CBD is no longer a banned product. It has risen over the old age problem of marijuana stigmatization. Still, people ask: can we travel with CBD?
And this is a valid question because CBD legality can vary from one place to another.
CBD legislation is still evolving. After the passing of the Farm Bill of 2018, several US states greenlight the sales and distribution of cannabis products derived from hemp.
In 2018, the Food and Drug Administration authority took their time to roll out the new regulations. This created widespread confusion about traveling with CBD, even after introducing new clauses in the Transpiration Security Administration’s documentation.
But, as of 2020, there’s no problem whatsoever if you’re boarding a plane with medical marijuana in your bag. This includes all CBD products, such as gummies, vapes, and creams that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration authority. As long as your CBD product contains less than .3% THC, you’re in the clear.
However, you still have to take care of TSA’s rigorous security checks. Here’s how you can make your life easier when traveling with CBD:
- Travel With the Documentation: Why CBD?
Right now, you can only travel with CBD products under two conditions.
Firs: For medicinal purposes. For instance, if you’re living with arthritis, you might be using a CBD topical to manage chronic pain. Second: if you want to use CBD recreationally for having a quick smoke or ingesting a yummy CBD edible.
In both cases, you need to have the documentation at hand to make sure you don’t run into any legal troubles.
Suppose you have your CBD on a flight for medical reasons when traveling. In that case, you need to have your doctor’s prescription. You’ll also need the medical certificate that came along with the prescription. With these documents at your disposal, there’s no chance you’re going to have any trouble clearing security checkpoints.
When it comes to CBD vapes, things are a bit tricky. Vapes are allowed in most cases. But, officials may require you to state the purpose of their usage.
Therefore, you need to have the documentation of each product to provide evidence or justification of consumption.
- Don’t Take More than the Dosage.
The dosage is another factor you need to take into account. You shouldn’t bring an amount that bypasses prescribed limits if you don’t want any hassles at security checkpoints. In most states, only CBD dosage that doesn’t last more than 30 days is allowed. There’s also a fixed amount you can follow, i.e., 150g.
This means you can’t stuff your bags with a lot of CBD and think that it’s not going to cause a problem. If you have more CBD than permitted, you might have to pay legal charges. In some cases, the officials at transportation centers may confiscate your cannabidiol.
So, a word of caution: don’t bring more than you can easily justify. For those who need CBD in large amounts, there are online stores, so there’s no need to bring vast amounts on your trip.
- Have Your Product’s Certificate of Analysis (COA)
Not every CBD product is the same. The quality varies. Some products are subpar, while others are far superior.
The problem with subpar or low-quality products is that they are not rigorously tested. Most manufacturers that sell these products do not support independent third party testing. Because of this, the concentration of ingredients mentioned on the product packaging is often inconsistent or misleading.
Some CBD products may contain THC even if the product claims to have none. This makes the CBD product illegal for carrying while you travel.
Therefore, it’s imperative to buy a product from a reputable vendor. As a general recommendation, go with companies that publish product lab results on their website. Remember, the more transparent a company, the lesser problematic their products.
Make sure you have your product’s certificate of analysis with you while boarding a flight. You can get this document from your vendor.
- Package Your CBD Product Properly
The TSA has provided clear guidelines for packaging liquid products. According to the regulatory authority, CBD products like creams and oils need to be stored in quart-sized bags.
Also, it’s best advised to keep your CBD products separate. They shouldn’t come in contact with other liquids.
Also, the authorities might suspect that you’re trying to conceal the product. This might get you in trouble with the authorities even if you have the required documentation. You might be subjected to a long line of questioning and unnecessary delays.
So, it’s in your best interests to keep things as safe and as transparent as possible.
- Research The Legislation
You must do homework on the location you’re visiting. This information will help you decide on how, why, when, and where to carry CBD.
If it’s a domestic flight, check individual state laws to find out whether CBD is legal in the state you’re traveling to or not.
Most states have the same law: CBD containing trace amounts of THC is legal. However, in some states like Florida, CBD sales are not permitted. Therefore, you need to know your destination’s CBD legal status to ensure you don’t violate any laws.
When it comes to International flights, things are different. Some countries, such as Canada, Australia, Spain, and the UK, have legalized CBD. Other countries, however, have imposed stringent laws to deter the transnational transport of CBD products.
Conclusion
You could be taking a train or boarding an International flight with CBD in your luggage. You must study up on your destination to protect yourself legally. Generally, people find the thought of traveling with CBD intimidating. In their mind, a whole host of things can go wrong, and in the end, they decide to keep things safe and travel without the therapeutic compound.
Fortunately, things have changed in recent years. While these concerns were valid previously, now CBD is primarily legal within the states. As long as you have a certificate of analysis and a doctor’s prescription for your CBD products, you don’t have to worry about security stumbling blocks.
