surfaces between visits. Safety dividers at checkouts.

Phone: +1 859-276-1553

Walgreens – Cumberland, KY

Departments: Pharmacy

Address: 2307 E Main St, Cumberland, KY 40823, United States

Hours: 8am – 9pm

Health and safety: Masks are required for staff and customers. Staff get temperature checks and are required to disinfect surfaces between visits. Safety dividers at checkouts.

Phone: +1 606-589-2234

CVS – Louisville, KY

Departments: Pharmacy, Photo

Address: 3229 Poplar Level Rd, Louisville, KY 40213, United States

Hours: 9am – 9pm

Health and safety: Masks required for staff and customers. Staff are required to disinfect surfaces between visits. Safety dividers at checkouts.

Phone: +1 502-634-3689

CVS – Elizabethtown, KY

Departments: Photo, Pharmacy

Address: 1571 N Dixie Hwy, Elizabethtown, KY 42701, United States

Hours: Open 24 hours

Health and safety: Masks required for staff and customers. Staff are required to disinfect surfaces between visits. Safety dividers at checkouts.

Phone: +1 270-737-0352

CVS – Ashland, KY

Departments: Pharmacy, Photo

Address: 1221 Lexington Ave, Ashland, KY 41101, United States

Hours: Pharmacy, Photo

Health and safety: Masks required for staff and customers. Staff are required to disinfect surfaces between visits. Safety dividers at checkouts.

Phone: +1 606-324-2128

Medical Marijuana In Kentucky

Kentucky is one of only a dozen states that doesn’t have some form of legalized medical marijuana. House Bill 136 would see these policies lifted and allow the sale of medical marijuana to consumers who have one of the following conditions:

• Cancer
• Chronic, severe, intractable or debilitating pain
• Epilepsy or any other intractable seizure disorder
• Multiple sclerosis, muscle spasms, or spasticity
• Nausea or vomiting

This bill is somewhat restrictive and would prohibit consumers from growing their own cannabis at home or smoking cannabis plants. At this time, even those with significant medical conditions could face jail time for using marijuana products. We’ll update this page in the future should the legal situation change.

CBD in Kentucky: Which Products Can You Buy?

Those who shop in person in Kentucky will encounter an assortment of vape cartridges, oils and some edibles too. Topicals and alternative CBD products are uncommon in local stores but if you shop online, you can access the widest range of CBD products from the best brands that produce them.

CBD Oil Tinctures

CBD oils — drops — are the most widely-available CBD products. Oils are taken sublingually and sold in a large potency range to cater to as many consumers as possible. If you shop in person, you’ll likely find that potencies are capped at 3000 mg but by shopping online you can purchase up to 5000 mg tinctures from Balance CBD.

CBD Gummies

Gummies are just CBD oil in candy format. These CBD edibles are perfect for dosing during the workday or at any time when out of the house. Gummies are typically made with CBD isolate and suited to a number of dietary restrictions; Balance CBD gummies are vegan and made without cruelty.

CBD Capsules

If a fruit flavored CBD gummy isn’t for you but you need something discreet — CBD capsules are the ideal product for your needs. Capsules are made with either full spectrum, broad spectrum or CBD isolate, and they come with a pre-dosed amount of CBD, providing the same dosage every time.

CBD Topicals

Topical creams are unique CBD products that don’t require ingestion. These versatile creams are applied directly to the skin, formulated with cutting edge technology that enables the CBD to penetrate deep into sore muscles and joints. In addition to muscle creams, CBD topicals also come as face oils, massage lotions, and bath bombs.

CBD For Pets

Dogs, cats, and even horses can benefit from taking CBD. These products are made with human-grade CBD oil and held to the same high standards for quality and purity. When it comes to pet products, taste is essential for easy application. Balance CBD oils and treats are made with natural flavoring including ingredients such as salmon oil and peanut butter.

CBD Lubes

You won’t find CBD lubes sold in local stores in Kentucky, or any state for that matter as they’re basically only sold online. These popular products excite and relax users and they’re priced in line with premium lubes that don’t contain CBD.

CBD Flower

CBD flower — hemp flower — is a niche product. Some people love to smoke, dry vape or convert hemp flower into cannabutter for homemade edibles. These plant products are available in different strains and provide different effects.

CBD Vapes

Vaping CBD is one of the fastest-acting application methods, and much like CBD flower, vape carts come in various strains, offering various effects.

Summary of Buying CBD Oil In Kentucky

Between Kentucky’s harsh cannabis laws and a limited selection of alternative CBD products — shopping in person in Kentucky for CBD oil won’t work for most consumers. While CBD is certainly legal in this state, the risks of buying in person outweigh any potential benefits because any CBD oils that are extracted from marijuana are illegal.  

You can purchase far more products through online vendors than any in person stores; as well, shopping online is cheaper, and products are delivered to your home.   

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This article contains information from multiple sources, including information from materials that have been medically reviewed byEloise Theisen, RN, MSN, AGPCNP-BC,Dominique Fontaine, BSN, RN, HNB-BC, HWNC-BC andBindiya Ghandi, M.D on a range of different websites. This information should not be taken as legal advice.