Guide to Buying CBD Online In Canada

Buy CBD Online Canada

CBD has been making a surge in popularity over the past few years and Canada is no exception. The rules and regulations surrounding CBD sale and use in Canada are pretty detailed. The bottom line is that CBD is legal in Canada.

We are going to look more closely at how to buy CBD in Canada and, more specifically, how to buy CBD products online if you live in Canada. If you are wondering about CBD and Canada is your home and native land then you’ve come to the right place. 

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For many years in Canada, CBD was always regulated under what is called the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. This Canadian law prohibited the production, sale, and distribution of CBD within Canada. This was all before the Cannabis Act came into effect in 2018.

On October 17, 2018, the Cannabis Act was made into law. CBD, along with other phytocannabinoids from cannabis plants, are all regulated under this act. In a nutshell, this act made CBD legal in Canada, along with marijuana.

That sounds simple but, in reality, the regulatory framework created is much more complex and the rules and regulations even vary depending on the territory or province that you live in.  

Do Laws Vary by Province or Territory?

Each province and territory has the ability to set their own specific rules and guidelines when it comes to the legality of CBD and how it can be purchased. You will find that most of the provinces follow the federal guideline of 30 grams of dried CBD flowers as the legal limit.

Here are some specifics in regards to CBD and cannabis when it comes to each individual province and territory. 

Alberta – In Alberta, CBD is legal to purchase by going to a government store or by ordering through an online dispensary. Landlords have specific rights to be able to prohibit the smoking or vaping of CBD in their rental properties. It is also prohibited in designated no-smoking areas and you can’t smoke or vape inside a vehicle except for parked recreational vehicles. The legal age to purchase in Alberta is 18.

British Columbia – If you live in British Columbia you are able to buy CBD at government stores or through online dispensaries. The legal age here is set at 19 and it is also prohibited in designated non-smoking areas. One interesting this is that B.C. considers driving under the influence of cannabinoids to be the same as alcohol DUI and is punishable with the same rules applying.

Manitoba – Manitoba is actually quite strict when it comes to CBD and cannabis use. Growing cannabis at home is completely prohibited in Manitoba. In comparison, most provinces would allow you to grow up to four plants. You can legally purchase products through licensed private or online dispensaries but it is difficult to smoke or vape because that is very much restricted in any public setting in Manitoba.

New Brunswick – You have to be at least 19 years old to buy CBD in New Brunswick and you can only buy it from government stores or through online dispensaries that are also run by the government. You are also prohibited from either smoking or vaping in public places as well as in a vehicle.

Newfoundland – In Newfoundland, you can only consume CBD when at a private residence, not in public. To buy products you will need to get them through a private dispensary with a proper license or through government-operated online stores. You also have to be at least 19 years of age to purchase CBD in Newfoundland.

Nova Scotia – In Nova Scotia, you are permitted to vape CBD but you are limited to doing so in designated areas only. To purchase CBD you will need to go through a government-operated dispensary or purchase online and you have to be at least 19 years of age to do so.

Nunavut – In Nunavut, you can only use CBD in private residences or in licensed cannabis lounges so you are pretty limited in that regard. You can purchase CBD and cannabis products by phone or online but only through dispensaries that are operated by the government. You also have to be at least 19 years of age. 

Ontario – In Ontario you can purchase CBD and cannabis products through private dispensaries as well as online stores that are run by the government. The use of these products is limited to private residences only and you have to be at least 19 years of age.

Prince Edward Island – If you are using CBD or cannabis products in PEI then you need to keep them in a private residence and not in a public setting. You can buy these products at government-operated dispensaries or online but you must be at least 19 years of age.

Quebec – In Quebec, you are permitted to have up to an equivalent of 150 grams of the dried flower as long as you are at a private residence. If out in public then the legal limit is 30 grams which is in line with the federal limit. You only have to be 18 years old to purchase the products and you can buy through government-run dispensaries or online.

Saskatchewan – If you want to use CBD or cannabis products in Saskatchewan then you can only do that at a private residence. To purchase these products you will need to go through a licensed private dispensary or you can buy through online stores as long as you are at least 19 years old.

Yukon – Last but not least is the Yukon. You have to be at least 19 years old to purchase CBD products and you can only use them at private residences. To purchase these you can buy them online or you can choose to go through a government run dispensary.

What Exactly Is CBD

Before going any further we should probably touch on what CBD is for those who may not have a background with CBD.

CBD is an acronym for cannabidiol. Simply put, CBD is a naturally occurring compound that is found in the cannabis Sativa plant. This is why CBD has been surrounded by a lot of speculation and mistrust from those who don’t have a clear understanding of CBD.

It is true that CBD comes from the cannabis sativa plant but the main source of CBD is from a sub-species of the cannabis sativa plant that is called hemp. And even further, the high-quality CBD from trusted CBD brands today is derived from industrial hemp.

In most cases, CBD that is derived from industrial hemp contains low levels of THC. For those who may not know THC is the psychoactive compound that is found in the marijuana plant that makes marijuana such a hot button topic for so many people and so many countries.

The industrial hemp plant can actually be used for a wide variety of things that you may not even realize. Industrial hemp is also rich with 100+ cannabinoids that you can find in both hemp and marijuana plants. Hemp is a cousin to the marijuana plant. The main difference between industrial hemp and marijuana plants is that hemp has very low levels of THC or even none at all.

So, in a nutshell, hemp and marijuana are similar plants as they are both derived from the cannabis Sativa plant. However, they are very different because marijuana contains high levels of THC while hemp contains low levels of THC or no THC altogether. It’s a big difference and one that many people do not completely understand when they are talking about CBD.

On the other hand, there are CBD products that are made from marijuana plants and these do contain higher levels of THC. Whereas the CBD from hemp may contain up to 0.3% THC the CBD products from marijuana could contain from 5% up to even 30% THC. Obviously, a huge difference because THC is the psychoactive component that can get you high.

How Does CBD Work and Why Should I Use CBD?

As we had mentioned CBD is a cannabinoid that is found in the cannabis plant. It is actually one of over 100 cannabinoids that can be found in these plants. So you might be wondering just how this compound called cannabidiol actually interacts with the human body to produce results.

In a nutshell, the CBD enters your body and works with your Endocannabinoid system (ECS) within your body. The Endocannabinoid system is composed of receptors that are found throughout your body. The two main receptors are called CB1 and CB2 receptors. 

When CBD interacts with these CB1 and CB2 receptors throughout the body it stimulates biochemical communication. The ECS, along with these receptors, help to regulate important bodily functions such as temperature, appetite, pain perception, and more.

How Might CBD Help Me Personally?

CBD is used by millions of people worldwide because of its perceived health benefits. How CBD might be able to help you can vary because it can have different effects on different people. Other than aiding you general health and well-being both physically and mentally here are some other health benefits that people have reported from using CBD.

-Pain relief

-Inflammation

-Anxiety

-Insomnia

-Depression

-Epilepsy

-Bone health

We want to be very clear that the health benefits of CBD, along with the long-term effects of its use, needs more research for conclusive evidence. There have certainly been some in-depth, short-term studies that have shown some very positive results. However, we need to be careful not to overestimate what CBD may help with.

Initial studies are positive and millions of people have reported very positive results from CBD. That’s probably the reason that people keep coming back and keep using CBD products. We are not making any claims that CBD will treat, cure, or prevent any ailments.

Different Types of CBD

Once you have decided that CBD is something that you would like to try you will have a lot of options to find the best CBD products for you. Once you start looking you will realize that it can feel like a daunting task. Don’t worry! You really can’t go wrong with whichever you choose. And to be honest we would recommend trying various products because each will impact you a little bit differently so it’s good to test them and find what works best for you.

Here are some of the most popular and most effective types of CBD products for Canadians:

CBD Oils

CBD oils have become a very popular way to get your dose of CBD and is probably the most widely recognized way. CBD has really become synonymous with CBD oil in the minds of many people.

Once the CBD has actually been extracted from the hemp plant and isolated it is then ready to be mixed as a formula that will be consumed. For CBD oil tinctures this often means mixing the CBD with a carrier oil. These carrier oils can include olive oil or MCT oil. We recommend looking for brands that have organic olive oil or MCT oil but the choice is up to you. CBD oils can also be easily and effectively used in food preparation. For more CBD food ideas check out our CBD recipes section.

CBD Capsules

CBD capsules can be in a gel capsule form or a standard split type capsule as many OTC medications might be packaged. Both are easy to swallow and easily dissolvable.

CBD capsules have become an ever increasingly popular way of taking CBD. They are very easy, convenient, portable, and discreet. These capsules are simply taken with a glass of water like any other supplement would be. They are an easy way to get an exact amount of CBD and can easily be taken at any time throughout the day.

CBD Topicals

CBD topicals are simply applied directly to the skin such as other lotions or ointments. You will find typical CBD topicals as a roll-on liquid, lotion, ointment or cream.

CBD topicals can be used to treat a wide variety of conditions. They can help support your body in healing from bruises, sore muscles and joints, burns, insect stings, and arthritis. You can even get CBD for acne

CBD Edibles

CBD edibles would include things like candy, chocolate, and CBD gummies. Gummies have become the most popular and recognizable form of CBD edibles in the market at the moment.

The appeal to gummies is that they are incredibly easy and discreet and many of them also taste really good! There is normally a lower dose of CBD in gummies than some of the other products so pay attention to the per serving size. We would also caution you to pay attention to other ingredients in gummies. Just make sure you are not taking something that you would prefer not to be taking.

Characteristics of the Best CBD Brands and Products

If you are looking for the best CBD to buy in Canada we highly recommend that you do your research. First of all, you obviously want to know if it is legal for you to buy and consume CBD products. That is very important. It is also very important to make sure you are picking the best CBD brands and products for Canadians. The following are some major points to consider while making your picks.

Make sure they ship to Canada – You might think this goes without saying but we’re going to say it anyway. Before spending too much time find your ideal CBD brand or product just make sure they will actually ship your product to Canada. Canada has some fairly strict regulations so most US-based CBD companies can’t ship to Canada.

Know where the hemp was grown – It’s always a good idea to understand where the hemp is coming from. On top of that, it’s good to know what the growing practices and standards are. Some countries have very lax laws so you will want to make sure you have a good handle on where and how it is grown.

3rd-Party lab tested – Even if CBD is being grown in a country that is not regulated it doesn’t necessarily mean the overall products are bad. Companies can do a very good job of regulating themselves to provide consumer confidence. Third-party lab testing results are very important in our minds and are something you should be looking for.

Types of products offered – Finding a trusted brand that ships to Canada doesn’t do a lot of good if they don’t offer the products you are looking for. Just check to make sure that you can get the products you need so you aren’t wasting your time.

Free shipping options – When shopping and comparing CBD brands check to see what their shipping policy is. You will find that many CBD companies do offer free shipping. Some of them will require you to hit a certain dollar threshold but some will ship all products for free.

Subscription discounts – Subscription discounts are definitely a place where you can save money every single month. Now to do this you are going to have already found a tried and true CBD product that works for you. But once you find something that works, see if you can get a discount by auto-subscribing on a monthly basis. It’s definitely a way that you can save money.

THC content – This is something of a more personal preference but you need to decide how much THC you will allow in your CBD products if any. Most full-spectrum CBD products will have 0.3% or less THC. If you get a broad-spectrum or CBD isolate those won’t have any CBD in them at all.

Future of CBD in Canada

It will be interesting to see where the CBD market goes in Canada and only time will really tell. At the moment the future seems bright from our perspective. 

The thing that is holding it back right now is the restrictions from the government on where the CBD can come from. Because of government regulations, there are very few CBD companies from around the world that can actually ship their products to Canada. This means Canadians don’t have the option of some of the other great CBD brands across the world and especially in the United States.

However, this could change over time and we believe that it will. As people and governments become more educated about CBD and how it is different from THC we believe it will continue to gain more acceptance. As the people of Canada begin to realize the benefits of CBD there will eventually be more pressure to open up that market more and more. How long that might take is anyone’s guess.

Final Thoughts from The CBD Guru

Buying CBD online in Canada can have its challenges. Because of government regulations and restrictions not just any CBD company is able to ship products into Canada. That might be good if you are a CBD company in Canada but it’s not necessarily a good thing for the people of Canada.

Unfortunately, Canadians are missing out on a ton of the best CBD the world has to offer. Many of those offerings would be readily available from CBD brands just to their south, in the United States.

You will find that a brand like Endoca, based in Europe, does ship CBD products to Canada. That is definitely good news for Canadians because Endoca is a top-notch CBD brand if they really have a lot of great products to offer.

We are hopeful that as more and more Canadians have the opportunity to experience the positive benefits of CBD that it will become more widely accepted. As of now the Canadian government puts all things cannabis into one basket and treats them all the same. Hopefully, as more people become educated about CBD, they will separate CBD products away from cannabis and marijuana products. This would allow the explosion of a whole new market for CBD in Canada.

FAQ’s About Buying CBD In Canada

  1. Is CBD legal in Canada?

    Yes. As of October 2018, CBD was made legal in Canada, along with marijuana.

  2. Can you have CBD shipped to you from outside of Canada?

    Yes, but due to government regulations, there are a very limited number of options at this point in time.

  3. Do laws pertaining to CBD vary by province?

    Yes. You should check local regulations because they can be different from federal laws.

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