Check the law before you order

Cannabis with more than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight is a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law. Hemp at 0.3% or less is legal under the 2018 Farm Bill. That number decides what can ship to your address.

States set their own rules. Some allow adult use at 21. Some allow medical use at 18 with a card. Some ban delta-8 THC and other hemp-derived intoxicants. A few require a state-licensed dispensary, which means no mail delivery. Read your state statute and your state agriculture department list before you pay.

Parameters to check on every product page

  • Certificate of analysis (COA). Look for a batch or lot number that matches the package. A COA without a lot number proves nothing about your bottle.
  • Lab name and accreditation. ISO 17025 is the standard. In-house labs run by the seller are a conflict of interest.
  • Test panel. Cannabinoid profile, pesticides, heavy metals, residual solvents, microbials, mycotoxins. A potency test alone is not a safety test.
  • Test date. Cannabinoids degrade. A COA older than 12 months is stale.
  • THC numbers. Total THC, not just delta-9. Total THC equals delta-9 THC plus THCA times 0.877.
  • Dose per serving and per package. 25 mg per gummy and 25 mg per bottle are different products.
  • Payment method. A vendor that takes no card and issues no invoice is a vendor you cannot dispute.

Pitfalls

  1. No COA posted, or a COA hidden behind a login.
  2. A COA for a different strain, batch, or year.
  3. Proprietary blend labels with no milligram amounts.
  4. Prices far below market for the stated potency. THC and CBD cost money to extract.
  5. Health claims. Sellers cannot claim a product treats cancer, anxiety, or pain. The FDA has not approved cannabis or CBD for any disease.
  6. No street address, no phone number, no return policy.
  7. Shipping that ignores state bans. You carry the legal risk, not the seller.

Before you pay

Save the product page, the COA, and the order confirmation. If the package arrives without a lot number, photograph the label before you open it. Keep the receipt.

If you take prescription drugs, talk to a pharmacist. CBD inhibits the CYP2C19 and CYP3A4 enzymes, which changes how some drugs clear your body. THC impairs driving. Do not drive after a dose.