Things to Consider Before Traveling With CBD

Cannabidiol, popularly known as CBD, continues to gain traction in the United States as consumers learn more about its array of potential health benefits. An increasing number of Americans are beginning to rely on it as a natural remedy for pain, inflammation, sleep problems, anxiety and much more.

Adding to CBD’s appeal is its lack of any serious side effects, as well as the fact that it can be taken many different ways. Don’t like swallowing capsules? Try a topical cream, or highly potent drops, or an infused beverage. You can also purchase CBD in the form of gummies, beauty products, bath bombs and e-liquids.

Given its widespread availability, it’s natural to assume that traveling with CBD is no big deal. For the most part that’s true. But there are still a few things you should know before you bring CBD across state lines, onto an airplane, or into a different country.

 What is the legal status of CBD?

CBD is legal all over the United States, but that is not true of all CBD products. Let’s take a closer look at this paradox.

CBD is a naturally occurring chemical in the Cannabis sativa plant. Now, in most people’s minds, cannabis is associated with marijuana. For a long time, marijuana has been considered a Schedule 1 drug by the US Drug Enforcement Administration. While a good number of states have recently legalized marijuana (either medical, recreational or both), it remains illegal at the federal level.

Depending on the strain, marijuana can contain high concentrations of CBD. But it also contains high levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the psychoactive chemical that makes you high.

CBD is non-intoxicating, meaning it does not make you high. Nevertheless, the legality of CBD products derived from marijuana varies by state. That’s because many of them feature high THC levels. In general, you don’t want to bring marijuana CBD products anyplace where you wouldn’t bring marijuana itself.

 You can tell if a CBD product derives from marijuana by reading the label.

CBD From Hemp

The good news is that most of the CBD products sold online and in stores are not made from marijuana. Instead, they’re made from industrial hemp. Like marijuana, hemp is a variety of the cannabis plant. But unlike marijuana, it’s entirely legal; the federal government legalized hemp as part of the 2018 Farm Bill.

There is a simple reason for this: while industrial hemp contains just as much CBD as marijuana, it contains almost 0% THC. That makes it non-intoxicating.

Therefore, any CBD product manufactured from hemp is fully legal and can be carried over state lines without a problem. Again, always double-check the product label to ensure that your CBD is hemp-based.

The good news is that most of the CBD products sold online and in stores are not made from marijuana. Instead, they’re made from industrial hemp. Like marijuana, hemp is a variety of the cannabis plant. But unlike marijuana, it’s entirely legal; the federal government legalized hemp as part of the 2018 Farm Bill.

There is a simple reason for this: while industrial hemp contains just as much CBD as marijuana, it contains almost 0% THC. That makes it non-intoxicating.

Therefore, any CBD product manufactured from hemp is fully legal and can be carried over state lines without a problem. Again, always double-check the product label to ensure that your CBD is hemp-based.

Flying with CBD

In the case of domestic flights, the same basic rules are going to apply. As the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) makes clear on its website, “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.”

If you choose to bring CBD with you on a flight, you should keep it in the original container. That way, if you’re asked about the ingredients, all you have to do is point to the label. You could also go a step further and ask the company that sold you the CBD to provide you with a detailed lab report listing all ingredients and their quantities.

By its own admission, the TSA is not tasked with finding and confiscating illegal substances like marijuana. But if they do find it, they’re obligated to report the violation to state or federal authorities. Don’t take any chances.

 Traveling abroad with CBD

Depending on where you’re going, this could be a very bad idea. Drug legislation varies enormously from country to country, and it’s not unheard of for unwitting international travelers to be arrested on drug trafficking charges.

Before you bring CBD with you on a trip abroad, make certain that your destination does not have any laws against it. When in doubt, leave it behind.