When CBD oil first arrived on the market, there was a fair amount of controversy surrounding cannabis-derived products and devout Muslims.
Under Islamic law, only things that are considered to be halal are permitted. If it is haram, it is forbidden.
However, CBD seems to exist in an unusual grey area. While some believe that anything derived from the cannabis plant is haram because it has the potential to get you high, others believe that as long as the CBD oil does not contain THC, it is halal.
In this article, we will explore:
- Is CBD oil halal?
- Which CBD products are haram
- How to ensure your CBD is halal
We will also share tips for Muslim customers looking to find a CBD oil that fits in with their faith. But before exploring whether CBD oil is halal or haram, we first need to understand what it is and where it comes from.
In this guide:
What is CBD oil?
CBD oil is extracted from a strain of cannabis plant known as industrial hemp. This is naturally high in cannabinoids such as CBD but low in THC.
CBD oil is commonly used as a health and well-being supplement due to the potential benefits of CBD, such as improving sleep and inducing a sense of calm.
It is available in various products such as a sublingual oil, CBD capsules, gummy sweets, CBD vapes and more.
There are also three types of CBD – full-spectrum, broad-spectrum or isolate. These types of CBD contain varying amounts of THC, which impacts the halal status of CBD products.
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Does CBD oil make you high?
This is an essential factor when settling the issue of whether CBD is halal or haram.
The compound responsible for the “high” in cannabis is THC.
But, CBD products are made from industrial hemp, which is naturally low in THC, meaning that they should not induce a high.
However, there is always the risk of a product being incorrectly labelled as low THC.
The only way to confirm the cannabinoid contents is with a certificate of analysis from third-party lab testing. This will help to verify that there is no THC in the product, and therefore it cannot get you high.
The vast majority of CBD products available to buy online and in shops will have safe and legal levels of THC. But, it’s essential to confirm this before using a new CBD oil product, especially if you are concerned that the CBD may be haram.
Read more: How to read CBD lab results
Is CBD oil halal?
CBD is regarded as halal by most Muslim scholars because it is an organic plant extract that does not alter your mental state. So, provided that CBD contains no THC, it’s allowed under Muslim law.
This is where it’s essential to understand the different types of CBD.
Full-spectrum CBD contains minute traces of THC, which some Muslims find acceptable because the quantities are negligible. On the other hand, broad-spectrum CBD and CBD isolate contain no THC and are, therefore, halal.
So, for Muslims looking to use CBD, it’s best to take broad-spectrum CBD or CBD isolate products that are THC-free and certified as halal. It’s also vital to purchase high-quality CBD with a third-party lab certificate that verifies the content of the CBD product.
Are any CBD products haram?
While CBD is halal, some CBD products may not be.
CBD is often not the only ingredient, so Muslims need to pay close attention to the other ingredients in their CBD products.
CBD gummies will often contain gelatin, and CBD capsules may be covered with a film coating, such as Shellac, that is not halal. Vaping is not halal, even if you use it for CBD and not tobacco products.
To summarise, the following CBD products are often not halal:
- CBD products with high levels of THC
- Gummies made from gelatin
- CBD capsules with a Shellac coating
- CBD vape
Is cannabis halal or haram?
Now that we know CBD is halal, let’s take a look at cannabis.
Cannabis grown for recreational use is typically low in CBD and high in THC – meaning it can produce a high.
Since cannabis is a mind-altering substance, it is considered to be haram by many Muslim scholars, although the Quran does not directly forbid it.
One clear exception is medical cannabis, which is regarded as halal if prescribed to treat a specific condition.
However, some fear that becoming intoxicated with cannabis (medical or recreational) could lower inhibitions and lead to immoral behaviour.
In addition, some consider anything intoxicating to be haram, and cannabis would fall under this category.
However, since cannabis is a natural product and may be used to heal, others argue that it should be permissible in certain situations.
Read more: Prescription CBD
Tips to ensure you have halal-certified CBD
So, even though CBD is halal, not all products are the same, and it’s important for Muslims to choose the correct products.
Here are a few things to be on the lookout for when choosing halal-certified CBD.
The extraction method
Some CBD brands may use solvent extraction to separate the plant material. However, this method often uses ethanol (alcohol) as a solvent, which would make it haram.
The best CBD products are produced using supercritical CO2 extraction, which does not leave any solvent residue behind and does not use alcohol in the production process.
Read more: How is CBD extracted?
Choose broad-spectrum CBD or CBD isolate
As mentioned above, it’s also best to look for a broad-spectrum CBD or CBD isolate that contains no THC at all.
It’s also important to ensure that these products are made using a halal carrier oil and that they contain no additional ingredients that are not halal.
Look for a COA
When it comes to choosing halal CBD, look for products that have been lab-tested by a third party and comes with a certificate of analysis.
CBD statistics show that in the UK, more than 45% of CBD products contain a higher than advertised level of THC. Some products have also been shown to have very high levels of ethanol.
Therefore, it’s important to check the compositional analysis certificate of your product to confirm the content.
This should be available to view before you purchase, but ask the seller if you aren’t sure. And if a company does not reveal what CBD oil they are selling, it is best to avoid them.
Final thoughts
Whether or not CBD is halal may come down to a personal choice, but there are steps Muslim customers can take to protect themselves.
Always check the ingredients to confirm there are no forbidden items in the product. And always ask for a certificate of analysis to verify the cannabinoid contents of your product.
