Around the world, CBD is widely available without a prescription and widely expanding, even in countries such as the US, where cannabis is still federally illegal. Like the United States, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Thailand, and many other nations around the world have created federal frameworks for the sale of over the counter CBD products.

There are several contributing factors as to why CBD has been uniquely legalized in these regions. However, the delineating factor comes down to the source material's definition, either cannabis Sativa or hemp. 

Psychoactive Δ⁹-Tetrahydrocannabinol

Hemp is a widely used and versatile natural commodity that has been farmed around the world throughout history, especially used for fiber and textile production.

Although largely the same plant, regulators differentiate between cannabis Sativa and hemp by classifying cultivars that are low in the psychoactive Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) hemp.

Though there is currently no international standard, the World Health Organization (WHO) recently recommended that hemp source material be considered those cultivars that contain <.2% THC.

Unfortunately, there is currently no internationally accepted norm for the classification of hemp. For instance, the USA’s Farm Bill classifies hemp as cultivars that contain <.3% THC, whereas the European Union uses <.2% THC. This has led to confusion and irregularities for regulators in the international trade ecosystem. Because hemp cultivars naturally yield CBD and acceptable THC levels, policymakers are more easily able to legalize the agricultural cultivation of hemp, and subsequent extraction of CBD, without significant reform, needed to broader legal systems.

Differentiating the source of the cannabinoids (THC & CBD), the United States of America’s 2014 Farm Bill defined hemp under federal law as all parts of the plant below 0.3% THC. It provided state authorization to regulate cultivation programs, as established by State legislatures and through each State’s Department of Agriculture.  With the passing of the Farm Bill, the US Government created a pathway to market for CBD. At the same time, Congress specifically protected the transport, processing, sale, and use of hemp and hemp derivatives across state lines.

This has not only created a thriving agricultural industry but allowed for CBD to be incorporated into non-prescription products manufactured.

Another important reason why many countries are uniquely recognizing CBD is the proven efficacy and safety.  CBD does not cause the intoxicating, euphoric effects associated with THC. In fact, CBD may reduce some of the potentially unwanted side effects of THC.
 
Unlike traditional pharmaceuticals, CBD is 100% natural and non-addictive. In large part, due to the accepted safety of the product, CBD is widely available without a prescription, even in regions where cannabis is still federally illegal. 

Properties CBD is already accepted to have:

 
◗ anti-inflammatory
◗ analgesic
◗ antiemetic

Wellness, lifestyle, animal health, athletic recovery, and cosmetic brands are just a few examples of industries incorporating CBD into their products in an equally diverse array of formats: balms, butter, lotions, beverages, sprays, tinctures, oils, edibles, and more.

Considering the significant and increasing roe that online marketplaces play, products containing CBD are already easily accessible to consumers online.

To date, any non-medical derived cannabis is illegal in the Cayman Islands.