Halal is Arabic for permissible and haram means prohibited or sin. Halal foods are those that are allowed according to the traditional Islamic laws defined in the Qur’an. A practising Muslim must not consume anything that isn’t considered to be halal.
Since CBD has become such a popular food supplement, some people are unclear as to whether it’s halal or haram. According to the Qur’an, substances that “curtain the mind” are haram. This is understood to be substances that intoxicate and includes cannabis. Because CBD is extracted from hemp varieties of cannabis, is it forbidden too?
CBD oils and vape liquids are halal if it they are non-intoxicating and free from THC. However, this can depend on the type of CBD product you use and if it contains any additional ingredients that may be haram. Common ingredients such as gelatine, food colouring and flavourings are sometimes haram.
Gelatine - Some CBD capsules use gelatine and are haram. However, if it is bovine gelatine and the cow was slaughtered to halal standards, it would be permissible.
Flavourings - Flavourings and colouring can also be haram if they don’t come from a halal source. For example, some can contain alcohol by-products or non-halal animal products.
Vape Juices - On the face of it, CBD e-liquids meet the standards of halal, but there is fierce debate around whether the act of vaping should be forbidden. In 2015 the Malaysian National Fatwa Council declared vaping of electronic cigarettes as haram, but this may not apply to vaping CBD.
Some argue that if in the future science can prove that it is entirely safe and vape juices contain all-natural ingredients, then it should be permissible. But others see vaping, even if safe, as an imitation of a sinful act and as such, haram.
Alcohol - Anything advertised as a “tincture” should be avoided; they are made by dissolving hemp extract in alcohol. While the amount of alcohol is negligible, tinctures are easily avoided as most CBD oils use an extraction method that uses supercritical CO2 which contains no alcohol or its derivatives.
Alcohol in small amounts can be ok if the purpose of the product is to heal, but only if there are no other options.
Even CBD products that still contain tiny traces of THC are ok if it is absorbed by your body and can’t be detected. The UK legal limit for THC in CBD products is 1mg per container so, if an item meets this standard its likely to be halal.
To ensure that any CBD you consume is halal, there are some simple steps that you can take:
The UK CBD industry is still largely unregulated, so, there are some unscrupulous retailers selling poor quality products. Look for a retailer that is transparent about their processes and what is in the bottle.
Find a company you can trust by looking at customer reviews and by reading the information provided on their websites.
The best retailers and CBD brands will display third-party lab results on their product pages. These are conducted by independent laboratories and verify the content of a sample from each batch of product.
Look for products with certificates that show that THC was not detected or that it is present in trace amounts. Even if a brand claims “zero THC” or “THC free” it’s still important to check that the certificates back up their claims. We have seen many sites that say zero THC but also contradictorily describe their product as full-spectrum (to be full-spectrum it must contain THC).
Products that have a vegan certification will contain no animal products which will prevent you from consuming items from animals that weren’t properly slaughtered. They will also be free from insect products such as cochineal red food colouring which is also haram.
Look for an official halal certification – Currently, halal-certified CBD is difficult to find, so you will need to rely on carrying out your own due diligence. However, as more people ask questions about whether it’s halal, the more likely that brands will include it in their processes and labelling. Most certification conducted in the UK is coordinated by the Halal Food Authority.
Once you’ve found a THC free, vegan product from a trustworthy retailer, it’s important to take a detailed look at the ingredients. Most CBD oils contain very few ingredients, but others may have unnecessary extras. Look out for additives, fillers and flavours that may not be halal.
If you would like assistance with selecting a halal CBD product feel free to give us a call on 020 8191 8621 or drop us an email here: contact@fortheageless.com
Alternatively, we are happy to recommend a couple of products. As many are full-spectrum, these would not be suitable for a practising Muslim. We do stock a selection that are THC free and we have checked the ingredients closely to ensure there are no other haram components. Check out Love Hemp CBD oils, Love Hemp CBD capsules, the previously mentioned Cibdol capsules and Love CBD's isolate e-liquid.
Whether you choose to consume CBD is entirely up to you but the growing consensus is that it’s likely to be halal. To be entirely sure, avoid tinctures, vape oils and products with colouring and flavouring.
It’s also important to use the third-party lab certificates to verify that it’s free from, or low in THC. If you have any doubts talk directly to the retailer before making your purchase.
Hi Delwar,
Many thanks for your question, Love CBD’s e-liquids (both Sativa and Indica strains) are THC free.
Best regards,
Tom
Hi Tom, sincere gratitude for the information.
Regarding on contacting you for more information, I was wondering is there a CBD vape juice you can recommend to me that is THC free and other haram ingredient free.
I do not know where to look as there is so many.
If you can give me a specific brand and how I can order them then I would be very grateful.
Thanks again
Kind regards
Delwar
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Tom Russell
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Tom Russell writes extensively about CBD oil and other groundbreaking food supplements. He and his wife share their home with two daughters and a lifetime’s collection of books.