What is CBD and why is it in fashion?
CBD, or cannabidiol, is one of the more than 500 compounds found in the cannabis plant, along with THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, which is responsible for the psychoactive effects associated with marijuana use. However, CBD does not have these properties, but rather therapeutic and medicinal benefits are attributed to it, such as reducing inflammation, pain, anxiety or seizures. For this reason, more and more people are interested in products containing CBD, from oils and creams to infusions and honey.
The CBD market in Europe is booming, according to a report by the consulting firm Brightfield Group, which estimates that it will go from the 287 million euros it invoiced in 2018 to 1.5 billion in 2023, which represents a growth of more than 400% . Spain is one of the countries that contributes the most to this phenomenon, as it is improving regulations that guarantee the quality and safety of CBD products, which increases consumer confidence. It is expected that by the end of this year, the Spanish CBD market will reach 376 million euros, 30.82% more than the previous year.
Where can you buy CBD in Spain?
In Spain there are more than 25 physical stores dedicated to the sale of CBD products, most of them opened in 2018, in addition to numerous online stores that ship throughout the national and European territory. These stores offer a wide variety of products, from the so-called hemp buds or flowers, which are the parts of the plant with the highest concentration of CBD, to oils, creams, balms, infusions, candies or chocolates. Prices vary depending on the type and quantity of product, but are usually around eight or nine euros per gram of buds and 30 or 40 euros per bottle of oil.
Some of the best-known stores are Cañamera Española, which has three establishments in Madrid and plans to open others in San Sebastián, Valencia and Barcelona; CBDShop, which is located near Madrid’s Gran Vía and sells aromatic hemp flowers; Sativida, which has a store in Barcelona and distributes to Madrid and other cities; or Bee Mine Lab, which combines beekeeping with cannabis and produces the first honey with CBD in Spain. It is expected that at least eight more stores will open in different parts of the country by the end of the year.
What does the law say about CBD in Spain?
The legislation on CBD in Spain is complex and confusing, as it depends on several factors, such as the origin, composition and use of the product. According to the 1971 Vienna Convention of the United Nations on Narcotic Drugs, THC is a psychotropic substance that is under international control, but CBD is not. However, the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products establishes that cannabis plants with concentrations greater than 0.2% of THC are considered narcotics and their cultivation, possession and consumption are prohibited.
Until February 2018, some companies marketed products with CBD as a food supplement, but in March of that year, the Spanish Agency for Consumer Affairs, Food Safety and Nutrition ordered them to be withdrawn from the market, since CBD was not included in the list of authorized food supplements. Since then, CBD can only be used as a cosmetic or industrial product, but cannot be sold for human consumption, unless it is an authorized medicine, such as Sativex, which is used to treat spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis.
However, there is a legal loophole that allows the marketing of CBD products from other countries in the European Union, as long as they have been produced and placed on the market legally in those countries. In that case, the Spanish authorities cannot prevent its sale, since the principle of free circulation of goods applies. For this reason, many of the stores that sell CBD in Spain import their products from countries such as Switzerland, Italy or France, where the legislation is more permissive.
