Spain is one of the most liberal hemp production countries in the EU – right behind the Netherlands. So much so, that every September Barcelona hosts Spannabis, a festival focused on various cannabis products and paraphernalia.
Is CBD oil legal in Spain? The fast answer is no. In 2018, the EU banned the use of CBD oil as a food additive for human consumption. Hemp seeds and skincare products are still allowed under EU legislation, though.
Interestingly, the EU regulation is managed at each local level, so not all countries adhere strictly to this legislative mandate.
Can Anyone Buy CBD Oil?
It’s possible to legally buy CBD oil in Switzerland, Italy, and Australia, but not in Spain.
That said, Spain’s legislation around cannabis does not extend into an individual’s private residence or into private clubs.
Spain has over 700 members-only cannabis clubs that are open to Spanish residents. Membership in Spain’s Cannabis clubs requires an invitation from an existing member, being over 21 years old, payment of dues, and proof of residency. Although, tourists have been known to frequent one of these establishments via a guest invitation from an existing member.
These clubs operate as non-profit organizations, so they are exempt from existing laws in the various Spanish communities. These clubs avoid tourist invasions by requiring a 15-day waiting period prior to accepting and allowing new members access.
Is CBD Oil Legal to Travel With?
Because it is technically illegal, if you are caught carrying CBD oil in public in Spain, you could end up paying fines between €100 – €600,000 and doing jail time.
More importantly, bringing CBD oil into Spain from another country would officially be considered drug trafficking and would definitely result in hefty fines and jail time.
What Kind of Fines?
Sometimes, when faced with an activity beyond the rules, we may wonder if the potential punishment is worth the risk, so let’s talk about how Spain structures its fine process.
| Penalty Severity | Fines in Euros | Jail Time |
| Minor Offense | 100 – 1,000 | Up to one year |
| Serious Offense | 601 – 30,000 | Up to three years |
| Very Serious Offense | 30,001 – 600,00 | At the discretion of the local jurisdiction |
It’s also important to note that other EU Countries consider CBD oil an illegal substance, so if you purchase CBD oil in one of the three countries mentioned above, make sure you do not take it out of those countries. Like it or not, these fines are definite money makers for local governments, so taking the gamble on not getting your luggage checked is up to you, but please consider this a friendly warning.
Can Spanish Residents Make Their Own CBD Oil?
Spain has enacted legislation making it legal to cultivate 25 different strains of hemp. They have stipulated, however, that the dried hemp product is only allowed to contain no more than 0.2% THC.
Because Spanish drug laws don’t reach into the privacy of one’s residence, as long as the plants being grown are not visible from any public areas, there is not a ban on residents creating their own CBD oil.
How Is CBD Oil Made?
Making CBD oil can be a long process.
First, a special, complicated process is required to extract and separate the CBD from the other cannabinoids. This is critical, and because it is a specialized skill set, it is why there are so many differences in how CBD oil is created.
- It is recommended that you soak your decarboxylated ground stems, leaves, and buds in a jar containing a 1 cup mixture of 25% almond oil, 50% virgin olive oil, and 25 % coconut oil.
- Place the sealed jar in a pan of boiling water with a dishrag for padding for about three hours.
- Vigorously shake the jar after it has cooled for an additional hour.
- Repeat the process multiple times for three days.
- Use a piece of cheesecloth to strain the remaining leaves out of the mixture while pouring it into a different jar.
Making your own CBD oil can be a dangerous process, so it is not recommended that you do this at home. Instead, it is safer to purchase your oil from a reputable distributor.
Possible Benefits of Hemp Oil
This tends to be a hot topic among those who are educated on the potential benefits of CBD oil because existing users know they have experienced relief from everything from pain relief to it working as an anti-anxiety aid to slowing Parkinson’s symptoms.
A recent case study showed that 80% of CBD oil study participants experienced a significant reduction in anxiety levels. 66% of the participants displayed sleep pattern improvements for a period of time.
Possible Alternatives for CBD Oil
If you don’t want to risk the legal ramifications of CBD oil, here are a few different options you may want to consider:
- Beverages
There are various types of soda, water, and wine available that are infused with cannabis and tout health benefits.
- Edibles
Ok, so most everyone has heard of the cannabis brownies that you can get, but did you know there are also cannabis-infused crackers, lozenges, cookies, gums, and even ice cream available?
Note: Anything that must first go through your digestive system will result in experiencing delayed symptom relief. Because of that delay, it is easy to overindulge and ingest more cannabis than you intended.
- Patches
These are similar to the nicotine relief patches that are on the open market. To use these, you simply affix the patch to an area of skin that doesn’t have any hair (not because it wouldn’t work on an area that has hair, but because it’ll hurt when you remove the patch – think involuntary waxing.) Plan on placing the patch on the inside of your arm, on the top of your foot, or above your ankle.
You will experience fast relief with this method because it isn’t delayed by your digestive system.
- Topicals
Topicals can be anything from lotions to salves or sprays. Like the patches, you will be able to experience a fairly fast sense of symptom relief.
Note: You may experience skin irritation from either the patches or topical options. If you find your skin is sensitive to the solution you’re trying, one of the other topicals may work well for you.
The Difference Between These Alternatives from CBD Oil
The concern legislators have with CBD oil is that even though the labels may state that there is only 0.2% THC or less, tests have found that the percentage of THC is often actually much higher. This results in people who are trying to avoid a physical high by using the hemp product, experiencing an unanticipated high.
This undesired experience has caused vehicle accidents and unfortunate workplace disturbances.
Aside from the edibles, which are diluted through the baking and digestive processes, the alternative methods listed above are not likely to result in a physical high because the doses are easier to manage and are not as concentrated as some CBD oils.
CBD oils are typically used as a tincture and placed under the tongue with a bottle dropper. Although the dosage is recommended to be limited to just a couple drops, some use much more. When the oil contains more THC than expected, people experience different results than they wanted.
Cannabis Oil vs. Hemp Oil vs. CBD Oil: What’s The Difference?
Spain is one of the most liberal hemp production countries in the EU – right behind the Netherlands….Read more…
In Conclusion
Fines and penalties in Spain can be significant for anyone in possession of CBD oil.
Although CBD oil is illegal in Spain, as well as in several other countries around the world, there are viable options available to you so you can experience pain relief from various maladies, relief from epilepsy, and from horrible migraines.