If you’re planning to travel, you’re probably looking at a checklist of everything you need to pack. You know you can bring your toothbrush and a bunch of extra pairs of socks — does anyone else get cold toes on planes? But where does CBD fit on the list?
The recent legalization of agricultural hemp, combined with CBD’s recent surge in popularity, has people asking a lot of questions. Since hemp plants are cannabis plants, is it legal to travel with CBD?
Before you pack your bags, here’s what you should consider about traveling with CBD. In most cases, you should be good to go.
Is CBD Legal?
Most CBD products come from hemp, which is fully legal on a federal level. In 2018, the US passed the Farm Bill, which allowed American farmers to cultivate industrial hemp, allowing manufacturers to use it to make hemp-based products.
Hemp-based CBD is legal in almost every state. But, a few states have some exceptions they’ve made to their laws.
Hemp can contain a maximum of 0.3 percent THC by dry weight. A few states have regulations and limits regarding THC. It’s better to travel with broad-spectrum CBD products, which have had all detectable levels of THC removed but still have the other beneficial plant compounds.
Why Should I Take My CBD on Vacation?
No suitcase in the world is big enough to bring everything with you. When packing, you’ll probably need to make some concessions and leave a few things at home. If you’re still contemplating whether or not your CBD deserves the precious real estate in your suitcase, here’s what you should consider.
CBD Works Best With Consistent Use
CBD provides some immediate benefits shortly after you use it, but it provides even more significant benefits when you’re consistent. Using your CBD every day will provide consistent wellness support to your body.
If you take two weeks off to go on vacation without your CBD, you’re missing two weeks of benefits. When you return home, it might take time to get back into the swing of things.
So pack that CBD if you can and continue to get those soothing benefits throughout your trip.
You Might Need a Little Help Sleeping
How well do you sleep your first night in a hotel in a strange city in a different time zone from your home? There are a lot of significant changes to your bedtime routine going on.
You might find it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep at a normal hour. Jet lag can seriously affect how you feel for the first few days at your new destination.
CBD can support feelings of relaxation and soothe you into a good night’s sleep. It might provide a gentle nudge in the right direction. After you get unpacked, grab your CBD. You’ll probably feel slightly more at ease when hitting the hay.
Can You Take CBD on a Plane?
The Transportation Security Administration, or TSA, has the final say on what is or isn’t allowed on a plane. Since the TSA is a federal agency, they abide by federal laws.
The TSA has an official position on CBD. In essence, as long as it’s hemp-derived with federally legal THC limits, they’re not going to stop you from bringing it on a plane. They also have stated that they don’t look for CBD or legal cannabis products in luggage. CBD is allowed in both checked baggage and carry-on luggage.
They’ve also stated that they aren’t looking for things like CBD because it isn’t a potential threat to transportation security. You don’t need to disclose that you’re carrying CBD or speak to anyone at security about it.
You Can’t Take CBD on International Flights
CBD is legal in the United States of America, but it’s not legal in every part of the world. In countries where it is legal, the regulations may be different.
You’re unlikely to encounter a problem flying from The United States to Canada with CBD, but it’s not so easy in other countries. Layovers also add new layers of complication.
Your plane might land where it’s illegal for you to have the CBD you’re carrying. If security inspects your bags, you could quickly become a criminal in a foreign country.
There are places in the world where the laws surrounding cannabis-type plants are so severe that possessing even a small amount is punishable by life in prison. We don’t mean to scare you, but sometimes it’s best to keep it real. Don’t mess around with CBD on international flights.
If you’re traveling to a country where CBD is legal, you can always purchase it when you get there. Go for a smaller serving-size container of edibles if your trip won’t be that long.
If you use CBD oil, you can leave the rest of it with the friends or family members you went to visit. They can enjoy it on your behalf after you fly back home.
Can I Travel With All Forms of CBD?
You can travel with all forms of CBD, including CBD topicals and gummies. You can even travel with CBD vape cartridges, but be sure to look at the battery size — there are often regulations due to the heating element safety.
You only need to be mindful of the restrictions on liquids. Almost all liquid forms of CBD come in containers of 1 fluid ounce or less. The limit for liquid is 3.4 ounces, so the standard bottle of CBD oil fits well within the limit.
CBD roll-on products or CBD-infused creams may come in larger containers than TSA limits. You can either dispense these into a TSA-approved travel container or leave them home. If you already have a travel bottle kit, it might be worth filling a spare bottle in your TSA-approved pouch.
Taking Precautions When Traveling With CBD
You never want to run into any snags in your travel plans. Travel can be stressful enough. You just want to get to your destination safe and sound so you can enjoy your trip. If you’re traveling with CBD, here’s what you can do to set yourself up for success.
Pack a Travel-Friendly Form of CBD
One of the risks many people don’t consider when traveling with CBD can come back to bite them. If you use CBD oil in a glass bottle, that glass can easily break.
If the plane hits turbulence or you store your CBD in your checked bag, you may arrive at your destination with a bag full of shattered glass and CBD-soaked toiletries.
Transferring your CBD into a different container isn’t a good idea either. Other containers may let light in, degrading the quality of your CBD oil. Instead of switching containers, try other forms of CBD.
CBD gummies are much easier to take on a trip. They won’t shatter or leak. If you don’t already use gummies, consider trying something fun and new. Isn’t that what vacations are all about?
Carry Your Certificate of Analysis
The TSA isn’t specifically looking for CBD products. If they find CBD products, there’s a good chance they’ll completely ignore them — they know CBD is legal, and they don’t see the harm in you bringing CBD on a flight.
Just in case things don’t go the way you planned, you should come prepared. Print off the certificate of analysis for your batch of CBD, and bring the primary packaging it came in.
If anyone asks, you can tell them it’s hemp-derived CBD. You’ll have a lab report with a matching batch number that confirms the contents. That should be more than enough to resolve any confusion.
Pure Relief Wherever You Are
Pure Relief’s broad-spectrum CBD gummies are legal throughout most of the United States. They’re also effortless to throw in your bag, and there is no breakable glass or leaky oil when you pack a bag of CBD gummies.
Each gummy contains 25 mg of CBD, the perfect daily dose for most people. Our Daytime CBD gummies can support healthy energy levels throughout your vacation. Our Nighttime gummies can support a good night’s sleep while you’re away from home.
Sources:
Hemp Production and the 2018 Farm Bill - 07/25/2019 | FDA
Jet lag disorder - Symptoms and causes | Mayo Clinic
Medical Marijuana | Transportation Security Administration
What is the 3-1-1 liquids rule? | Transportation Security Administration