Here’s the short answer: yes—marijuana face cleansers sold in licensed dispensaries are typically governed by a different rulebook than cannabis- or hemp-branded cleansers sold in regular retail or online. Those differences show up in ingredient sources, testing, labels, claims, and where the products can legally be sold.

Dispensary products that contain marijuana (cannabis with more than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight) operate under state cannabis programs. In many states, topicals and other non-inhalable cannabis goods must pass batch-level lab testing for potency and contaminants and carry strict labels tied to a Certificate of Analysis (COA). For instance, California requires cannabinoid-content disclosure on the retail label and links labeling to compliance testing before release, alongside packaging and labeling checklists managed by the Department of Cannabis Control.

By contrast, face cleansers sold in mainstream retail or online typically rely on hemp-derived ingredients such as hemp seed oil, which contains no cannabinoids, or hemp-derived CBD with 0.3% delta-9 THC or less. These products are not regulated as cannabis under state cannabis programs; instead, they are classified as cosmetics under federal law. They fall under the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA), which includes FDA facility registration, product listing, recordkeeping, and safety substantiation requirements. However, there’s still no special FDA approval pathway for CBD in cosmetics, and the agency continues to monitor this space closely.

A key legal factor is the 2018 Farm Bill’s definition of hemp as containing no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC, which removed hemp from the federal Controlled Substances Act. That change allowed hemp-based cosmetic ingredients to be sold nationally, subject to cosmetic rules and any additional state restrictions. Marijuana-derived products, in contrast, remain regulated at the state level and are typically dispensary-only.

Testing and quality control also differ. State cannabis programs usually require third-party testing for potency and contaminants such as microbes, heavy metals, and residual solvents. While specifics vary by state, mandatory, regulator-defined testing is consistent before dispensary products can be sold. Cosmetics outside the dispensary system do not face these cannabis-specific testing mandates; instead, companies must ensure product safety and truthful labeling under MoCRA and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

Marketing claims represent another area of difference. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has taken action against CBD companies making unsubstantiated health claims, such as treating acne or eczema. Both dispensary and retail brands must ensure cosmetic claims are truthful, non-misleading, and supported by credible evidence. Consumers should be cautious with exaggerated claims and always check for COAs, full ingredient lists, and realistic descriptions of benefits.

Shoppers looking to choose wisely should first decide what they want from a cleanser: a standard formula featuring hemp seed oil (cosmetic and widely accessible) or a cannabis topical containing measurable cannabinoids (dispensary-only). Then, they should check for cannabinoid content, batch testing, and compliant labeling. Finally, reviewing FDA and FTC enforcement updates can help gauge the reliability and transparency of different brands.