Planning a Weekend Getaway? Here's Everything You Need to Know to (legally) Travel with CBD

[Updated March 3, 2023]

Traveling with CBD products such as CBD gummies or CBD oils can be tricky, especially when traveling abroad. Get informed on the dos and don’ts of CBD before you fly with CBD to your next vision board destination.

The world feels like it’s brimming with new life and shiny opportunities.

It’s been over a year since the start of COVID-19, and we’re beginning to see some form of normalcy seep back into our day-to-day lives.

It’s refreshing. It’s encouraging. And it calls for a (much-needed) weekend getaway.

But when it comes to flying with CBD, there are many questions that arise...

Can I bring hemp-derived CBD oil on a plane? Is CBD oil legal in other states? What about in other countries? Are bath bombs allowed on planes?

In this article, you’ll learn the dos and don’ts of traveling and flying with CBD, where it’s legal, and which products are an absolute travel necessity.

Read on, you wanderlust soul, you…

Can You Bring CBD on a Plane?

 

Flying with CBD is a tricky matter. The short answer to whether it's possible to fly with CBD is: it depends.

It depends on one thing and one thing only: Where you’re going.

Up until May 2019, it was illegal to travel with CBD in the United States.

Then a miracle happened—the Transportation Safety Administration updated their policy to allow hemp-derived CBD products with less than 0.3% THC to be brought on planes (cue rejoicing among US travelers and CBD lovers).

However, this new policy doesn’t fly with everyone (pun intended)...

Below you’ll find out which states where CBD still falls in a legal gray area.

 

Flying in the United States: What States Allow CBD?

 

Just two years ago, traveling with hemp-derived CBD products like CBD oil was frowned upon. So much so that 72-year-old woman, Lena Bartula, was arrested at the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport for carrying CBD oil. And 69-year-old woman, Hester Burkhalter, was arrested at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, for the same exact thing.

For such a useful plant that has benefitted thousands of lives, it’s odd why there was such a dispute over it.

Thankfully, the US (and numerous other countries) have eased up on their strict regulations concerning hemp. This is great news for CBD users who want to fly with CBD product of their choice.

The federal law is lenient - as of 2021, you can legally travel with hemp-derived CBD in hand to all 50 U.S. states, with the exception of Idaho and South Dakota, which both fall in a legal gray area.

In Idaho, CBD is legal, but it cannot contain any THC. So, as of May 2021, full-spectrum CBD is a no-go in the great Gem State. If you want to bring CBD gummies or are a fan of CBD cream, flying with CBD isolate products might be your safest bet here.

As for South Dakota, after many a veto on hemp, you can still manage to find CBD sold over the counter or online.

So if you find yourself traveling to these two states, make sure your CBD is 1) hemp-derived and 2) has zero THC. After all, you don't want trouble from Transportation Security Administration agents or law enforcement officials.

In short, if you’re traveling within the United States (while practicing extra caution when traveling to ID and SD), you can safely pack CBD product of choice in your carry-on or checked bag, and you’ll continue being the wonderful law-abiding citizen that you are.

CAN I TRAVEL INTERNATIONALLY WITH CBD?

The federal law only applies to the territory of the United States. Unless you want your CBD products confiscated by local equivalents of TSA agents or other authorities (and possibly face jail time), do your research to ensure that it is, in fact, legal to fly with CBD to your upcoming foreign destination.

Here are a few examples:

Canada: Through the Cannabis Act, our Canadian neighbors legalized cannabis for those over the age of 18 on October 17, 2018. Don’t get too excited, though. Although they’ve legalized psychoactive marijuana, they’ve yet to address the legality of its nonpsychoactive cousin—hemp.

What we do know is this: Don’t try to travel to or from Canada with cannabis and/or CBD. That is strictly prohibited.

Mexico: As of 2017, President Enrique Pena Nieto signed a bill legalizing medical cannabis containing less than 1% THC and low-THC CBD oil. And now—three years later—under the presidency of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, a bill was passed that would allow recreational marijuana use for those with a permit who are 18 and older.

Europe: Say hello to the world’s second-largest CBD market. Thankfully, the laws surrounding CBD in Europe aren't nearly as confusing as it is in Canada.

In fact, most European countries simply consider hemp with 0.2% THC a Novel Food. What a mouthwatering way to say “It’s legal AND great for your wellness!”

Other Novel Foods include sources of vitamin K, Antarctic Krill oil, chia seeds, noni fruit juice, etc.

As of May 2021, there are 15 European countries in which CBD is legal:

• Bulgaria

• Denmark

• France (must contain zero THC)

• Germany

• Greece

• Luxembourg

• Netherlands

• Poland

• Romania

• Slovenia

• Spain

• Sweden (must contain zero THC)

• Switzerland

• Ukraine

• The United Kingdom

The following ten countries prohibit CBD:

• Albania

• Andorra

• Armenia

• Belarus

• Republic of Georgia

• Lithuania

• Moldova

• Monaco

• Montenegro

• Slovakia

The following countries have stricter regulations around CBD and require further research before your next European vacay:

• Austria

• Belgium

• Czech Republic

• Estonia

• Finland

• Hungary

• Iceland

• Ireland 

• Italy

• Latvia

• Liechtenstein

• Malta

• North Macedonia

• Norway

• Portugal

• Serbia

CBD PRODUCTS TO ADD TO YOUR SUITCASE

One thing to be ultra-aware of is where you get your CBD products. With the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, its rise to fame had everyone and their mother starting a CBD company.

And with this boom came some collateral damage—AKA a lot of snake oil. It was discovered that 70% of CBD products are either over or under-labeled or contain unnecessary heavy metals like lead and arsenic along with pesticides, toxic mold, and other impurities.

For instance, those that claim to be “THC free” actually have THC (the psychoactive component of the cannabis plant), and those that are labeled as full-spectrum CBD oil contain more than the legal limit of 0.3% THC.

Good to Know: To be legally classified as CBD, products should contain no more than 0.3% THC.

You can tell a product is high-quality and transparent if it has a QR code or a link to its lab results. These lab results will tell you what cannabinoids—and what percentage of each—are in that particular batch of product. Make sure to check it out before you buy your CBD vape pen or any other cannabidiol product.

Although the structure of various certificates of analysis might differ between various third-party labs, some general similarities can be found.

The first section of the lab report will usually showcase the general info about the tested sample, including but not limited to the name of the product, its strength, date of manufacture, or active and inactive ingredients. The second section of the report will show the general physical attributes of the sample, such as appearance, color, and odor.

Further sections go into more specific details about the tested sample, such as an identification of all cannabinoids, the type of terpenes present in the sample, etc. All of this data will allow you to better understand what you’re putting into your body and ensure that the product you’re using is not only legal but also safe for consumption.

If you want to make sure that your CBD goods like CBD gummies are safe to consume, look for sections analyzing the pesticide and heavy metals levels.

Be wary of companies that don’t include this data in the lab report or don’t share their lab results at all. This is a dead giveaway that they have something to hide—and if they have something to hide, there’s a high chance that their product isn’t up to par.

You can view our lab results here.

 

 

Our 5 Favorite Travel-Worthy CBD Products

There are 5 CBD products to add to your packing list…

CBD Bath Bombs

Wash away your stiff, post-10-hour-flight muscles with a warm bath and lavender-infused CBD bath bomb.

Say hello to relaxation, revitalized skin, and a soothing scent that will have you feeling refreshed for your trip ahead.

CBD Oil Salve Stick

Kink in your neck from sitting too long?

Our CBD Oil Salve Stick will wipe that away in no time. The best part: It can easily fit in your pocket or purse, so you can have it on hand at all times.

The perfect travel companion.

Melatonin CBD Oil Softgels

Have a long flight ahead of you and want to catch some ZZZs?

Take one of our Melatonin CBD Oil Softgels to rest up for all of those excursions you’re going to have!

Broad Spectrum CBD Oil Drops

Pre-flight jitters?

We’ve got you covered.

With our Fresh Mint, Lemon, and Orange CBD Oil, you’ll feel calm enough to overcome that pesky anxiety that comes around when you’re ready for takeoff.

 

CBD Sample & Gift Set

Better to have a little bit of everything on hand than nothing at all.

With our CBD Sample & Gift Set (more like The Perfect CBD Travel Pack EVER), you’ll have CBD Oil, 2 CBD Softgels, Lavender Eucalyptus CBD Salve, 5 Green Apple CBD Gummies, 5 Strawberry Lemonade CBD Gummies, and of course—a zipper pouch to keep it all together!

If we had to name a carry-on must-have, this would be it.

The Bottom Line

If you’re like us, you’ve been wistfully (and enviously) adding those Dreamy Destinations and Romantic Getaways to your Pinterest board for the past year.

And now, it’s becoming more and more legal (btw, who would have ever thought travel would be illegal?).

With countries beginning to open up to natives and tourists alike, we grant you permission to dust off your passport and book that dreamy trip you’ve been daydreaming about.

Stock up on your favorite CBD essentials to kick airplane anxiety, keep your immune system strong, and decompress after that long flight.

Happy travels, friend!

 

 

Disclaimer: Thryv Organics’ materials are intended to educate. They are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure, or prevent diseases in any way. We advise all customers to consult with a healthcare professional before adding any new supplements, diets, or lifestyle changes to their regimen.