Is CBD Oil Legal in Illinois?

The wonders of modern medicine are excellent for treating diseases and disorders. But unfortunately, many medications have a laundry list of side effects that may cause you serious discomfort.

As a result, you might be considering alternative medicines, such as medical marijuana or CBD oil. These plant-based treatments can provide relief with much fewer side effects, which can enable you to lead a more pain-free and comfortable life.

If you’re wondering “is CBD oil legal in Illinois,” then read on. Here, we discuss CBD laws in the state and more.

What Is CBD Oil?

CBD stands for “cannabidiol.” This is a cannabinoid that’s extracted from either marijuana or hemp plants. CBD is often compared or contrasted with THC, which is the active ingredient in marijuana.

Although THC and CBD interact with your body in different ways, one key difference is CBD doesn’t get you “high” unlike the psychoactive effects of THC.

While the two compounds really work best together in varying ratios for maximum effects, many people prefer to start with CBD-rich products, or at least use them during certain times of the day.

To get CBD oil that won’t get you “high,” you need to make sure the product you’re receiving has little to no THC in it. This may require a bit of research. Because the CBD market is not fully regulated, a lot of inferior products have made their way to consumers. These products can be mislabeled, containing little to no CBD – or notable levels of THC.

Because of these issues, consumers need to proceed with caution and do their homework. Not only will an inferior CBD product lead to a waste of time and money, but it can also lead to a failed drug test if the product contains more THC than advertised.

In other words, you want to be extra careful in which CBD product you choose.

What Can I Use It For?

CBD is believed to interact with your endocannabinoid system, which is responsible for things like pain, appetite, mood, metabolism, inflammation, and more. Some people use CBD oil to treat depression, anxiety, acne, insomnia, and seizures.

Since CBD is a relatively new product that has had legal complications, not many studies have been done on its effects. The only thing it’s approved for by the FDA is for seizures.

While you can find plenty of anecdotal stories about patients having had success with CBD, one must also consider the placebo effect, product variation, and the differences in one person’s body from the next.

In December 2018, President Trump and Congress the 2018 Farm Bill that legalized products made from hemp. This makes all CBD oil made from hemp legal in all 50 states, including Illinois.

In 2013, medical marijuana was legalized in Illinois, then recreational use was decriminalized in 2016. At the end of May 2019, the state legalized the use of recreational marijuana, starting in 2020.

What this means is if you want to be completely safe when using CBD oil, your best bet is to find a reputable product manufacturer that is transparent about their processes while also willing to offer certificates of analysis, which verify the quality of the product.

How to Use Cannabis Oil

If you’re interested in using CBD oil, there are several methods on taking it. Below, we’ll discuss each one so you can determine the optimal delivery method for you.

Smoking or Vaping

This is one of the quickest ways to feel the effects of CBD oil. This is because it goes straight to your lungs and bloodstream.

If you’re used to smoking or vaping already, then this can be a good option for you. You won’t have to learn a new method of delivery. If you don’t want such a harsh feeling when you inhale CBD, we suggest you vape it instead of smoke.

Vaping cannabis oil will require special devices, such as a vape pen.

You also have the option of smoking or vaping dried CBD flower. Again if you want to vape the CBD flower, you will need a vaping device designed for dry flower.

Topical Application

If you get sore muscles or headaches/migraines, you might want to try a topical application. This is where you rub some of the balm or ointment onto the area you want to treat.

For example, if you have a migraine, you’d rub the CBD balm or ointment on your forehead or temples. If you have a sore tricep, then you’d massage the balm or ointment there.

Effects are quick but mild, so you may need more CBD for topical applications than with other methods.

You can also find CBD bath salts and patches. Additionally, CBD tinctures can also be applied topically.

Edibles

Just like with marijuana, you can bake CBD oil into some goodies. However, as we’ve said above, CBD won’t have psychoactive effects, so you won’t get “high.”

Some companies have ready-made CBD edibles you can order. That way, it’s simple to take. All you have to do is order the CBD edible and you can ingest it as soon as it arrives.

You can also bake CBD into your own food. Examples include CBD-infused butter and pasta; these can be made by putting drops of CBD oil in.

It can take anywhere from 1 to 4 hours for the edibles to work, so you’ll want to start with a small quantity first. That way, you won’t risk taking too much and experiencing uncomfortable side effects.

Sublingual Application

Sublingual application is where you put drops under your tongue, hold for 1 minute, and swallow the CBD oil. While this method works quicker than edibles do, it still takes about 20 minutes for you to feel its effects.

If you want long-term relief, a sublingual application is a good method to choose. You’ll have to apply drops a few times a day to build up CBD in your system. As a result, you’ll reap more lasting benefits.

What’s the Right Dose?

There’s no one single “right” dose for everyone, as CBD oil isn’t a one-size-fits-all treatment. Instead, you need to start off with a low dose and work your way up.

For example, if you use sublingual drops, you might want to start with 3 drops, twice a day. After a week, assess if you feel the benefits yet. If you don’t consider increasing either the number of drops or daily frequency.

While there are no real adverse side effects to CBD oil, taking too much can make you feel ill. If this happens, then you’ll want to decrease the amount you’re taking. Once you find that happy medium, then keep taking that dosage.

Combining CBD With Other Medications

When taking CBD, potential interactions with specific pharmaceuticals is one area will people need to be extra cautious. Have you ever seen medication that warns against combing with grapefruit? Same issue with high levels of CBD.

Like grapefruit, CBD has the ability to neutralize certain enzymes in your liver, which will make it harder for your body to metabolize specific medications. Essentially, the medication will hang around in your system longer than intended, which can create issues with dosage. This is especially a concern with prescription blood thinners like warfarin, for example.

This doesn’t have to be a showstopper, however. It simply means that patients will want to work with their doctors and a cannabis specialist to adjust their dosage levels.

Try CBD Oil for Relief

As you can see, the answer to the question “is CBD oil legal in Illinois” is yes. The farm bill of December 2018 was a huge turning point for the industry. It opened the door for people to access alternatives to pharmaceutical drugs without fear of doing something illegal.

So if you’re tired of suffering side effects from your prescribed drugs, try using CBD oil for some relief. With this plant-based remedy, you’ll reap at least some of the benefits of cannabis without the psychoactive effects.

Are you interested in using cannabis for your ailments? Then get in touch with us today to discover how becoming a patient could grant you access to some of the best CBD products available today.