Is Hemp Legal in Australia?
Given the Australian government’s tough stance on cannabis, you may have asked the question – is hemp oil legal in Australia?
The short answer is yes. Hip-hip-hooray for anyone looking to tap into its health-supporting benefits!
How Is Hemp Oil Legal in Australia?
Hemp oils contain low levels of Delta-9 THC. That is not to say that they won't give you feelings of euphoria as many new hemp derived cannabinoids are being discovered every day.
Unfortunately, due to Australia’s stringent blanket laws on anything to do with the hemp plant, the government also banned hemp oil products due to their origins.
For a long time, if you pulled up Google and asked the question, is hemp oil legal in Australia? The internet would have told you in a loud, unwavering voice: NO.
The good news is that views are gradually changing on this super-plant, and the laws are beginning to reflect that.
Hemp Oil from an Australian Legal Viewpoint
There is often an air of confusion around whether or not hemp oil is legal in Australia.
Confusing advertisements online, conflicting articles written by different news sources, or spokespeople on TV may have blurred the message.
Allow us to clear the air once and for all. Is hemp oil legal in Australia? The answer today is yes.
The confusion seems to be tied up with the fact that hemp seed oil and hemp oil are often mixed up. Derived from the seeds of the hemp plant, hemp seed oil contains relatively little CBD, while hemp oil is obtained from the stalks, leaves, and other parts of the hemp plant, allowing more of the compound CBD to be present. Hemp oil is now legal in Australia, but it is challenging to access without a prescription.
This has caused many Australians to look towards reputable overseas brands to supply their hemp oil. The laws show that as long as the hemp oil contains the required amount of 98% cannabidiol or more and 0.005 percent or less of Delta-9 THC, they are permitted. Klean Lean Australia products contain less than the prohibited amount of Delta-9 on a dry weight basis. These are the legal limits allowed by the 2018 US Farm Bill and the Federal Government for hemp oil in Australia.
In 2021, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) announced that the accessibility of CBD could be changing as early as February, where it may be downgraded to schedule 3; anyone could buy it over the counter at pharmacies in Australia and the same percentages listed above would not apply. This is a huge step towards legalizing hemp and cannabis products as governments and scientific bodies begin to uncover this plant’s potential.
If Hemp Oil Is Legal in Australia, Why Is It So Hard to Buy?
Many people don’t know the rules surrounding hemp oil in Australia. The government’s confusing stance on the industry has left the door open for dubious companies to sell fraudulent products to their customers.
In the past, some products have been sold under the label of CBD oil, despite having none of the phytonutrients and compounds that would scientifically classify it as such. This results in one of two things.
A customer buys a counterfeit product and becomes disengaged from the space.
The product gets banned for not meeting the correct percentage requirements, as CBD oil must contain at least 98% CBD and less than 0.005% THC.
This has made Australia’s hemp industry a dark and confusing place to be. But that is all changing. Hemp oil can be bought online as long as it meets CBD and THC requirements. Be careful to look at companies’ reviews and processes and always purchase from reputable businesses like kleanlean.com.
What Do Australian Hemp Laws Mean for the Future?
As the government slowly reduces its tough stance on cannabis, we can expect a boom in the Australian industrial hemp industry, with some predicting the market to be worth a whopping $61.5 billion by 2024.
This is an extremely positive sign for industrial hemp in Australia. As the government begins to reap the industry’s rewards through taxes, increased employment, and export relations, money may start to flow into studying and understanding better the incredible health benefits of hemp.
This advancement in the sector will be welcomed with open arms. Many countries, including the United States, Canada, Netherlands, Spain, and the UK, have completely legalized CBD for personal use, and it is a readily available and highly profitable industry.
As our allies and neighbors start to discover the hemp plant’s benefits, Australia is looking likely to follow suit.
Overview of Hemp Oil’s Australian Legal Status
Hemp oil Australia laws aren’t confusing – it’s the conversation around the rules that is.
It is very clear that the only permitted hemp oil (not to be confused with hemp seed oil) in Australia is that which contains 0.005% or less THC. If it is any higher, it falls into the illicit drug category and is no longer legal.
If the hemp oil contains levels lower than mentioned above, it can be legally sold online and in stores.
It is important to look out for marketing teams and fraudulent companies that will sell low-quality oils at premium prices, disguising them as high-quality products, when in reality, they actually contain very little cannabidiol.
As a consumer, it is essential to remain vigilant and know what you are buying and who you are buying it from. To combat this type of activity in the industry, Klean Kloud, LLC has all of our products analyzed and tested by 3rd party laboratories who provide the results online for all to see. This means that you will always know what is inside every bottle when you buy a Klean Lean product.
