Second, only to CVS, Walgreens is among the largest pharmacy store chains in the entire United States. These guys sell everything -- from prescription medication to over-the-counter drugs, to dietary supplements, beauty and skincare products, and everything in between.
And since hemp-derived CBD seems to fit the Walgreens roster, some people wonder whether you can buy CBD products at Walgreens. In fact, the company has received so many inquiries that they even have an FAQ page on their website just to address that specific query.
Does Walgreens Sell CBD Products?
Walgreens does in fact sell CBD. But before you hop into your car with your hemp shopping list and head for the nearest Walgreens, their selection might not cover all of your CBD needs.
The company only offers a select number of CBD products and not all of its stores sell them. So buyers can only purchase CBD from Walgreens through a handful of physical branches across the country as well as their online website.
Exactly what kind of CBD products do they offer? Here’s what their website says:
“The CBD-related items we carry are topical creams, patches, and sprays. This product offering is in line with our efforts to provide a wider range of accessible health and well-being products and services to best meet the needs and preferences of our customers.”
So, unfortunately, you can’t buy some of the more popular CBD products through Walgreens. Edibles, smokables, and things like oils and tinctures don’t exist on their store shelves, and for understandable reasons.
Why Doesn’t Walgreens Sell Edible CBD?
They sell topicals anyway. Why stop there? Unknown to most buyers, companies like Walgreens have to consider a number of factors before they can offer certain products. Because of the controversy surrounding hemp, Walgreens simply wants to play it safe and avoid legal issues with certain governing bodies.
FDA Regulations vs CBD Edibles
They might be sold virtually everywhere, but CBD-infused edibles aren’t exactly legal. According to the FDA, “CBD is excluded from the dietary supplement definition.” They also explicitly state that CBD isn’t an approved food and drink product.
For that reason, you’ll notice how most vendors tiptoe around the topic of edibles despite selling them. Look through various hemp vendor websites, and you’ll notice no one ever really mentions eating or drinking CBD-infused edibles.
This exploits a loophole in the FDA’s regulations which state that brands and companies can’t advertise or market their products in a way that would suggest that they’re safe for human consumption.
Conversely, the FDA also states that “under the FD&C Act, cosmetic products and ingredients are not subject to premarket approval by FDA, except for most color additives.” That means vendors can sell CBD-infused topicals such as hair care and skin care products without the FDA’s prior approval.
Since Walgreens is a major corporation, they make it a point to study and execute all of the FDA’s regulations. That said, if the time comes that the FDA finally approves CBD and hemp-derived products for human consumption, we can expect Walgreens to be ahead of the curve.
Merchant Account Issues
A merchant account is a specialized bank account that allows companies to take digital payments. These intricate, multi-layered accounts tie into various other services like payment gateways to streamline digital, cashless payments whether on or offline.
Because of the delicate nature of handling merchant accounts, merchant account providers tend to avoid doing business with high-risk accounts. Essentially, a high-risk account could be a business operating in certain industries that are recognized as having higher chances of chargebacks.
Merchant account providers also tag certain industries as high risk when the laws and regulations governing the products within their jurisdiction remain volatile and changing. In many ways, hemp qualifies as a high-risk industry, and that’s precisely why merchant account providers try to avoid businesses that sell it.
Walgreens definitely has the machinery to add hemp to its roster and to cope with the changes in its merchant account’s provisions. But because of the FDA regulations and the associated risk, the company recognizes that adding CBD products to its shelves might be more of a liability at the present time.
The Walgreens Image
Walgreens tries to maintain an image as a family-friendly company that values health and wellness. A large part of that effort includes selecting the proper products to support its mission and vision.
Of course, hemp isn’t a harmful product. It’s not a drug although it was once believed to be. And while the tides are turning when it comes to our collective awareness of hemp and what it does, we’ve still got a long way to go.
Today, lots of people still frown upon hemp thinking that it’s no different from marijuana. Heck, even lawmakers struggle to make sense of the agricultural commodity. So it goes without saying that lots of customers might frown upon Walgreens if they start offering hemp products at this volatile time.
In the best interest of their image and to protect their reputation, Walgreens made the move to keep more controversial CBD products off of their shelves for now. Nevertheless, CBD topicals find room in their inventory.
Where to Buy CBD Products
If you’re perfectly happy taking a trip to Walgreens just to get your hands on some CBD topicals, then you can visit some 3,860 branches nationwide that sell these specific products. These branches that carry CBD topicals can be found in the following states:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- Ohio
- Oregon
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Vermont
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Washington
In case you were looking to get your hands on more than just topicals, here’s where you can secure your CBD stash:
Dedicated Vendors
Available both on and offline, dedicated hemp and CBD vendors specialize in this line of products. They’re often the most reliable source of CBD products, and they provide certificates of analysis for full transparency. This guarantees that the product you’re getting is exactly as advertised.
Smoke Shops and Gas Stations
Hankering for CBD at 2 in the morning? A vendor takes time to fulfill orders. So for buyers in a bind who need a quick fix, smoke shops and gas stations cater to their needs. Sure, product quality isn’t the best and prices can be exorbitant. But for those tight moments, these reliable, 24/7 shops serve their purpose.
Come on Down to Walgreens
Trusted since 1901, Walgreens offers a range of health and wellness products. And although their CBD selection might seem scarce, the fact that they offer the products can prove that they’re not indifferent to the benefits of hemp.
With time and as laws and regulations further loosen around hemp, we can expect Walgreens to start expanding its range. In the meantime, you can get your CBD needs from your local vendors and smoke shops.
