Is CBD legal in Denmark?
Short answer: yes, but under strict conditions. Since an amendment to the Danish executive order on euphoriant substances in July 2018, cannabis-derived products whose THC content does not exceed 0.2% are no longer treated as narcotics in Denmark. Be careful, though: that threshold only settles the narcotics question. Oils and other CBD products intended to be ingested remain governed by the medicines regime (Lægemiddelstyrelsen) and by the European "Novel Food" regulation — so no CBD oil can currently be legally sold as a food or supplement in Denmark. The Danish framework is therefore more open than Sweden's, but markedly stricter than the French market. Here is the full picture, section by section.
The legal framework for CBD in Denmark
CBD (cannabidiol) is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid extracted from hemp (Cannabis sativa L.). In Denmark, the basic rule sits in the executive order on euphoriant substances (bekendtgørelse om euforiserende stoffer): since 1 July 2018, cannabis products containing at most 0.2% THC are not considered regulated euphoriant substances. Below that threshold, buying and possessing therefore fall outside narcotics legislation; above it, they are punishable. This Danish 0.2% threshold is stricter than the 0.3% ceiling used by European regulation for hemp cultivation — an important nuance for anyone ordering from Denmark. To understand the difference between the two molecules, see our guide CBD or THC: what's the difference.
CBD oils to be ingested: medicines regime and "Novel Food"
This is where the Danish framework tightens. The Danish Medicines Agency (Lægemiddelstyrelsen) considers that a CBD product intended to be ingested for health purposes falls under the medicines regime: to date, the only legally authorised CBD products for oral use are prescription-only medicines, such as Sativex or Epidyolex. On the food side, the Danish food authority (Fødevarestyrelsen) applies Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 on novel foods ("Novel Food"), available on eur-lex.europa.eu: as cannabinoid extracts have received no European authorisation as a food ingredient, no CBD oil can be legally marketed as a food or food supplement in Denmark — whatever its THC content.
Medical cannabis: a regulated programme since 2018
On 1 January 2018, Denmark launched a medical cannabis programme (forsøgsordning med medicinsk cannabis), allowing doctors to prescribe cannabis-based products not authorised as conventional medicines; initially a pilot, the scheme has been extended and made permanent by Parliament. It reflects a pragmatic approach: the country regulates therapeutic cannabis through the medical route while keeping strict rules for consumer CBD products. The programme only concerns patients with a prescription, however — it in no way legalises the open sale of CBD products for oral use.
What about CBD flower?
The status of CBD flower in Denmark sits in a legal grey area. In principle, a hemp flower whose THC content does not exceed 0.2% is not a regulated euphoriant substance. But as soon as it is presented as a product to smoke, infuse or ingest, other rules come into play (medicines, food, tobacco), and marketing it for consumption is not clearly authorised. In practice, caution is essential: check the actual THC content (at most 0.2% for Denmark, not 0.3%), demand independent laboratory certificates of analysis, and check the state of the law and local practice before any purchase.
The EU framework: the "Kanavape" ruling and its limits
At Union level, the "Kanavape" ruling (case C-663/18), delivered by the Court of Justice of the EU on 19 November 2020 and available on curia.europa.eu, held that CBD is not a narcotic within the meaning of the international conventions and that a Member State may not prohibit the marketing of CBD lawfully produced in another Member State. That free movement nonetheless has a limit: a State may restrict sales if it demonstrates a genuine risk to public health, and each country keeps its own thresholds and product categories. By comparison, France allows finished products with THC not exceeding 0.3% (decree of 30 December 2021, on legifrance.gouv.fr), while Denmark sticks to 0.2%: the very same product can therefore be compliant in France and exceed the Danish threshold.
Buying CBD when you live in Denmark: the right reflexes
Let's be transparent: we never promise that a product is "100% legal" everywhere. Golden CBD products are lab-tested and comply with the European framework (THC below 0.3%); yet the Danish narcotics threshold is 0.2%, and products to be ingested are subject to additional rules (medicines, Novel Food). Before any order to Denmark, you must check the rules in force in your country and verify the exact THC content on the certificate of analysis. To understand how the question plays out across Europe, see our guide to CBD legality and delivery; and to explore what the European framework allows, our resins & hash and our best sellers are intended for customers in countries where these products are permitted.
FAQ — CBD and legality in Denmark
Is CBD legal in Denmark?
Yes, under conditions. Products whose THC content does not exceed 0.2% are not narcotics in Denmark. But products to be ingested (oils, supplements) remain subject to the medicines regime and the "Novel Food" regulation: they cannot be freely sold as food.
What is the THC limit in Denmark?
0.2% THC, since the amendment of the executive order on euphoriant substances in July 2018. That is stricter than the European 0.3% ceiling applicable to hemp cultivation and adopted by France for finished products.
Does CBD get you high?
No. CBD is not psychoactive, unlike THC. It does not produce a "high".
Can CBD oils be sold in Denmark?
Not as foods or supplements: CBD extracts fall under the European "Novel Food" regulation and have received no authorisation. The only legally authorised CBD products for oral use are prescription medicines (for example Sativex, Epidyolex).
Can you have CBD delivered to Denmark?
European free movement (CJEU "Kanavape" ruling, C-663/18) works in favour of compliant products, but Denmark applies its own 0.2% THC threshold and its own rules per product category. You must check the local rules and verify the certificate of analysis before any order.
Could Danish regulation change?
Yes. The medical cannabis programme has been made permanent, "Novel Food" applications are progressing in Brussels, and new substances (such as HHC) have recently been banned. Always check the state of the law at the time of purchase.
General information, current at the date of publication; it does not constitute legal advice. Regulations change: check the local rules in force. CBD is not a medicine and does not replace medical advice. Product intended for adults only.
