Whether you’re a native Hawkeye or simply passing through, you may find yourself wondering — Can I buy CBD in Iowa?
People without a medical card can now buy CBD products, but that wasn’t possible until 2020.
Although the CBD waters were murky for a few years, CBD is indeed legal in Iowa, so if you find yourself looking for CBD oil in the Hawkeye state, you’re in luck — so long as you follow a few of the state’s CBD caveats.
CBD Laws in Iowa: What You Need to Know
The CBD laws in Iowa have changed in recent years, albeit at a slower pace and with a few more gray areas than in other states. Although the 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp containing 0.3% of tetrahydrocannabinol THC or less from the controlled substance list, Iowa didn’t immediately change its state laws, which continued to list CBD as an illegal substance.
Later, in 2019, under the Iowa Hemp Act, the state made changes to hemp and hemp-related products. It states that consumable hemp products in Iowa must contain 0.3% or less THC on a dry-weight basis. Other stipulations include:
- Consumption – Although the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) doesn’t list approved consumable products, the Iowa Hemp Act states that consumables include non-combustible forms of hemp that can be ingested or absorbed through the skin, such as oils or topicals.
- Hemp license – According to Section 204.4 of the Iowa Hemp Act, individuals must fill out an application with the following information to be considered for a license to grow and manufacture hemp: The person’s name and address, a map and description of each place you intend to grow hemp, the number of acres intended for growing the crop, the name and type of hemp to be grown and the results of a national criminal history record check.
- Inspections and tests – The DIA conducts annual inspections for licensed crop sites, which include obtaining a sample from the crop and testing it for a concentration of 0.3% of THC or less. In order to conduct the tests, the licensee must contact the DIA with the expected harvest date of their crop at least 30 days before the crop is ready for harvest. Then, someone from the department will come to the property and collect samples.
- Criminal offense – Under Section 204.14A of the Iowa Hemp Act, anyone who possesses, handles, manufactures or distributes hemp products meant to be consumed via inhalation is subject to criminal penalty. This includes (but is not limited to) heated devices that produce smoke or vapor or naturally rolled substances that are used to inhale CBD or THC products.
Is CBD Legal in Iowa?
In short, yes. Although people without a medical card can now buy CBD products, that wasn’t possible until 2020. Here’s a brief history of how CBD became legal in Iowa.
Originally, Iowa state law mandated that marijuana consisted of all parts of the cannabis plant. Because CBD is derived from the cannabis plant, it was documented as marijuana, which was listed under Schedule I of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act.
The only exception to the rule was Iowa Code Chapter 124E, Iowa’s Medical Cannabidiol Act, which was signed in 2017. Under this act, medical cannabidiol (mCBD) products with a THC level of no higher than 3% could be manufactured and sold to individuals with state-issued mCBD registration cards.
In 2018, the Farm Bill was passed, which removed hemp from its list of controlled substances, which meant that hemp could legally be grown, manufactured and sold throughout the country. For Iowa, however, CBD was still listed as a controlled substance until 2019 when the state introduced the Iowa Hemp Act.
In 2020, the USDA approved the Iowa Hemp Act, and individuals without medical mCBD cards were legally able to purchase CBD products containing no more than 0.3% of THC, although any products that are introduced via inhalation are still prohibited under Iowa Code 204.14A.
Can I Buy CBD in Iowa?
Under the Iowa Hemp Act, it is legal to buy CBD in Iowa with or without a medical card so long as the CBD product is manufactured and sold through a registered retailer. Smokable CBD, however, is still illegal in the state.
Can I Buy CBD Online?
People in Iowa interested in buying CBD can conveniently purchase products through registered online retailers. There are a few advantages to buying CBD products online, one of which includes a larger variety of broad-spectrum and full-spectrum products to choose from when shopping online.
In addition, many online retailers provide a Label Accuracy Guarantee, which ensures that the ingredients listed on the company’s CBD products match what’s listed on the label. Zebra CBD proudly offers a Label Accuracy Guarantee for all of its products, so that consumers can feel confident knowing exactly what’s in their product, and what isn’t—no heavy metals, microbials or pesticides.
Can I Buy CBD at a Dispensary?
Individuals in Iowa can purchase CBD products at a registered dispensary, but they often offer a more limited supply of products, like creams, tinctures and capsules. Through a registered online retailer, you’ll be able to purchase other CBD products like gummies, chewables and more –– so long as they contain 0.3% or less of THC.
Legal Status of CBD in Iowa
CBD is legal in Iowa. While there are no legal age restrictions when purchasing CBD products, the purchasing age may differ depending on where the consumer is shopping, as some vendors set a strict age limit.
That said, CBD laws in the state of Iowa are likely to change as federal and state regulations develop.
Legal Disclaimer
The information contained above is provided for educational and informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice. The provided information may not reflect current legal developments or information and is not guaranteed to be correct, complete or current. We recommend checking our source(s) to see if the information or legal status has been revised since our content was published.
FAQ
1. Is CBD legal in Iowa?
Yes, individuals can purchase CBD products when they’re manufactured and sold by registered retailers.
2. How old do you have to be to buy CBD in Iowa?
Currently, there are no legal age restrictions in Iowa, but it’s up to the discretion of each registered vendor.
3. Can I sell CBD products in Iowa?
Individuals may sell CBD products in Iowa if they’ve registered through the DIA. They must keep a copy of their certificate at the dispensary’s physical location.
Source:
Iowa Hemp Act. Chapter 204. https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/204.pdf
Iowa Department of Justice. Attorney General’s Statement on Hemp and CBD Products. https://idph.iowa.gov/Portals/1/userfiles/234/hemp_statement_A8AFF8F160A43.pdf
FDA. Hemp Production and the 2018 Farm Bill. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/congressional-testimony/hemp-production-and-2018-farm-bill-07252019
Iowa Department of Inspection and Appeals. Consumable Hemp. https://dia.iowa.gov/consumable-hemp
