With the increasing popularity of hemp products worldwide, one of the most frequently asked questions is ‘is CBD legal in Lithuania?’. Today, you can see hemp products almost everywhere – they are offered by many physical and online shops. Just take your pick!
And yet, CBD, or cannabidiol, was illegal in Lithuania for a long time. What about now? We will answer all your questions!
CBD in Lithuania and Europe: a brief history
CBD has taken Europe and the world by surprise over the past few years. The increasing availability of hemp products has shown great prospects for global economic growth. However, the somewhat more complicated and late availability of CBD in European markets, including Lithuania, was mainly determined by the number of countries that make up the Old Continent. It is basically impossible to have a standard set of laws and regulations in 44 countries (of which only 28 are members of the European Union).
Without common legislation, EU Member States can create an individual legal framework, taking into account the principle of free movement of goods.
After extremely long discussions, Lithuania took the step to legalise CBD at the end of 2021. What changed?
In 2021, the Government made a decision to allow the production of products from various parts of hemp (not only from seeds, as was the case before, but also from leaves, fibre and flowers). This step turned the green light for CBD oil and other valuable CBD products in Lithuania.
With the growing popularity of CBD, online commerce has made it easier for retailers to enter a market that would otherwise have been difficult to do. Today, cannabidiol products are widely available to healthy people suffering from various problems throughout Lithuania.
What is the difference between CBD and THC?
Such stringent THC concentration requirements are due to the fact that tetrahydrocannabinol, one of the many cannabinoids found in the hemp plant, is the only psychoactive component in hemp. THC can have strong hallucinogenic effects, making it undesirable for many people.
CBD, or cannabidiol, is also extracted from the hemp plant, but cannabidiol oil, capsules and other products do not have any unwanted hallucinogenic effects. In contrast, CBD has completely different, but no less surprising, properties.
Benefits of CBD for the human body
With active research analysing the effects of CBD in these specific areas, more and more benefits of cannabidiol for health, well-being and aesthetics are coming to light. Let’s discuss at least a few of them.
CBD helps with neurological disorders
The experience has shown that CBD may benefit patients resistant to anti-epileptic medicines. In epilepsy, there is a certain neurological threshold in the brain, which, when triggered by certain environmental stimuli, causes the patient to have a seizure. CBD can help delay this neurological threshold and prevent most seizures, even when the usual medications used to control epilepsy are not effective.
Other studies show that CBD is effective in alleviating and successfully controlling the symptoms of multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. This is thanks to the unique neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory properties of cannabidiol. However, more research is needed. For now, numerous experts assume that many of these symptoms may be alleviated not by pure CBD (such as CBD tincture), but by a combination of CBD and other cannabinoids (such as full-spectrum CBD oil).
CBD alleviates pain
Once in the body, cannabidiol interacts with neurotransmitters (such as serotonin) in the central nervous system. In this way, CBD can effectively reduce chronic pain related to different factors, such as inflammation, arthritis or nerve damage.
In a 2021 study conducted in California, US, 69% of the participants reported that regular use of CBD oil and other cannabidiol products had significantly reduced pain, and most participants were able to significantly reduce their pain medications thanks to cannabidiol.
CBD helps with anxiety disorders
For people diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, the mere thought of connecting with others in a social setting can be so unbearable that they rather choose isolation and avoiding any contact. Medications and medicinal products for anxiety disorders often help to relieve anxiety, but have negative side effects: indigestion, drowsiness, nausea and other unpleasant health problems.
In this case, CBD oil is a good alternative. It has been shown to help relax and reduce anxiety, which helps people who feel tense in social situations when interacting with a larger group of people, giving a public speech, etc.
CBD improves your skin and hair
Cannabidiol products calm skin inflammations, relieve acne symptoms, and moisturise and nourish your skin, making them very beneficial for patients with atopic dermatitis (psoriasis), who complain of worn, dry face and body skin.
Not only that, CBD oil can reduce hair loss, strengthen hair follicles and promote hair growth. Another benefit is that cannabidiol can normalise sebum production by scalp, reducing such problems as dandruff and dry scalp.
Cannabidiol can be an effective product in dealing with emotional problems, achieving better physical well-being and nurturing your skin and hair. For the best result, the key is to pay attention to the product’s composition and the seller’s reputation. Always choose certified and tested CBD products that are legal in Lithuania. Also, if you have a chronic medical condition, it’s always a good idea to check with your doctor before trying CBD for the first time. Your doctor will advise you on safe cannabidiol levels, usage and potential contraindications.
We hope that we managed to dispel the myths related to CBD and answered the question of whether CBD legal is in Lithuania.