If you’re traveling to Australia and want to purchase CBD oil, please note that the rules may differ slightly from what you’re used to. For example, a tourist from the United States knows that if the CBD tincture comes from industrial hemp and has a maximum THC content of 0.3%, they’re on safe ground in 48 of the 50 states.
Visitors from the European Union understand that CBD products can only have a maximum of 0.2% THC. The laws are potentially different around the globe, which is quite apparent when you buy a product such as 600mg CBD oil in Australia.
Unfortunately, the Australian CBD market has similar problems to its American counterparts insofar as many low-grade products pollute the industry. As a tourist, you need to know Australia’s CBD laws, or else you could inadvertently buy an illegal product. This guide tells you everything you need to know.
How is Hemp Oil Defined in Australia?
To understand more about CBD oil laws in Australia, you have to go back to the Therapeutic Goods Act of 1989 and the Therapeutic Goods Regulation of 1990. Both these acts govern how medical cannabis products are prescribed in the country at the federal level. The Poisons Standard governs the use of such products at the state and territory levels.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) defines hemp oil as “oil made from the green matter of the cannabis plant” and acknowledges that it may contain a combination of THC and CBD. Please note that hemp oil is very different from hemp seed oil which contains no cannabinoids.
Technically speaking, CBD oil became legal in Australia in 2016. However, it was classified as a Schedule 4 drug which meant you could only buy it legally after getting a doctor’s prescription.
A Change of Sorts
Obviously, this situation was unacceptable for anyone seeking quick and easy access to a CBD tincture. There was seemingly good news on February 1, 2021, when the TGA announced that it was legal to buy low-dose CBD products over the counter. The administration changed CBD’s classification to Schedule 3, meaning it is now a pharmacist-only medicine.
According to the TGA, any known side effects of CBD at low doses were not serious. Remarkably, however, individuals looking to buy CBD oil over the counter met yet another obstacle. The Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) has yet to approve any product containing cannabidiol. As a result, you’ll struggle to find CBD at an Australian pharmacy.
Meanwhile, the Australian Medical Association doubled down on its anti-CBD stance by saying it didn’t support the TGA’s decision to change the compound’s scheduling.
How Do I Buy CBD Oil in Australia as A Tourist?
You can visit a GP to see if you can get a prescription. This is a long-winded process that isn’t especially suitable for tourists. Alternatively, you can do what tens of thousands of Australians do, purchase a CBD tincture online from a reputable brand.
Unlike products sold in the UK or the US, CBD oil in Australia must contain at least 98% cannabidiol and a maximum of 2% of other cannabinoids. Therefore, a full-spectrum or broad-spectrum product, for example, can only have minimal amounts of THC, CBN, CBG, and so on.
The size of the CBD tincture market in Australia is such that the government is doing nothing about customers purchasing the compound online. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of brands, such as Premium Jane, offering high-quality CBD oil. In many cases, the cannabidiol comes from American or European Union hemp. Therefore, if you’re visiting from Kentucky, you might find that the CBD tincture you’re consuming in Perth contains hemp from back home!
Final Thoughts on Getting Australian CBD Oil as a Tourist
Since the Australian authorities insist on making it as hard as possible to buy CBD oil from local stores, residents and tourists must buy it online. Before proceeding, consider how long you plan to stay in Australia and factor in the shipping time. The last thing you want is to place an order only to find that the CBD tincture will arrive after you leave!
When buying CBD oil in Australia, please ensure it contains at least 98% of the cannabinoid and minimal THC.