CBD is quickly becoming well-known and loved for its therapeutic benefits and people are taking it all over the world.
It is legal in the United States making it easy to access and enjoy. But, if you are planning to visit Mexico, you may be wondering if it is legal there, as well.
The answer is yes, CBD is legal in Mexico, but you should always check the local laws before visiting a new location to make sure you understand the regulations wherever you visit.
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about CBD in Mexico.
What Is CBD?
Many people think of CBD and get confused because it is part of the cannabis family. While cannabis is still outlawed in many parts of the world, CBD is quickly becoming a mainstay in many countries. (Note: At this time, CBD is not legal in all countries, so do your due diligence before you take CBD with you if you travel anywhere abroad.)
So, what is the difference?
Well, CBD is a cannabinoid that comes from hemp. It is one of the primary compounds found in cannabis. But it has no psychoactive properties.
THC is another well-known cannabinoid, and it has psychoactive properties that will cause people who take it to feel intoxicated. This is the reason behind the laws and regulations outlawing marijuana in many parts of the world.
But because CBD can be extracted from industrial hemp, which contains relatively low amounts of THC, the therapeutic benefits of CBD can be unlocked without any unwanted intoxicating side effects.
Mexico was one of the first countries to legalize CBD products, and many others are joining the ranks, although each place may have its own regulations and laws regarding its production and use.
CBD products for sale in the US can have up to .3% THC, In Mexico, CBD products can have up to 1% THC and still be compliant.
What Are the Cannibis Laws in Mexico
Medical use of cannabis is legally allowed in Mexico. In January 2021, the Mexico Ministry of Health issued rules regarding medical cannabis. CBD is not addressed directly by the General Health Law, but it is defined in the Rules for Medical Cannabis as a cannabinoid without psychoactive properties. And it is allowed in medicines.
The growth, process, export, import, prescription, and use of cannabis is now legal for medical use in Mexico. Beyond its use as a medicine, it is allowed to be used for scientific research only.
Any medicines in the country of Mexico shall follow the same path as any other medicine and must be granted authorizations from the Mexico Food and Drug Agency, or COFEPRIS. This may include clinical trials, premarket approval, and import and export permits.
Growing cannabis in Mexico requires a license from the Ministry of Agriculture. And any approved clinical trials by COFEPRIS are required to prove the research or medical use destination for any medicines.
Lastly, advertisement is limited to health professionals only. The law in Mexico does not allow for the production, import, or sale of recreational cannabis. But the Supreme Court of Justice has recognized the right to consume cannabis recreationally for citizens.
The court considered that the recreational consumption of cannabis is a human right and allows citizens to grow and prepare cannabis within a reasonable amount for personal use. However, there are regulations regarding how much cannabis can be possessed or transported.
To qualify to possess cannabis, the person must be at least 18 years of age or more. They must also file a constitutional trial and receive a favorable sentence and permit from the proper authorities.
Under Mexican law, anyone 18 years or older can buy and possess up to 28 grams of cannabis. Possessing more than this can come with penalties of up to $500. If a person is found in possession of over 200 grams, penalties can include up to 6 years in jail. These are serious penalties that many people don’t want to risk. Because of this, it is a much safer situation to only consume CBD products that are legally compliant.
Industrial use
CBD products are allowed to be sold in Mexico and have been since 2017. This is when they were made available for medical use.
CBD products are legal as long as they are derived from industrial hemp that contains less than 1% THC. This is different than the amount allowed for CBD products in the United States, which must be under .3% THC to be compliant.
Personal cannabis use has been decriminalized in Mexico, and there is ongoing legislation being solidified that regulates cannabis use in the country.
CBD products that have wide industrial uses like cosmetics and dietary supplements may be sold and imported to the country if they fulfill Mexican sanitary requirements. They must also meet the criteria relevant to their product category.
A permit is required to smoke CBD recreationally in Mexico, which is typically not required in the United States. For this reason, people may opt for different delivery methods instead. Many people prefer to take CBD oil or edibles for ease of access and convenience. Not to mention smoking CBD may come with extra health risks that aren’t associated with taking a gummy or some oil.
Evaluating Good CBD Brands
There are a handful of Mexican CBD brands that have products available for purchase in Mexico, but consumers can also purchase CBD products from other countries and sources online.
It is important to note that all CBD products sold in Mexico are subject to the rules set forth by COFEPRIS. The products that come from overseas are required to have importation permits and must follow all the legal requirements set forth for their specific product type.
This legislation is similar to what you may find in Canada, where the cannabis and CBD market is closely regulated.
This is important because the CBD market is very saturated. There are many high-quality brands that sell great products, but there are also many brands that cut corners and sell low-quality products that are not what they claim to be.
You should be able to tell the difference by checking out brands and products before you buy them. When buying any new CBD products, you should consider a few factors before buying, whether you are shopping in Mexico or anywhere else around the world.
First, you want to take the time to research the brand and learn about its reputation.
Different CBD Brands
Mexico began allowing CBD cultivation before many other places around the world. Because of this, there are a handful of successful CBD brands that have hailed from the country. However, consumers still have the option of ordering online from a business in another company as long as it meets the product standards for importation.
However, if you choose to order from a Mexican CBD brand, there are many product options since Mexican law has a generous THC allowance compared to some other countries. Consumers can choose from full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and CBD isolate products that contain 1% or less THC.
Some consumers may not want a product with that much THC. In this case, they can opt to order CBD products like our full-spectrum CBD gummies which are made with full-spectrum hemp extract that has less than .3% THC.
Brand Reputation
You should always look at the brand’s reputation, as this sheds a lot of light on how other customers view their service and products. And the best way to guess what your customer experience might be like is to see what the customer experience has been for previous customers.
One really easy way to check the current reputation of a brand is to read its customer reviews. Check how transparent they are with their cultivation and manufacturing processes. Brands that are proud of their reputation will make all the important information regarding their products easily available.
They might have a great website that shares their story and showcases their best products. And they may have a spot for customer reviews on their website. In addition to this, they may also have up-to-date social media posts that share what the brand is currently focusing on.
Hemp Quality
The quality of the hemp that is used to create CBD products is one of the most important factors because if you start with low quality hemp you can’t create a high-quality product.
Hemp that is sourced from certified organic farms, or at least farmed according to sustainable practices, is the best option when it comes to CBD products.
For example, all Yummy CBD products are sourced from domestically grown industrial hemp plants that are harvested from organic farms in the United States. We follow the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s strict guidelines to ensure all quality standards are met.
We take it a step further and only use environmentally friendly, clean extraction and purification methods in small batches. We perform these processes in a US-based FDA-registered facility. Because of this, we can guarantee our products are free of pesticides, chemical fertilizers, solvents, and fungus. The investment is well worth it because we know you will love our products, which are safe and effective.
Product Variety
A company that has some product variety will be able to meet your needs and offer products that fit into your life. If the brand offers a range of different flavors, potencies, and delivery formats they are most likely going to be able to grow with you and offer products that meet your needs.
CBD oils, tinctures, and gummies are just a few of the types of CBD products that are available on the market today. There are also topicals, creams, slaves, and much more that you may want to try.
Customer Experience
The worst thing is to buy a new CBD product and never hear from the company that sold you the product ever again. Quality brands are ones that you can easily get a hold of and make queries to.
The best CBD brands tend to have a fully functional website with easily located contact information so that you can get questions answered quickly. There should also be clearly labeled product pages that explain everything you might need to know about a product, including ingredients, dosage information, potency information, and warnings.
You can also look to see what kind of educational resources are available from each brand you consider. This helps consumers become knowledgeable about CBD and how it may benefit them. It is another way CBD brands can be useful to their consumers and it is something that the best brands take the time to provide.
Third-Party Lab Tests
The last thing you want to make sure you pay attention to is whether or not a CBD company invests in third-party lab tests to check their products for potency and purity. A third-party lab test is the only way to do this.
The lab test results are called Certificates of Analysis. These CoAs are the best way to know what type of CBD you are buying and that you are getting what you think you are getting.
Unfortunately, with how saturated the CBD market is right now, there are many fly-by-night brands that are trying to make as many sales as they can without doing the hard work of creating a safe and effective product. There are many cases of CBD products being sold that have more or less CBD than what is actually stated on the label. And some CBD products have more THC than is allowed by the current regulations.
As we mentioned above, there are products that are being sold to consumers that are contaminated with other things like residual solvents or pesticides that shouldn’t go into our bodies. To minimize this risk as much as possible, only buy products that are verified with a third-party lab test report so you know that the products you are using are what they say they are.
Taking CBD In Mexico
If you are planning to travel to Mexico and want to know if you can take CBD while you are there, the answer is yes. Mexico is one of the first countries to allow CBD within regulatory limits.
The best option is to buy CBD when you arrive as it is available for purchase in the country and can be ordered online and delivered as well. But traveling with CBD can be a tricky situation due to the differing laws in each country.
Always check with the local government agency for the location you are traveling to get the most up-to-date information regarding the laws regulating CBD. Then you can have a safe and relaxing time.