For first-timers, the idea of buying hemp flower online may seem a bit sketchy. They might be thinking: is this even allowed? What’s the catch?
Don’t worry, if you feel the same, you’re not alone. Many people reach out to us here at Sunset Lake CBD and ask us how selling hemp flower online is legal.
That’s why we’ve decided to put together this post. Hopefully, by its conclusion you’ll know:
- About the legality of buying hemp flower online
- How we’re allowed to ship hemp flower via the USPS and other participating carriers
- And, how to find the best, most reputable hemp flower eCommerce vendors
Is It Legal To Buy Hemp Flower Online?
Absolutely! You can buy hemp flower online as well as other CBD products, provided that the CBD is derived from hemp as defined by the 2018 Farm Bill, and not from cannabis containing more than 0.3% THC by dry weight.
Cannabis plants that do contain more than 0.3% THC by dry weight would be legally considered marijuana and are not covered under the 2018 Farm Bill.
Read more about the difference between CBD hemp flower and marijuana here.
Is Hemp Illegal To Ship?
According to the 2018 Farm Bill, cannabis plants with less than 0.3% THC by dry weight are industrial hemp and can be shipped anywhere via the United States Postal Service (and other participating private carriers.)
Judge James Gilbert ruled as such in the KAB vs. United States Postal Service when he declared that products like CBD oils and edibles derived from hemp, and yes that includes hemp flower, are allowed to be shipped via the postal service.
Be advised though that federal legislation enacted in April 2021, called the “Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children Act,” has effectively banned the online sale and shipment of e-cigarettes, vaping devices, and vape cartridges. This includes both CBD and delta-8 THC cartridges.
When You Buy Hemp Flower Online…
If you’re considering buying hemp flower online, you should do your research on your potential vendor.
Try to find retailers who:
Include Receipts
Receipts that list the contents of your CBD and hemp shipments are required by the United States Postal Service. Vendors know this and should at the very least be on top of this requirement.
Include Their Grower’s Licence
Like the receipt above, vendors should include their hemp program growing license should they have one. This is for the benefit of the United States Postal Inspection Service— think mail police. If they pull aside your package for whatever reason, this document along with the receipt should prompt them to get your order on its way with no further hassle.
Include Certificates Of Analysis
Like a receipt, every vendor who sells CBD online should provide you with test results that tell you exactly what’s in your product. These documents may have varying titles like “Quality testing,” “batch testing,” or “certificate of analysis.”
Where Should You Buy Hemp Flower Online?
Plenty of farms and vendors sell hemp flower online, but you’ll want to do some cursory research on a vendor’s “About Us” page and look into a few things, like:
How Was The Hemp Flower Grown?
Only buy hemp flower that was grown in the United States without the use of harmful pesticides. Make sure that when you buy hemp flower online, you’re doing so from farmers who embrace sustainable farming practices like integrated pest management and no- or low-till farming.
Is The Farm Vertically Integrated?
Be on the lookout for vendors that also produce their own flower. These hybrid farms can both attest to the quality of their hemp flower and sell their flower at a much more reasonable price than their competitors.
Check out how our prices stack up against national competitors.
Test Results!
Does your vendor readily provide certificates of analysis? If not, that’s a red flag. Certificates of analysis certify your product’s CBD content, THC content, and any other chemicals present in their flower. Don’t buy hemp flower online without seeing these results!
Read: How to read your Certificate of Analysis
At Sunset Lake CBD, we provide our customers with the test results on all of our hemp flower. See them here.
Updated September 22, 2022
Disclaimer: This piece is not and should not be considered legal advice. This piece is purely for informational purposes.