Short answer
Federal law permits CBD from hemp when the product holds 0.3% THC or less on a dry weight basis. The 2018 Farm Bill set that number and removed hemp from the Controlled Substances Act. A product above 0.3% is cannabis under federal law, and the rules change.
"THC-free" is a label claim, not a legal class. A lab reports THC as a number or as "not detected." Not detected means the result fell below the lab's limit of quantification, or LOQ. It does not mean zero.
Pick the extract type first
- Isolate. CBD alone. Most panels list THC at the LOQ or below.
- Broad spectrum. Whole-plant extract with THC removed. Treat "removed" as a process claim and confirm it on the lab report.
- Full spectrum. Whole-plant extract that keeps THC, capped at 0.3%.
The extract type drives the test risk and the label wording. Decide which one you want before you compare prices.
Read the certificate of analysis
Every batch should have a COA from a third-party lab. Use these parameters:
- Batch number on the COA matches the batch number on the package.
- A cannabinoid panel lists CBD, THC, and the LOQ for each.
- Tests for pesticides, heavy metals, residual solvents, and microbials.
- Harvest or manufacture date within 12 months.
- Lab accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025.
- Lab ownership separate from the seller.
A COA without a batch number proves nothing about the bottle in your hand. A potency figure that misses the label by a wide margin is a reason to skip the brand.
Check state law
State rules sit on top of federal rules. Some states require a license to sell hemp products. Some limit retail outlets or bar specific product forms. A few restrict sales to state-licensed channels. Check the state department of agriculture or health site for the shipping address before you order.
Know the drug test risk
Full spectrum carries the highest risk. Published studies found THC in products sold as CBD and positive urine screens in people who reported CBD use. Isolate lowers the risk. It does not remove it.
Pitfalls
- A "THC-free" badge with no cannabinoid panel behind it.
- Potency listed per bottle, not per serving. A 1500 mg bottle with 30 servings holds 50 mg per serving.
- Droppers with no volume markings.
- Disease claims. FDA has not approved CBD as a food additive or a dietary supplement, and the agency has approved one CBD drug, Epidiolex, for two seizure disorders.
- Price without the math. Divide price by total milligrams. A $40 bottle with 1000 mg costs $0.04 per mg.
Before you pay
Confirm four items: extract type, batch COA with an LOQ, state shipping rules, and cost per milligram. If a seller cannot supply all four, buy elsewhere.