CBD and its legal status in Mexico
A few years ago, it seemed that Mexico was headed towards legalizing cannabis. At that time, products made with CBD, a non-intoxicating cannabinoid, began to appear in some stores. However, progress in this regard has stalled in recent times. Cofepris, the entity in charge of granting the necessary licenses for the CBD trade, seized products from the Paradise company. Given this situation, the question arises: is CBD legal in Mexico or not?
The meaning of CBD
Cannabis can influence our perception, mood and even appetite, thanks to one of its components known as cannabinoids, such as THC. These effects occur because THC is structurally similar to the cannabinoids we produce naturally.
CBD is the second most abundant cannabinoid in the cannabis plant. Unlike THC, CBD does not have intoxicating effects. In addition, it can be consumed and fulfills various important functions, such as acting as an effective anxiolytic.
Legality of CBD in Mexico
Because CBD does not produce the same intoxicating effects as THC, its use is perfectly legal in many places, regardless of the legal status of cannabis. This is the case, technically, in Mexico.
At the federal level, products made with cannabis are illegal. However, products made with CBD have recently appeared in various stores, ranging from edibles, such as certain types of candy, to topicals that are applied to the skin.
Mexican laws allow the marketing of cannabis-derived products that contain CBD and 1% or less of THC. However, manufacturers and merchants must have a permit issued by the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks, known as Cofepris.
Seizure of CBD products
Despite the legality of CBD, 1,811 CBD products from the Paradise company were seized in July of this year, and one of its stores was closed. Information on at least 165 of its products was apparently irregular. According to Cofepris, all cannabis species, whether sativa or indica, used by Paradise to manufacture its products, are illegal.
Therefore, the answer to the question about the legality of CBD in Mexico cannot be definitive. It appears that products containing it are legal, as long as their THC content does not exceed 1%. However, the plant from which they are extracted is not.
