While planning your vacation or sitting on a runway dealing with flight anxiety, you’ve probably wondered: can I travel with CBD? The good news is that you can. However, there are certain nuances you should be aware of before getting on a plane with CBD.
CBD comes in different forms, from tinctures to gummies. It’s also available in multiple concentrations and dosages. CBD is now increasingly popular in the U.S. and other parts of the world. But, there are also legal considerations.
In this travel CBD guide, we’ve explained what CBD is, its legal implications when traveling, TSA guidelines, and more. You’ll learn tips for traveling with CBD and where you shouldn’t bring CBD products to. Let’s get started.
What is CBD?
We want to explain CBD before answering the question: can I travel with CBD? CBD, short for cannabidiol, is one of the many active compounds in cannabis plants.
Another popular ingredient in cannabis is THC, short for tetrahydrocannabinol. THC is the psychoactive compound in cannabis. Unlike THC, CBD doesn’t produce any intoxicating effects or cause a euphoric high. Instead, it’s well-known to have many therapeutic effects, including providing relief for anxiety.
According to the New York Times, sixty percent of CBD users take it for anxiety. People also use it for chronic pain, depression, epileptic seizures, insomnia, and post-traumatic stress disorder, amongst other conditions.
There are different forms of CBD. So you can take it orally or apply it topically to an affected part of your body.
CBD oils and tinctures are the most popular CBD products on the market. But, you can also get CBD in gummies, pills, topicals, and vape products.
Is It Legal to Travel with CBD in the U.S.?
CBD products are legal in the U.S at the federal level as long as the product is hemp-based. Most states allow you to use hemp-derived CBD because such products do not contain more than 0.3% THC.
However, marijuana is still very much illegal federally in the U.S.
So, make sure your CBD product is not marijuana-based and only contains less than 0.3% THC when traveling. It’s best to research the state laws of where you’re traveling since the legality of CBD varies.
Overall, you can travel with CBD products that contain less than 0.3% THC within the U.S. But, TSA rules apply, and you must follow them.
Current TSA Guidelines
According to the TSA, you can bring hemp-derived or FDA-approved CBD products on planes. These products do not have more than 03% THC in them. Most commercial CBD products are hemp-derived and follow the legal requirements. So, you should be able to fly with your product.
No TSA agent will tell if a product has less than 0.3% THC by simply looking at it. Hence, when you’re traveling with CBD, it’s best to print out the company’s official testing result. You should find this on the product page of the brand’s website.
The Benefits of Travelling with CBD
Many travelers are getting more interested in CBD products, and you may be wondering why that is so. Why are most people asking: can I travel on a plane with CBD?
There are many benefits of traveling with CBD. First, CBD is a common solution for anxiety. Therefore, travelers are using it to relieve their travel anxiety. CBD could be a great way to enjoy your travel if you are a nervous flier or often get wound up.
Also, there are CBD products that help you sleep better. So, they may come in handy when you’re up against time differences and finding it difficult to fall asleep.
In addition, as a traveler, you probably deal with body aches and pains. After spending hours on a plane or sleeping on the wrong Airbnb mattresses, body aches are inevitable. So, you may need CBD products for relief.
Lastly, there are other benefits of using CBD. There are CBD lotions for moisturizing the skin and alleviating dry skin. These products help prevent dry skin, particularly when traveling.
Traveling with Hemp vs. Marijuana-derived CBD
Suppliers source CBD from two major plants: hemp and marijuana. The legality of a CBD product largely depends on its source.
Hemp-based CBD products are legal federally in the U.S. Therefore, it’s safe to travel with hemp-derived CBD.
The 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp from the list of controlled substances. Following that, in 2019, the USDA confirmed that people can move across states with hemp-based CBD.
On the other hand, marijuana-derived CBD is illegal at a federal level in the U.S. Before traveling with marijuana-based CBD, you want to check the legality of marijuana in the state you’re visiting.
Some American states have legalized medical and/or recreational marijuana. So you shouldn’t have any issues in those states.
Traveling with CBD Oil vs. Other Forms of CBD
You can travel with CBD oils, creams, gummies, and other forms of CBD. Generally, any liquids you’re traveling with, including oils, creams, and tinctures, must be less than 3 ounces.
When traveling with oils and gummies, the TSA allows you to have them in carry-on and checked baggage. But, if you have a vape pen, you must bring it through airport security in your carry-on. It should not be in your checked luggage.
Can You Take CBD Oil on a Plane?
Yes, you can take your CBD oil on a plane. However, keep in mind that the legal protection you have with hemp-derived CBD products is only within the U.S.
Traveling with CBD Using Other Means of Transportation
- By Car: You don’t have to worry about a lot when traveling by car. As long as your CBD product doesn’t have more than 0.3 percent THC, you are safe. When traveling across borders, you should first check the local CBD laws.
- Public Transit: The same rule applies when you use mass transit. When traveling by train, bus, or other means of transport, ensure your CBD is hemp-derived.
Also, the THC amount must be within the legal concentration. If you’re taking public transport outside your state, always check the CBD laws in your destination.
Can You Travel with CBD Outside of the U.S.?
We’ve explained traveling with CBD within the U.S, but what about outside the U.S? Let’s answer the question: can I travel with CBD internationally?
Unfortunately, there is no clear answer to whether or not you can travel with CBD internationally. The best thing to do before traveling is to research the CBD laws of the country you want to visit.
You always want to be as careful as possible. When it comes to international travel, CBD rules and regulations differ from one country to another.
Where You Shouldn’t Bring CBD Oil with You?
Although CBD is legal in the United States, there’s a long list of countries where CBD is illegal. Also, in some places, the CBD laws are still murky, or the restrictions might differ from what you’re used to.
For instance, Can I travel with CBD oil in Europe? The short answer is yes. However, the THC content must be less than 0.2 percent THC. When compared with the U.S. legality, you find out you need lower THC in Europe than in America.
Some of the places where you shouldn’t visit with CBD include:
- India
- China
- Slovakia
- Belgium
- United Arab Emirates
In some Asian countries like Japan, you cannot visit with full-spectrum CBD oil. So, you have to make sure the product is a pure isolate. Lastly, CBD is illegal in most African countries.
Can You Get Arrested for Travelling with CBD Oil?
As we stated earlier, you can travel with CBD products as long as they don’t contain more than 0.3 percent THC. If not, officials can arrest you for carrying marijuana, which is still illegal federally.
Tips for Travelling with CBD Products
The laws may differ from one state to another. So, if you want to travel with your CBD products, keep the following suggestions in mind:
- Check the Laws Surrounding CBD in your Destination: This tip may sound like a no-brainer, but it should always be the first thing you do. Before traveling, take out some time and read up on the CBD policies to avoid getting into any trouble.
- Check for Additional Restrictions: Although CBD is legal federally, there may be certain restrictions. Its legality doesn’t mean you can use all forms of CBD products everywhere. Always conduct additional research to see what you can bring to your destination.
- Go with the Certificate of Analysis (COA): The product’s COA is the only way to confirm if the product contains the legal amount of THC. A COA is the test result from a third-party lab showing the cannabinoid profile, CBD potency, and purity of the product.
- Bring Travel-friendly Sizes: It’s best to go for CBD products in travel sizes because of the hand luggage limit. Also, take into consideration the standard airport restrictions. For example, airports allow 100 ml bottles. So you can take CBD oils that fall within this limit.
- Leave your CBD Behind: You can leave your CBD products at home and buy a new one when you arrive at your destination. Also, whenever you’re not sure what the policies are in the place you’re traveling to, you can leave your CBD behind.
Final Thoughts
Many travelers who struggle with jet lag, flight anxiety, or muscle ache turn to CBD for relief. Others add CBD products into their skincare routine to help with dry skin.
Traveling can be stressful, but what would be more stressful is getting arrested and facing legal charges. Thus, research the legal status of CBD in your destination. It could be another state, country, or continent.
In the U.S., CBD is legal federally. So you can take domestic flights with CBD products as long as they’re hemp-derived. When traveling internationally, things could get more complicated.
Always read up on the CBD laws and go with a Certificate of Analysis to stay safe.
