At the federal level, everything about CBD comes down to one simple detail: the amount of THC inside it.

When Congress passed the Farm Bill in 2018, it set a clear dividing line. Hemp with 0.3 percent THC or less became legal across the country. Anything stronger was placed in the marijuana category, still treated as a Schedule I drug.

Since that law took effect, every state has taken its own path. In some, CBD is treated like any other crop or supplement.

You can walk into a gas station or pharmacy and see it on the shelves without much regulation.

Others have built tight systems around it, requiring lab testing, labels, and licenses, almost as if it were a prescription product.

Some states take no chances at all, demanding that every trace of THC be removed before a single bottle or gummy is sold.

As you can see, the picture is mixed. Some states welcome CBD freely, others keep a firm grip on it, and a few make it nearly impossible to buy or sell.

That is why understanding exactly where CBD is legal, regulated, or restricted in 2025 is essential before anyone decides to grow, sell, or use it.

US States Where CBD Is Legal

CBD became legal at the federal level when hemp with less than 0.3% THC was removed from the Controlled Substances Act.

That change opened the industry to farmers, researchers, and businesses.

Some states, like Colorado and Oregon, allowed broad access and treated CBD as a consumer product.

Others, including Texas and Florida, introduced stricter oversight, often tying it to medical cannabis programs.

In several states, the legal definition of hemp was tightened further, with clear rules on THC content and product standards.

So while federal law allowed CBD to enter the mainstream, how it’s handled still depends heavily on where you are.

The list below covers where CBD is fully legal in the United States.

Why So Many States Decided to Legalize CBD?

The movement to legalize CBD did not begin in corporate boardrooms or political strategy meetings. It started with families, especially parents, searching for real solutions when conventional medicine had failed.

At public hearings, they shared personal stories and held up small bottles of CBD oil that had stopped their children’s seizures when nothing else could. Their experiences reached lawmakers who, until then, had viewed cannabis as a closed subject.

Physicians began to speak out, too. Some had seen CBD ease nerve pain, lower inflammation, or help patients struggling with anxiety and sleep disorders.

As early research backed those results, it became harder to dismiss CBD as another cannabis product. Many in the medical field came to see it as a treatment option with therapeutic value and no intoxicating effects.

Economics played a role as well. In rural communities hit hard by falling tobacco and grain prices, hemp looked like a lifeline. Lawmakers saw the potential: new jobs, local investment, tax revenue, and an agricultural product with a relatively low environmental footprint. In areas that had been losing industry for decades, hemp processing facilities brought activity back to empty mills and abandoned warehouses.

Even pet owners added to the momentum. Some veterinarians began recommending CBD for dog arthritis, and the results were hard to ignore. Dogs that once struggled to stand were walking comfortably again. As videos and personal accounts spread online, many people saw the benefits for themselves, clear and visible changes that made the issue feel less abstract and far more personal.

US States Where CBD Is Regulated

Some states chose not to open the door entirely. They recognized the economic and medical potential of CBD but wanted tighter control over how it was made available to the public.

Officials in those states argued that CBD, although non-intoxicating, still required guardrails, such as accurate labeling, verified lab results, and clear rules on who could sell it.

Regulated states tend to require manufacturers to prove purity and potency through licensed testing labs.

Labels must list every ingredient, batch number, and THC content.

US States Where CBD Is Still Restricted or Practically Illegal

As of 2025, most states have found a way to accept CBD. But a few still haven’t budged. It’s not because people are against it or because the products are unsafe.

The issue usually comes down to how those states define what’s legal.

Under federal law, hemp is legal if it contains 0.3 percent THC or less. That’s the standard most states follow.

But in a handful of places, any trace of THC is still seen as a problem.

Nebraska is one of the clearest examples.

The state allows hemp farming with a license, but it doesn’t allow CBD to be sold in stores.

That means you can grow the plant, but you can’t legally sell what you make from it.

Business owners risk fines or even criminal charges for selling the same products that are widely available just across the border.

Idaho has a similar rule. CBD is only allowed if it contains absolutely zero THC.

Even the tiniest amount makes it illegal to sell or possess.

Kansas takes the same position. Since most CBD products have at least trace amounts of THC, nearly all major brands are effectively banned in those states.

It’s a strange and frustrating situation. Someone can legally buy CBD in one state, then drive an hour and be at risk of breaking the law for carrying the same bottle.

Federal law may have cleared a path, but a few states still treat CBD as if nothing has changed.

It’s a Different Story When it Comes to Marijuana

In just a few years, legal marijuana has gone from a fringe issue to a major part of national policy conversations.

Nearly half the states allow full adult use, and most of the rest have some form of medical program in place.

The U.S. now lives with a strange mix of access and restriction.

In one state, you can legally buy cannabis gummies at a licensed store. In another, having the same product could lead to an arrest.

Take a look at the legal status of marijuana in all 50 states.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Bottom Line

CBD is now part of everyday life in the U.S. You’ll find it on shelves in grocery stores, at local pharmacies, and in medicine cabinets across the country.

What started as a last hope for families looking for relief has grown into something much bigger, a turning point in both public health and small business.

The 2018 Farm Bill made it possible by legalizing hemp at the federal level. But it was up to each state to decide how far to go with that opportunity.