Last updated: October 2026
Yes, CBD is legal in the UK. Pure CBD is not a controlled drug, so CBD oils, capsules, gummies and balms are legal to buy, as long as they contain no controlled cannabinoids such as THC and food products are on the FSA’s public list. CBD flowers and buds are illegal, because the hemp flower counts as controlled cannabis.
This guide explains UK CBD law in plain English: what is legal and what isn’t, the THC rules, the FSA’s novel food process, product by product answers, and what it means for driving, travel, children and pets.
Is CBD legal in the UK?
Yes. CBD (cannabidiol) is one of more than 100 compounds found in the cannabis plant. Unlike THC, it does not make you high, and pure CBD is not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. That is why you can buy CBD oil in high street shops and online across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The rules that matter are about what else is in the product (no controlled cannabinoids), where the CBD comes from (not from the controlled parts of the plant), and, for food and supplements, food safety rules run by the Food Standards Agency (FSA).
How UK CBD law works
| Rule | Who sets it | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Drugs law | Home Office (Misuse of Drugs Act 1971) | Pure CBD is legal. THC and other controlled cannabinoids are Class B drugs. Cannabis flowers and leaves are controlled. |
| Food law | Food Standards Agency (FSA) | CBD foods and supplements are “novel foods” and must be on the FSA public list to be sold. |
| Medicines law | MHRA | CBD products sold as food or cosmetics cannot claim to treat or cure any condition. |
| Cosmetics law | Office for Product Safety and Standards | Balms and creams follow cosmetics rules. |
THC rules and the “0.2%” myth
You will often read that UK CBD products can contain up to 0.2% THC. That is a myth. The 0.2% figure relates to which hemp plant varieties licensed farmers can grow, not to how much THC a finished CBD product can contain.
Under drugs law, THC and other controlled cannabinoids are Class B drugs. Separately, for food safety, the FSA set a safe upper limit for THC in CBD foods in 2025 of 0.07mg a day for a 70kg adult. In practice, reputable brands sell broad spectrum or isolate products that show no detectable THC on independent lab tests.
Read more: CBD vs THC and hemp vs marijuana.
Novel foods and the FSA public list
Since 2019, CBD sold as food or a food supplement (oils, capsules, gummies and drinks) has counted as a “novel food”. Businesses had to apply to the FSA, and products linked to applications that passed the first checks were placed on the FSA’s public list. Products on that list can be sold while the applications are assessed. Products that are not on it should not be on sale.
In September 2026 the FSA board recommended the first three CBD products for full authorisation, at up to 10mg a day. Read the FSA’s first CBD approvals explained and the CBD daily limit in the UK.
Evopure’s CBD: our CBD products are on the FSA public list, linked to validated applications RP438, RP821 and RP47, and every batch is independently lab tested. See our lab reports.
Product by product: what is legal?
| Product | Legal in the UK? | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| CBD oil and drops | Yes | On the FSA public list, lab report showing no detectable THC |
| CBD capsules | Yes | As above |
| CBD gummies and edibles | Yes | As above; keep away from children |
| CBD drinks | Yes | As above |
| CBD balms and creams | Yes | Cosmetic rules; no medical claims |
| CBD vapes and e-liquids | Yes, if free of controlled cannabinoids | Only use purpose-made e-liquids; see can you vape CBD oil? |
| CBD flower, buds and “CBD weed” | No | Hemp flowers count as controlled cannabis, whatever the THC level |
| Hemp seed oil | Yes | Contains little or no CBD; see hemp oil vs CBD oil |
Why CBD flower and buds are illegal
Under the Misuse of Drugs Act, “cannabis” means the plant or any part of it, except the mature stalk, fibre from the stalk and the seeds. That means hemp flowers and leaves are controlled, even if they are low in THC and sold as “CBD buds” or for smoking. Selling, buying or possessing them can be an offence. CBD oils are legal because they are made from extracted CBD, not sold as the flower itself.
For the same reason, you cannot legally grow hemp or cannabis at home to make CBD. Growing hemp in the UK needs a Home Office licence, and licences only cover the parts of the plant that are not controlled.
CBD as a medicine
CBD sold in shops is a food supplement or cosmetic, not a medicine, so it cannot legally claim to treat or cure any condition. Separately, since November 2018 specialist doctors in the UK have been able to prescribe cannabis-based medicines, including a licensed CBD medicine for certain rare forms of epilepsy. These are prescription-only and very different from over-the-counter CBD. Read prescription CBD vs over-the-counter CBD.
Driving, travel, children and pets
- Driving: CBD is not illegal to drive on, but driving with THC in your system above the legal limit is an offence, and some products contain traces. Choose THC-free products. See CBD and driving in the UK and CBD and drug tests.
- Flying and travel: CBD laws vary a lot between countries. See flying with CBD oil and our country-by-country guide.
- Children: CBD is not illegal for under-18s, but the FSA advises that children should not take CBD unless under medical direction. See CBD for kids.
- Pets: CBD products for animals are treated as veterinary medicines in the UK, so speak to your vet. See CBD oil for dogs.
How to buy legal CBD
- Check the FSA public list or ask the brand which application its products are linked to.
- Read the lab report for each batch: CBD content and no detectable THC. See how to read CBD lab reports.
- Avoid medical claims. A brand promising to treat a condition is breaking the rules.
- Avoid flower and buds, which are not legal in the UK.
- Stick to the label’s daily amount and the FSA’s precautionary advice. See our CBD dosage guide.
See what is CBD? for a complete beginner’s guide.
FAQs
Is CBD oil legal in the UK?
Yes. CBD oil is legal to buy and sell in the UK as long as it contains no controlled cannabinoids such as THC and, as a food supplement, is linked to an application on the FSA’s public list.
Is CBD a controlled substance in the UK?
No. Pure CBD is not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. THC and other controlled cannabinoids are Class B drugs, and cannabis flowers and leaves are controlled.
When did CBD become legal in the UK?
CBD itself has never been a controlled drug in the UK. What changed was regulation: CBD foods became novel foods in 2019, the FSA published its public list of products in 2022, and the FSA recommended the first full authorisations in September 2026.
Is CBD flower legal in the UK?
No. Hemp flowers and buds count as controlled cannabis under UK law, whatever their THC level, so selling, buying or possessing them can be an offence.
Can you smoke CBD legally in the UK?
Not CBD flower or buds, which are controlled. Purpose-made CBD vape liquids that contain no controlled cannabinoids are legal.
What is the THC limit for UK CBD products?
There is no 0.2% limit for products; that figure relates to hemp plant varieties. THC is a controlled drug, and the FSA’s food safety upper limit is 0.07mg of THC a day for a 70kg adult. Choose products with lab reports showing no detectable THC.
Are CBD gummies and drinks legal in the UK?
Yes, as long as they are free of controlled cannabinoids and linked to an application on the FSA’s public list.
Is CBD oil available over the counter in the UK?
Yes. CBD food supplements are sold over the counter in shops, pharmacies and online. Prescription cannabis medicines are different and can only be prescribed by specialist doctors.
Can I grow hemp at home to make CBD?
No. Growing hemp or cannabis needs a Home Office licence, and hemp flowers and leaves are controlled.
Is CBD legal for children and pets?
It is not illegal for children, but the FSA advises under-18s not to take CBD unless under medical direction. CBD products for animals are treated as veterinary medicines, so speak to your vet.
Can I drive or fly with CBD?
CBD is not illegal to drive on, but driving with THC above the legal limit is an offence, so choose THC-free products. Rules for flying vary by country, so check before you travel.
Sources
- Home Office. Drug licensing factsheet: cannabis, CBD and other cannabinoids.
- Food Standards Agency. Cannabidiol (CBD): consumer advice.
- Food Standards Agency. CBD products linked to novel food applications (the public list).
- Food Standards Agency. CBD novel food applications: recommendations to ministers (September 2026).
This guide is general information, not legal advice.
