‘Edibles’ was once a word reserved for the Black Market, but with CBD businesses popping up all over the world in recent years, it’s become much more of a mainstream term. This can be confusing when you see hemp-derived gummies on trusted websites like Hemp Elf. Are edibles legal in the UK?

Are Edibles Legal in the UK?

In one sense, yes. In another, very much no! It all comes down to what your edibles contain. Traditionally, the word ‘edibles’ was reserved for food products made using cannabis material – the high THC variety, not the cannabis light you can buy from Hemp Elf, which is THC free. Unfortunately, THC edibles remain illegal in the UK, even for medical cannabis patients. 

Whether you’re smoking, eating, vaping or using topically, all products containing THC are illegal in the UK, unless you have a prescription which makes it legal to vape or consume your prescribed cannabis oil or flower.

CBD edibles, on the other hand, made using low to no THC hemp or cannabis flower are legal in the UK, just as CBD oils are legal. These can be a great way to get your daily dose of CBD on-the-go, or for anyone who struggles with the process of using an oil dropper or vape. 

When buying CBD edibles in the UK, you must ensure they meet the following regulations:

• They contain less than 0.2% THC
• The CBD products have a valid Food Standards Association application for Novel Foods
• The CBD edibles have been tested by an independent, third-party lab

What are CBD edibles? 

‘Edible’ is really just a word for something that you eat, but usually a CBD edible will come in the form of a gummy sweet or chocolate. Unfortunately, many edibles out there do not taste as good as they look. Often, if they contain CBD oil, they retain a strong hemp flavour which most people agree doesn’t lend itself to a tasty treat! Here at Hemp Elf, however, we’ve managed to create a huge selection of some of your favourite, classic sweets, infused with hemp CBD oil, without the bitter edge. 

Choose from a range including cola bottles, gummy bears, bananas and strawberry gummies for a THC free, CBD loaded munchy…without the munchies.

Can you legally buy CBD gummies in the UK?

Yes, you can legally buy CBD gummies in the UK! Providing they come from a trusted CBD supplier, like Hemp Elf, and the lab reports show they are within the legal THC limit according to UK law, CBD gummies are legal to buy in the UK.

As illegal cannabis edibles often don’t have a cannabis odour, and they look like regular sweet, chocolates or CBD gummies, they can be easily mistaken for something legal. While it is possible to buy unregulated CBD gummies, it’s a vastly more sensible idea to buy your CBD edibles from an official and regulated store, so you can rest assured your edibles are CBD ones, not full fat cannabis!

Will CBD edibles get me high?

Just like CBD oil, which can only contain a maximum limit of 0.2% THC in the UK, CBD edibles can’t get you high. They will produce much the same effect as CBD oil albeit with a slower onset (the CBD has to go through your digestive system first, rather than being absorbed via the sublingual gland under your tongue) and lower bioavailability.

Illegal edibles which contain THC will get you high. In fact, they’re likely to get you higher than vaping or smoking, due to a conversion process that happens when THC undergoes the digestive process. As taking cannabis in this way takes much longer to take effect than smoking, vaping or ingesting oil, it’s even more important than usual to start low and go slow. It’s easy to take too much, and once you’re on that train there’s no getting off for a while!

Can I make edibles with my UK cannabis prescription?

Whether your cannabis is legally prescribed, or you’ve bought low THC hemp flower from Hemp Elf, it is technically illegal to smoke or cook with the flower. Fortunately, when it comes to CBD edibles, you don’t have to make your own. We don’t sell brownies, but our gummies will scratch the itch!

When asking “are edibles legal in the UK?” there’s a lot to take into account, but the simple answer is this: as long as your edibles are within the UK legal limit for THC, the answer is yes! However, if your edible is infused with high THC cannabis, it’s a no. Stay safe by buying from trusted suppliers, and when it comes to dose regardless of whether it’s hemp or cannabis, start low and go slow for the best results.