Perhaps you’re a runner who uses CBD gummies to help with exercise recovery or a mother who uses CBD oil for everyday stress. You’ve got a trip coming up, and you’re not sure about whether it’s OK to take your CBD products on an airplane. Does the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) check for such things? Are laws and regulations different in other states or countries? We’ll answer these questions and more below.
Keep reading to learn the rules and regulations behind taking CBD onto an airplane:
Understanding the makeup of CBD products
Before we start talking about bringing CBD onto an airplane, it’s important to understand the composition of some hemp-derived products like full-spectrum CBD oils, creams, and gummies. Full-spectrum CBD products contain the naturally occurring phytocannabinoids found in the hemp plant, including a very small percentage of THC, the element that causes the “high” associated with marijuana. As of 2018 and the passing of the Farm Bill, the level of THC in hemp grown in the US is federally mandated to be less than 0.3 percent, which is not enough to produce an intoxicating effect. When flying, this law plays into whether or not your CBD products can be brought with you.
Can you fly domestically with CBD products?
Now that you know the makeup of CBD products, let’s discuss whether or not you can fly with them domestically. The short answer is yes, you can bring hemp-derived CBD products on a plane while flying in the United States. Let’s go over why that is:
When conducting screenings, TSA officers are looking for anything that’s not allowed in the cabin during air travel, from guns and explosives to liquids purchased outside the security gates. However, thanks to the Hemp Bill, this doesn’t include CBD. The TSA website says “Marijuana and certain cannabis infused products, including some Cannabidiol (CBD) oil, remain illegal under federal law except for products that contain no more than 0.3 percent THC on a dry weight basis or that are approved by FDA.” Meaning, if your CBD products conform to the limit of THC outlined by the Hemp Bill, it’s perfectly fine to bring them with you on a plane.
To be safe, review the certificate of analysis for your CBD products to confirm that they contain less than 0.3 percent THC, and if you are having trouble reading the COA, call customer service who can walk you through the details.
If the product will be in your carry-on bag, it must contain less than 3.4 ounces of liquid, ointment, cream, or balm, be contained in a shatter-proof container, and should be included in the transparent quart-size bag of such items that you take out of your suitcase to put through the TSA screening machine.
Can you fly internationally with CBD products?
Flying internationally with CBD is where things get more complicated because regulations on the level of THC allowed (and classifications of products) change from country to country. SmarterTravel says “professionals strongly advise to err on the side of caution and leave products with any cannabinoids (including hemp-derived oils) at home, especially because some countries have much stricter drug laws.”
Regulations for different countries
Some countries do not allow CBD at all. Others do with a prescription. A couple allows a THC level greater than 0.3 percent (Italy allows 0.6 percent, for instance), while other countries allow no greater than 0.2 percent THC (lower than the United States’ allowed level) or none altogether (the United Kingdom mandates 0%, for example). Here’s a list of international regulations by country last updated in September 2020.
The best CBD products for air travel
Now that you know what can and can’t be brought on a plane let’s talk about the best CBD products to bring with you while traveling:
- Do you suffer from occasional anxiety? It’s not uncommon to be anxious about flying, or traveling in general, which requires leaving home and routine behind. Try CBD capsules or a gummy formulated with calming botanicals like lemon balm.
- Do you have trouble sleeping? Jet lag messes with all of us. But even if you’re in your normal time zone, the experience of sleeping in a different bed, hearing different noises, or dealing with an unaccustomed amount of light in the room, can affect your sleep when you’re on the road. Try CBD oil or a CBD product containing melatonin.
- Are you traveling with a dog? If you’re flying with a small dog riding beneath your seat, it may experience extra anxiety in its new surroundings. See if your favorite CBD brand carries calming chews for your favorite travel buddy.
The Bottom Line
If you’re traveling in the United States, you’re generally going to be fine traveling with hemp-derived CBD products as long as the products you have conform to federal government regulations. Internationally, you’ll want to check out the regulations of the countries you’re visiting, but in general, traveling with CBD internationally is much stricter.
Please note: this article is not intended to provide legal advice.
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
