For years, the conversation around marijuana has been anything but blunt. As the discussion around weed evolves, so does the plant’s purpose. The beauty industry in particular has sparked interest in launching a variety of pot-based products, including lotions, balms and serums.

CBD, a cannabidiol found in the cannabis plant, is the wellness ingredient found in weed-based beauty products. Unlike THC, another cannabidiol found in marijuana, CBD does not get you high. Although it can’t give you that stoned sensation, the plant by-product is known to have a variety of health benefits. Studies have shown that CBD can help relieve eczema, anxiety and depression, and has promising anti-inflammatory properties.

Although the use of CBD seems like the perfect natural remedy, legality issues arise depending on where it comes from. CBD from hemp has less than 0.3 percent THC and no psychoactive effects, making it legal in all 50 states. On the other hand, CBD derived from marijuana can contain up to 30 percent THC, which is only legal in states with recreational or medical marijuana programs.

Milk Makeup is one of the leading companies in the cannabis skin-care craze. Launched last year, Kush is the only line of CBD-infused mascara and brow tints. Unlike other natural mascaras that use beeswax as a binding component, Kush Mascara utilizes cannabis oil to make a completely vegan product. The cannabis oil creates a smooth formula allowing for softer application and easy removal. Combined with other natural ingredients like sunflower seed oil and cupuacu butter, the cannabis oil conditions the lashes to feel and look healthier.   

Other companies like Whoopi and Maya, known for their cannabis products for women experiencing menstrual pain or discomfort, use CBD derived from marijuana. Some of the products include higher doses of THC, limiting where products these products can be sold. The company currently only sells in California and Colorado where recreational and medical marijuana is legal. 

Even though CBD from hemp is legal in all 50 states, the Drug Enforcement Administration still classifies marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug. It wasn’t until recently hemp was reclassified as a Schedule 5 drug with help from the Hemp Farming Act of 2018. Introduced by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, an unlikely supporter of hemp farming,  proposed the bill last April in order to regulate hemp production as an agricultural commodity. This bill was meant to help clarify the 2014 Farm Bill signed into law by President Obama. The Farm Bill of 2014 previously defined hemp as separate from marijuana and allowed state departments of agriculture that legalized hemp cultivation to conduct research and create pilot programs.

Although the widespread sale of CBD products benefits businesses and consumers alike, the lack of federal regulation leaves room for error. Due to varying  restrictions in different states, many consumers are resorting to the Internet to purchase their CBD products. A study by Penn Medicine found that 70 percent of CBD-oil products sold online were mislabeled and contained more or less CBD than stated. To show their legality, many hemp producers cite the 2014 Farm Bill to prove they’re in compliance with a state’s department of agriculture. This also ensures that the CBD derived from hemp that is used contains less than 0.3 percent THC.   

As the government helps redefine and regulate hemp production, CBD products are reaching more mainstream consumers. Research shows that hemp CBD reached nearly $170 million in sales in 2016 and is projected to reach $1 billion over the next three years. The FDA also just approved a new drug containing CBD to help  treat individuals with seizures and epilepsy. As more studies highlight  the benefits of CBD and the consumption of CBD expands, the plant by-product will become more normalized.