Identifying Products That Contain Hemp and CBD

What Is Hemp and CBD?

Hemp comes from the same species of plant, Cannabis sativa, as cannabis but contains low levels of delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and is used in a wide range of products including clothing, industrial products (lotions, rope, pet products) and food.

CBD, short for “cannabidiol”, is a chemical found in the Cannabis sativa plant and contains low levels of THC. Like hemp, it is used in a wide variety of products including industrial products, vaping (tobacco) products and food.

Since both hemp and CBD are legal in the U.S., products containing either ingredient are sold online and in stores. However, hemp and CBD products are prohibited for Service members.

Identifying Products with Hemp or CBD

Identifying products that contain hemp or CBD can be a little tricky. Here are some things you can look for to see if a product may contain hemp or CBD.

Hemp and CBD products will sometimes include the word “hemp” or “CBD” in the name of the product. Examples are product names like “Hemp Seed”, “Hemp Protein Powder”, “Hemp Flour”, “Hemp Cream”, “CBD Gummies”, “CBD Oil” or “CBD Balm”.

Some brands that manufacture hemp products will include the word “hemp” in their name while CBD products may include the term “CBD” in their name.

Products that contain hemp will sometimes have an image of a hemp leaf on the front. Hemp leaves are usually depicted as multiple long and narrow leaflets on a single leaf and are green in color. CBD products may have a similar type of leaf on their packaging.

Hemp or CBD will be listed in the ingredients for a product. Depending on the product type, hemp may be listed by different names but some key words to look for include hemp, hempseed or cannabis sativa. Key words for a product containing CBD may include cannabidiol, hemp extract or hemp-derived.

If a product has a “THC-free” label on it, this is a good indication that there is hemp or CBD in the product and should be avoided. CBD products may indicate it has less than 0.3% THC in them.

If you are still unsure whether a product contains CBD or THC, your safest best is to not buy or use it.