There is much confusion around whether buying and selling cannabidiol (CBD) is legal in Slovakia. The growing popularity of hemp-derived CBD products and better understanding of their natural benefits have prompted many Slovakians to investigate whether CBD is legal to access.

The short answer is that, yes, CBD is legal in Slovakia. However, the full answer to whether CBD is legal in Slovakia is more nuanced.

The caveat for CBD being legal in Slovakia is that it must be extracted from hemp. Also, CBD oil products must contain less than 0.02% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the intoxicating compound also found in cannabis.

You’re not alone if you’ve been confused by CBD laws in Slovakia. If you are interested in learning more about the specifics, keep reading to discover more about legal CBD in Slovakia and the Slovakian government’s legal stance on hemp and CBD.

The Slovakian Government’s Legal Stance on Hemp & CBD

In Slovakia, just as throughout the Member States that make up the European Union (EU), CBD products are legal as long as the THC content is under 0.02% and the cannabinoid is derived from hemp plants that follow EU regulations.

Legal Medicine vs Food Supplement – Slovak Laws

In Slovakia, CBD isn’t classified as a legal medicine nor as a food supplement. As a result, there is some confusion around the classification and legality of hemp CBD. 

The confusion stems from a 2011 decision by the Slovakian government to classify CBD as a psychoactive substance and add it to Group 2 of its Psychotropic Substances Act.

However, under the European Union’s free movement of goods, any products that are placed lawfully to the market in one of the Member States can be legally sold, bought, and used in all Member States. Because most other EU Member States have clearly legalized the hemp-derived CBD products, they are also legal in Slovakia.

In addition, in May 2020, the highest European Court expressed a legal position on the buying and selling of CBD-based products in Europe. Advocate General Evgeni Tanchev concluded that European law precludes any EU Member State’s prohibition on the importation of CBD from another Member State. The Advocate General added that Member States could only impose a ban on CBD after they found “potentially negative consequences for health.”

The legal future of hemp- and CBD-based products in Slovakia and elsewhere in the EU could be in jeopardy, however. In July 2020, the European Union’s Committee for Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (PAFF) after revisiting the permitted consumption of hemp products in the Novel Foods (NF) catalogue, determined that hemp seeds would remain classified as a food and permitted, but declared that products made from hemp flowers and leaves are novel. It’s important to note, however, that the NF catalogue is not legally binding, so EU Member States are still allowed to apply their own hemp regulations.

CBD vs THC

CBD and THC are the two most well known and understood of the many cannabinoids found in cannabis plants. While both are natural compounds that interact with your body’s endocannabinoid system, the two have distinct differences that influence the natural effects they elicit and how they’re regulated.

CBD, which dominates the makeup of hemp, is non-psychoactive. This means that it stimulates the body’s endocannabinoid system without producing any type of intoxicating or euphoric effects when it’s consumed.

THC, found in higher concentrations in marijuana, is psychoactive and does cause euphoric effects when it’s ingested and interacts with the body’s systems.

Throughout Europe, including Slovakia, CBD is generally bought and sold to promote overall wellness. Most commonly it’s found in the form of oils and tinctures, as well as topical salves.

Third Party CBD Testing

No matter whether you’re buying or selling CBD in Slovakia, it’s key to keep in mind that CBD products are only helpful to the human body when they are safe and reliable. That is why choosing a manufacturer with quality control standards and who have their CBD products evaluated through a third party CBD tester is so important. 

An independent, third party testing lab will check for the product’s concentration of cannabinoids, including CBD and THC. Additionally, they’ll check for the presence of mold, mildew, fungus, yeast, E.coli, Salmonella, mycotoxins, heavy metals, and residual solvents. These third party tests are key to ensuring that you only buy and sell the best CBD products that have had their integrity guaranteed.

Are You Buying CBD?

If you’re interested in buying CBD in Slovakia, you’re not alone. The CBD market throughout Europe has grown remarkably over the past year, and it’s just starting to take hold with consumer awareness still being quite limited.

CBD products are legal to buy in Slovakia, provided they’re derived from hemp and contain no more than 0.02% THC. A concern many Slovakians have when buying CBD products is whether they could get stuck in customs if purchased from a manufacturer abroad.

To reduce the risk of any issues coming up when buying CBD products in Slovakia, we recommend that you select a supplier:

• Who produces only products with 0.02% THC or less
• Whose products have undergone rigorous third-party testing for safety and reliability
• Whose products contain a comprehensive list of ingredients
• Who are members of the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA)
• Who avoid making irresponsible medical claims about CBD

What Are People Using CBD For?

CBD offers natural botanical properties that are beneficial for anyone interested in promoting wellness. People increasingly use daily servings of hemp-derived CBD to support the performance of their body’s native endocannabinoid. 

This endocannabinoid system, found in all mammals, is responsible for regulating a wide array of the body’s functions. When functioning properly, the endocannabinoid system serves the vital purpose of ensuring our functions maintain optimum performance.

If you’re asking yourself:

• CBD for Pain?
• CBD for Stress?
• CBD for Anxiety?

The truth is that it’s irresponsible to make any type of medical claims for CBD. Researchers are continuing to learn more about the non-psychoactive cannabinoid, and right now, medical claims of CBD for pain, stress or anxiety should be avoided.

Instead, people use CBD products as healthy dietary supplements and to support their large self-regulatory system to encourage health and promote wellness.

Are You Selling CBD?

If you sell CBD products in Slovakia, or are considering selling CBD products, it’s key to remember that medical claims about your products or CBD in general should not be made. There are many positive, anecdotal stories available online, but as a CBD seller you should refrain from selling CBD products, including hemp oils, on the irresponsible promise of cures.

Secondly, you should know that many merchants, online retailers, and even payment providers remain hesitant to carry CBD products or service CBD companies. An existing and approved solution, such as working with already-established companies (like Kannaway), could be an ideal way to launch your CBD business and get off to a strong start.

Slovakian Legal Stance on Hemp & CBD

Despite understandable confusion about the legal status of CBD in Slovakia, the EU’s free movement of goods and its reinforcement by the 2020 legal opinion by the highest European Court support that hemp and its derivative products, including CBD, are legal to buy, sell, and use throughout EU’s Member States, including Slovakia.