Is It Legal to Take CBD on an Airplane?

If you are a regular flier or have an upcoming trip, you may be wondering if it is legal to take CBD on an airplane. Cannabis and CBD laws in the United States are in a period of reform, leading to frequent, systematic changes on both a state and federal level. While this is mainly positive, it can be challenging to keep up with the precise and varying rules and restrictions. Fortunately, CBD is permitted for domestic travel in most cases. However, traveling comes with various guidelines, including those involving CBD, so you’ll want to make sure you brush up on the facts before taking any CBD products with you on a flight.   

Traveling With CBD: Is It Legal?

You may be wondering if it’s legal to travel with CBD. It may depend on where you’re traveling to and how you’re going. Flying domestically and internationally introduce different scenarios, as do destinations. 

Is It Legal to Fly With CBD Domestically?

Is CBD legal? The short answer is yes, but it comes with a range of specifications. 

Thanks to the Farm Bill passing in 2018, hemp-derived CBD is now privileged to have federally legal status in the United States. Hemp is no longer classified in the same way as cannabis, and as a result, traveling with hemp CBD is now legal.  

In addition, any CBD products you choose to travel with must contain less than 0.3% THC or have FDA approval. Otherwise, they lose their legal status.

Keep in mind that the status of cannabis-derived CBD remains unprotected because it remains illegal on a federal level. 

Do State Guidelines for Traveling With CBD Vary?

You should also be aware that some states have stricter restrictions than others. Therefore, while CBD may be legal federally, depending on where you are traveling, it could be illegal on a state level upon arrival. That is why it is always best to consult the legal status on a state level before traveling out of your home state.

While state laws about CBD are changing rapidly, CBD is still wholly illegal in Nebraska, South Dakota, and Idaho. 

CBD is also subject to a variety of restrictions in other states.  

Current States with CBD Restrictions Include: 

• Wyoming
• Wisconsin
• Iowa
• Indiana
• Kentucky
• Kansas
• Texas
• Mississippi
• Alabama 
• Georgis
• Tennessee
• North Carolina
• South Carolina
• Virginia

In all of the remaining 33 states, hemp CBD is entirely legal. Some even have legal cannabis-derived CBD and legal cannabis. 

Is It Legal to Fly With CBD Internationally?

International travel with CBD comes with even more, often stricter restrictions. In some cases, yes, you are permitted to fly with CBD internationally, but the regulations vary significantly from one country to the next. The penalties associated with violating international law can also be much more severe than those you would face here in the United States. Suppose you wish to fly internationally with CBD products. In that case, we strongly recommend you research each of the countries you will be visiting, even ones you may only have a layover in, before making your decision. 

How to Pack CBD When Traveling

When it comes to packing your CBD In luggage, a few TSA guidelines need to be followed. Follow these, and you should be all set to fly with your CBDs safely and without any issues.  

Can You Fly with CBD in Your Carry On Luggage?

You can take CBD oil on a plane in your checked luggage. You can also safely store other CBD products like vape cartridges, gummies, and topicals in your carry-on luggage. Just be aware that if you are traveling with CBD oil or lotion, TSA officials will treat it as a liquid under TSA regulations, so it must be in a container less than 3.4 ounces in size. 

Can You Fly with CBD Oil in Your Checked Baggage?

If you wish to travel with larger bottles of CBD oil, you can pack them in your checked luggage. All other CBD products can also be stowed in your checked baggage. 

The only restrictions for your checked luggage involve vape pens. CBD cartridges are permitted in checked baggage, but the actual pen containing the battery is not. Therefore, your vaping devices are only allowed in your carry-on luggage.  

The following are some additional CBD traveling considerations and pro tips.

What Are the Best Types of CBD to Travel With?

Due to their fast-acting nature, CBD oils are often the best type of CBD to bring on your travels. If you have a small enough container, you can even bring them on a plane, making them accessible whenever and wherever you need them most. 

CBD topicals like salves and lotions can also make an excellent option for bringing with you on your travels. You can use topicals to target specific areas of tension or inflammation. Topicals can also help relieve sore and strained muscles in a targeted and efficient manner. 

What Are the Benefits of Taking CBD Oil on a Plane?   

Legal CBD oil and other CBD products pose a wide range of mental and physical benefits for people while they are flying. They are an excellent remedy for anxiety, but they also can be effective at relieving inflammation, both common ailments flyers struggle to combat. 

If you know that traveling increases your stress levels or turbulent flights give you anxiety, CBDs may be able to help you find some relief. CBDs may also help you maintain a more regular sleep pattern both during and after your flight which can help keep you alert and diminishes the effects of jet lag.

Flying With Legal CBD

Considering all the potential benefits CBDs pose for traveling, it can be quite a relief that they are typically safe to bring with you on a plane. Thanks to their federally legal status, you can fly with CBDs if you follow a few simple guidelines. For domestic flights, remember to bring a CBD product that contains less than 0.3% THC. Also, typical TSA rules apply for liquid if you are flying with CBD oil in your carry-on luggage, and some states have stricter regulations than the federal level regarding CBD. For international travel, always check with the specific countries’ laws and regulations first.