Which CBD to buy in Belgium ?

What is CBD ?

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a cannabinoid (a molecule) derived from industrial hemp (Cannabis Sativa). Hemp contains a multitude of cannabinoids, more than a hundred, and CBD is the one with the highest concentration. Be careful not to confuse CBD and THC. THC, is the molecule of the recreational Cannabis (Cannabis Indica) which has psychotropic effects. Its consumption is prohibited in most countries, in Belgium, as in France, and in other European states. In Belgium, smokable hemp products are subject to the rules on tobacco products (prior notification to the FPS Public Health, excise duties); since 1 June 2024, the THC limit for hemp, flowering tops included, has been aligned with the EU threshold of 0.3% (THC and THCA combined), up from 0.2% (Belgian royal decree of 24 April 2024 on narcotics; Regulation (EU) 2021/2115). Scientists are now studying the possible effects of CBD and its mechanism of action in the human body, an interest strengthened by the discovery of the endocannabinoid system from 1988 onwards.

The Endocannabinoid System

By studying the different products of cannabis such as THC and CBD on health, a group of scientists discovered the endocannabinoid system, a network of receptors, biochemical pathways and enzymes, responsible for the manufacture by our body of cannabinoids, the endocannabinoids. This system works with receptors scattered throughout the body, CBD interacts with this system in ways that are still being studied. The endocannabinoid system is a signaling system that plays a very important role in regulating the balance of the human body and vertebrates. It is involved in a large number of functions, such as neuronal development and plasticity, immune function, appetite regulation, metabolism and energy regulation, cognition, memory, pain, sleep, etc.

How is hemp (Cannabis Sativa) cultivated ?

In Belgium, the cultivation of hemp is mainly located in Wallonia. Hemp has been cultivated in the open fields (outdoor) for thousands of years, it is the natural method par excellence. Most of the CBD products that you will find in your store or online are made from hemp grown in the open air, whose flowers have been able to soak up the sun. Outdoor cultivation is the most natural and the least polluting; in our opinion, it is the one to choose to preserve the environment.

There is also an indoor culture. Great consumer of electricity, the culture of the hemp (Cannabis Sativa) indoor, or farm of Cannabis makes it possible not to worry about the code of nature and the climatic risks, and to thus obtain a uniform production all the year. The rate of humidity, the light, the nutrients, all is controlled by computer. We are here in an industrial production, despite its beautiful name of farm, sometimes disconnected from nature.

What does research say about CBD ?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a substance found naturally in hemp. Unlike THC-rich recreational cannabis, it has no psychotropic effect; it is not a medicine, however, and no health claim is authorised for CBD in the European Union (Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006). CBD is not a medicine: if you have a health problem or take medication, ask your doctor for advice before using any CBD product.

CBD & pain

Researchers are studying whether CBD could play a role in pain perception. Most of this work is preclinical (cells, animals) or involves small groups of people: the results do not allow any conclusion to be drawn, and CBD is not a painkiller.

CBD & inflammation

Laboratory and animal studies are exploring how CBD interacts with inflammatory processes. These results cannot be transposed to humans: in case of muscle or joint pain, or of an inflammatory disease, it is a doctor you should consult.

CBD & stress and anxiety

A few small clinical trials have looked at CBD and anxiety. Their small sample sizes do not allow any effect to be confirmed.

Other avenues (post-traumatic stress, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorders) are only research hypotheses. Anyone with an anxiety disorder should see a doctor: CBD is not a medicine.

CBD products

In Belgium, as in France or Switzerland, since the legalization of the sale of CBD, you can find in stores or online, all sorts of products with varying prices and quality, it is not always easy to know which are the best. We will guide you to find the products that are made for you:

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), so neither in Belgium nor in France, where the Ministry of Agriculture recalled it on 20 May 2026.
CBD flowers: in Belgium, smokable hemp products are treated as tobacco products: they must be notified to the FPS Public Health before being sold and are subject to excise duties. Always check the THC level stated on the analysis certificate; smoking is harmful to health.
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.
Etc.

CBD

Our advice to buy quality CBD in Belgium

You want to buy CBD in Belgium, but you hesitate between different products (flowers, balms, etc.), but also the mode of production, outdoor or indoor? A purchase in store, or online with delivery ? A nice promo, with an attractive price? It is sometimes difficult to find your way around, so here are our tips for buying quality CBD in Belgium.

Learn about the origin of hemp (Cannabis Sativa)

Cannabidiol, is derived from the flowers of industrial Hemp. If you want to buy the best CBD, find out where the plant comes from :

In which country or region is it produced ? According to the code of culture, certain phytosanitary products can be used or not.
What is the quality of the soil in which the plant grows ? If the soil is poor in nutrients, then the hemp will not be able to produce beautiful flowers rich in CBD.
Is it organic? Hemp purifies the soil, so it is important that the products that might be used during the growth of the plant are organic, so as not to pollute the plant, the soil, and your body.

Learn about the extraction process

Before being exposed on a shelf of your shop, or on the internet page of an online delivery store, your CBD product has undergone a few manufacturing steps on which the quality of the finished product greatly depends; one of the most critical is the extraction method. There are 3 of them.

Solvent extraction : The least expensive method to extract CBD from a hemp flower, but that is its only quality. Solvent extraction (isopropyl alcohol, butane, propane, ethanol), often leaves residues in the finished product. We advise against products made with this process.
The extraction of CBD by vegetable oil : CBD is extracted from the flowers using a vegetable oil (hemp oil, olive oil, sesame oil). Unfortunately, this method is not very effective, and the product obtained is relatively poor in CBD.
Supercritical CO2 extraction : This is the most expensive method, and has been used since the early 1980s in the food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries to extract certain molecules from plants. It allows to isolate, and to take with a perfect precision, the desired molecule(s) while preserving their properties. The extraction temperature is low, the molecules sensitive to heat such as phytocannabinoids (CBD, CBG, etc.), and terpenes are 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.

Choose a broad spectrum product

Today, in Belgium, France, Switzerland, and everywhere in Europe, you can find a multitude of CBD products, from flowers to balms. The stores are never short of ideas, and when buying, it is sometimes complicated to make a choice in front of all these items. 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.

With all our advice, you are ready to choose a compliant CBD product in Belgium. As a reminder, when you buy online or in a shop, be sure to check :