Cannabidiol, or CBD oil, falls under Michigan's existing medical marijuana laws, according to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.

In an advisory bulletin released Thursday afternoon, the department said CBD derived from marijuana is defined as marijuana under state law.

The purchase, sale or possession of CBD oil must therefore be in compliance with marijuana licensing laws, the department bulletin concluded.

CBD oil can come from either marijuana or hemp, both of which are a form of cannabis. Under Michigan law, hemp is only legal when used for research purposes.

Supporters of the substance say CBD can be used to treat various medical ailments and does not cause the user to to get high.

LARA spokesperson David Harns said the advisory was meant to clear up confusion surrounding oil-based marijuana products and make their use safer for medical marijuana patients.

Michigan's Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation is currently processing hundreds of applications for licensing medical marijuana-related businesses to bring the industry into compliance with a regulatory framework approved by the state Legislature in 2016.

As of April 27, 459 applications have been submitted for pre-qualification, and 175 facility license applications have been submitted.