For a few years now, CBD has been growing in popularity. And it is not uncommon to find a physical store near your home. But not everyone wants to buy their products in a store, and some prefer to turn to a shop on the internet to get more information on the products (flowers, resins, cosmetics, etc.), but also to be able to consult the opinions of other customers. Before these purchases, some questions arise: Can we legally buy CBD online? What are the authorized CBD products? What are the advantages of buying online ? How to choose the right products? Here are all our answers !
Is it legal to buy CBD online ?
Yes, buying CBD online is legal, provided that the product itself is authorised: in France, flowers, resins, cosmetics or e-liquids made from authorised hemp (no more than 0.3% THC) may be sold, but foods containing CBD may not. However, we recommend that you pay particular attention to the legislation of the country you are in, and the country in which you make your purchase, if it is not the same as your country of residence. Indeed, the legislation can vary from one country to another, even within the European Union.
- In France, the sale of hemp flowers was long disputed. The Council of State finally annulled the ban on their sale (decision no. 444887 of 29 December 2022). Today, products must come from hemp varieties with no more than 0.3% delta-9-THC and respect this limit (order of 30 December 2021); foods containing CBD (oils to swallow, gummies, sweets, drinks) are illegal on the market (Ministry of Agriculture, 20 May 2026).
- In the European Union, hemp grown for CAP aid may contain no more than 0.3% THC since 2023 (Regulation (EU) 2021/2115), but the rules on finished products differ from one country to another.
- In Italy, the trade in hemp flowers and in products derived from them has been prohibited since April 2025 (decree-law no. 48/2025, article 18), a ban challenged before the courts: several Italian courts have referred it to the Constitutional Court (orders published in the Gazzetta Ufficiale in 2026).
- Finally, outside the EU, Switzerland allows the sale of products containing less than 1% total THC (Federal Act on Narcotics).
The European Parliament voted in October 2020 to raise the THC limit for hemp grown in the EU from 0.2% to 0.3%, a measure long called for by the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA). This limit has applied since 1 January 2023 under the new common agricultural policy (Regulation (EU) 2021/2115), and France adopted it for plants and extracts in its order of 30 December 2021.
Let's summarize all this information
The purchase and sale of CBD products is permitted in many European countries, but not in every form: CBD foods are not authorised in the EU. In France, CBD can be sold as flowers, resins, cosmetics or e-liquids, from hemp with no more than 0.3% THC. The rules vary from country to country, so check the law of the country where you live.
What is the difference between THC and CBD
We have mentioned CBD and THC many times since the beginning of this article, but what exactly are they?
To understand it, we must first explain to you what cannabis is. Indeed, cannabis is not a single plant, but a family of plants, counting 3 varieties:
- Cannabis Sativa or industrial hemp which has a very high concentration of CBD (cannabidiol), and a negligible amount of Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (no more than 0.3% in the EU)
- Cannabis Indica, high in THC, and low in CBD
- Cannabis Ruderalis, low in both CBD and THC
The two most common varieties of cannabis are Cannabis Sativa, used in the production of CBD and many other products, and Cannabis Indica, grown illegally for recreational use.
CBD and THC are therefore 2 molecules that are found in varying quantities depending on the variety of cannabis. These 2 molecules are part of the cannabinoid family. There are more than a hundred cannabinoids in these plants; they are found in the flowers and the leaves adjacent to them.
THC
THC, whose full name is Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, has strongly psychoactive effects that will modify certain physiological and biochemical processes in the brain. These effects can cause a change in mood, perception, but also change the state of consciousness of the consumer. This is why Indica cannabis is prohibited.
CBD
CBD is the acronym of cannabidiol, it is a cannabinoid that arouses great interest from the scientific community and that, unlike Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, is not psychoactive. Research on cannabidiol is active, but no health claim is authorised for CBD in the EU (Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006). Studies, often preclinical or on small groups, are exploring several areas:
- Relaxation, stress and anxiety
- Sleep
- Inflammation
- Pain
To date, their results do not allow any conclusion to be drawn. CBD is not a medicine: if you have a health problem or take medication, ask your doctor for advice before using any CBD product.
How to choose your CBD on the internet ?
Buying cannabidiol products on the internet has many advantages, since you can find a detailed description of each product you consult, which is not always the case in physical stores. In addition, the many customer reviews can help you make the right choice in front of the long list of items offered.
- CBD oil: in France and the EU, a CBD oil intended to be swallowed is a food; as CBD is not authorised as a novel food in the European Union (Regulation (EU) 2015/2283), its sale is illegal in France (Ministry of Agriculture press release of 20 May 2026). Only products that comply with the rules of their category, such as cosmetics for external use, can be offered.
- CBD gums and gummies: these are foods; with added CBD, they are not authorised in the EU (Regulation (EU) 2015/2283) and cannot legally be sold in France (Ministry of Agriculture press release of 20 May 2026).
- CBD flowers: in France, hemp flowers and leaves with no more than 0.3% THC may be sold (Council of State, 29 December 2022, no. 444887). Smoking is harmful to health, and THC traces can make a roadside drug test positive.
- CBD balms: these are cosmetics for external use. A cosmetic may not claim any therapeutic property, whether for pain or for skin conditions.
- E-liquids: CBD e-liquids are vaping products, whose advertising is prohibited in France (Public Health Code, art. L3513-4). Their full composition is often hard to check at the time of purchase, so caution is advised.
Here are 3 important criteria when buying your CBD products on the internet
What is the extraction process ?
There are several extraction processes for CBD :
- Solvent extraction : Very inexpensive, this extraction method is best avoided: solvent extraction (isopropyl alcohol, butane, propane, ethanol) regularly leaves residues in the extract. We advise against products made with this process.
- The extraction of CBD by vegetable oil : The cannabidiol is extracted from the flower thanks to a vegetable oil (hemp oil, olive oil, sesame oil). This method is not very effective, and the extract obtained is relatively poor in CBD.
- Supercritical CO2 extraction : This method is the most expensive, but also the cleanest. It is used since the early eighties in various industries, food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical. It allows to isolate, and to extract with a remarkable precision, the desired molecule(s) while keeping their properties. The extraction temperature is low, the molecules sensitive to heat such as phytocannabinoids (CBD, CBG, etc.), and terpenes are therefore preserved. The extract obtained by this process is purer than with other methods, as it contains no solvent residues. This is the method we consider the cleanest.
What is the origin of hemp (cannabis) ?
It is important to know the origin of the hemp used to produce CBD for several reasons :
- Depending on the country where the hemp is cultivated, the legislation on sanitary products can vary, so potentially carcinogenic products could be used. It is for these reasons that we recommend products grown in the USA and Europe.
- The quality of the soil is another important parameter. Hemp needs a rich soil to produce beautiful flowers rich in CBD.
- Is hemp organic ? In order to reduce soil pollution, and for general health reasons, we recommend choosing an organic product.
Is your CBD broad spectrum ?
Today, in France, Switzerland and all over Europe, you can find a multitude of CBD products: flowers, balms, cosmetics, etc. The merchants never lack ideas to innovate, and when buying, it is sometimes complicated to make a choice in front of all the items offered. Do not fall into the trap of a cheap or discounted product of sometimes doubtful origin. A broad spectrum product contains, in addition to CBD, other compounds of the hemp plant (Cannabis Sativa): cannabinoids (CBG, CBN, etc.), terpenes and flavonoids. The so-called entourage effect, a possible synergy between these substances, is a hypothesis that is still being studied.
Now you know more about cannabidiol and the rules that govern its sale. Before buying, check that the product complies with the law of your country.
