Cannabis & CBD in Wyoming – Are They Legal?

As a growing number of states permit either medical or recreational marijuana, those who don’t are now starting to stand out. Such states continue to severely punish users of the substance with jail time and hefty fines. While some have decriminalized the possession of small amounts, others maintain a zero-tolerance policy.

While marijuana laws are generally easy to understand, this isn’t necessarily the case with CBD. The 2018 Farm Bill may have legalized industrial hemp (with a maximum THC content of 0.3%), but it didn’t do the same for CBD. As a result, we still have some bizarre local and county-level laws in certain states that continue to confuse residents.

This is why we have dedicated a section of our website outlining the state of play regarding CBD. This article checks out the rules surrounding both CBD and THC in Wyoming. It also explains the penalties for illegal marijuana use in the state and points you in the direction of CBD brands worth considering when buying the substance.

Wyoming Marijuana Laws

At present, Wyoming has among the strictest anti-marijuana stances in the United States, and efforts to change it have continually failed.

In 2015, the Wyoming chapter of NORML gained signatures to get MMJ on the 2016 ballot. However, the state’s ballot initiative requirements are among the toughest in the nation. In the state’s House of Representatives, legislation to decriminalize marijuana has failed several times.

Another attempt to legalize MMJ in Wyoming is due in 2024, along with an effort to decriminalize the substance. Activists failed to gather enough signatures to get either initiative on the ballot in 2022.

At present, without decriminalization, there are strict penalties in play. In Wyoming, being caught ‘under the influence’ of cannabis is a misdemeanor! It comes with a potential jail term of six months.

Possession of fewer than three ounces is also a misdemeanor but has a possible prison sentence of up to a year. Possession of over three ounces is a felony, and you could spend up to five years in jail. Sale of any amount is a more serious felony and comes with a maximum sentence of ten years!

As the use of marijuana in Wyoming is incredibly risky, is it possible to consume CBD instead?

Is CBD Legal in Wyoming?

Wyoming CBD law now states that the substance is legal, though even that is only a recent development. For a very long time, the state of Wyoming resisted any attempts to legalize CBD for any reason. That changed in 2015 when a law (House Bill 32) took effect and allowed CBD oil to treat seizures. At that point, you were not legally permitted to use it for any other reason. It was an incredibly narrow law with no in-state access.

You could only apply through the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) at the time. You were allowed to use medical CBD after a doctor prescribed it to treat seizures caused by epilepsy. You needed to apply for a Hemp Extract Registration Card. It cost $150 and required annual renewal, just like MMJ cards in other states.

Even those with intractable epilepsy could only use CBD oil with a maximum THC content of 0.3%. It was also necessary to register with the Hemp Extract Registry!

Wyoming CBD Law

After years of procrastination, the state legislature finally acted on the CBD issue. On March 6, 2019, the state enacted House Bill 171, and Governor Mark Gordon signed it into law. It resulted in the end of the Hemp Extract Registry and changed the CBD industry in Wyoming for the better.

HB 171 made the Wyoming Department of Agriculture the rulemaking authority for the production and regulation of hemp. The bill came around three months after President Trump signed the Farm Bill into law.

House Bill 171 removed hemp from the Wyoming Controlled Substances Act. Crucially, it also removed CBD, and this is something that the Farm Bill did not do and would frankly have alleviated a lot of confusion if it had.

Therefore, Wyoming residents can freely purchase CBD oil in their state, as long as it comes from hemp and has less than 0.3% THC. Also, there is no possession limit for such products.

Industrial Hemp in Wyoming

The Farm Bill permits industrial hemp cultivation throughout the United States. However, each state must submit a plan for approval. Wyoming did so in January 2020 and received good news within a few weeks. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved the Wyoming hemp regulatory plan. It granted authority to the WDA to regulate the Wyoming hemp industry.

Hemp farmers in the state began planting their crops in 2020. However, almost 30% of hemp cultivated that summer contained more than 0.3% THC. Such plants are classified as marijuana, which means they get destroyed.

Where to Buy CBD Oil in Wyoming

There aren’t many dedicated CBD stores in Wyoming at present. However, you might find products at headshops and vape stores. The trouble here is that some of these locations will sell CBD from brands you’ve never heard of and may not have Certificates of Analysis (COAs). Please bear this in mind before buying any CBD item. In any case, here are five stores with a positive reputation that sell cannabidiol.

Wyoming has the smallest population in the United States but ranks tenth in area. Therefore, if you live outside Cheyenne or other major cities in the state, you could face a lengthy journey to find CBD. Fortunately, there are plenty of high-quality CBD brands that ship right to your door. They include:

• CBD Living
• Charlotte’s Web
• FAB CBD
• Premium Jane
• Veritas Farms

Remember, Wyoming has harsh anti-marijuana laws. Therefore, make sure your CBD doesn’t contain more than 0.3% THC. Check third-party lab reports before making a purchase.

Final Thoughts on CBD and Cannabis Laws in Wyoming

The prohibition on marijuana in Wyoming has lasted for more than a century, and unfortunately, it doesn’t seem likely to change anytime soon. At present, it is one of a dwindling number of states with no MMJ program. Activists in the state are working tirelessly to force lawmakers into placing a medical marijuana initiative on the ballot but continue to run into obstacles. It will be several years before they get their wish, it seems.

At least Wyoming now allows the sale, possession, and use of CBD. However, this process also took several years and only came into effect in 2019. Residents can now use hemp-derived CBD with a maximum of 0.3% THC without a doctor’s prescription.