Can I Fly With CBD?
Medical and recreational cannabis is legal in some states, but the TSA's policy has been quite clear about it being illegal to fly with marijuana. However, this has recently changed after the TSA made changes to its policy on medical cannabis, which states you now can fly with certain forms of CBD oil as well as one FDA-approved hemp-derived medication.
They allow the CBD oil if it's produced within the 2018 Farm Bill's regulations defined by the law, which federally legalized hemp. Products must contain no more than 0.3 percent THC on a dry weight basis, or that are approved by FDA. The passage of the Farm Bill’s Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 removed hemp from the Controlled Substances Act, and near the end of 2019, the USDA affirmed that you have the right to transport hemp-based CBD across state lines.
The TSA's new regulations still don't allow other forms of cannabis, which includes CBD oils containing THC, and cannabis-infused products above 0.3 percent, which, under federal law, are still illegal.
TSA officers are still required by law to report any violations. What's not clear is how the TSA will be checking if a product has THC in it, and if they do question if a certain substance is illegal, they would refer the issue to law enforcement. The TSA, however, wouldn't do the testing.
Isn't CBD the Same as Marijuana?
CBD isn't the chemical in cannabis that produces the "high" or euphoria. It's THC, cannabis's other active ingredient that causes this reaction. Derivatives of hemp contain little to no THC, marijuana's psychoactive compound that causes a high.
Benefits of CBD-Infused Oil
CBD could have various other benefits without causing a high, such as inflammation, treating pain, and CBD for anxiety, according to Harvard Medical School.
CBD for sleep is also common. There are potential benefits linking CBD and sleep disorders, like insomnia.
How CBD Works
Not everything is totally understood about how compounds like CBD work. Research has shown CBD interacts with cells and proteins in the brain.
Researchers found the endocannabinoid system controls certain body functions like:
- Appetite
- Mood
- Sleep (including circadian rhythm regulation)
Within the ECS, you have a network of brain and central nervous system cannabinoid receptors. The two main receptors are CB1 and CB2.
But Is It Legal to Fly with CBD?
CBD is legal in the United States as long as it's grown under the stringent specifications the Farm Bill lays out, isn't sold as food, a dietary supplement, or drink additive, and doesn't contain more than 0.3% THC. That said, a new bill introduced in January, 2020 could lead to CBD being marketed as a dietary supplement.
While it's not likely that anybody will hassle you for carrying CBD, it's not technically 100% legal. And, the TSA even states that possessing cannabis and some types of cannabis-infused products like some CBD oil, are still illegal.
The TSA's screening process is focused on security, and is put in place for detecting possible threats to passengers and aviation. While TSA security officers may not check for cannabis or other illegal drugs, as mentioned, if they do happen to discover any illegal substance during their security screening, they'll refer the issue to law enforcement.
Flying Abroad
In the U.S., if your luggage includes CBD tinctures, oils, gummies, and lotions that fall under the Farm Bill’s definition, it's okay to take them to family and friends. But, when traveling abroad, you'll want to be careful. In fact, a warning regarding flying with CBD was tweeted by the U.S. Depart of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs saying something along the lines of if you're caught bringing gifts along like CBD oils, drones, and firearms, you could find yourself in trouble in foreign countries. So, you'll want to do your due diligence to ensure that what you're bringing with you when traveling is allowed.
As far as the TSA's concerned, the final decision of whether something is allowed through checkpoints rests with the TSA officer.
Switch Your Traditional Pillow for a CBD-Infused Pillow
If you're considering using CBD oil to help with anxiety, pain, sleep disorders, or another reason, you may want to try using a CBD pillow. These pillows are infused with CBD, and could provide you with symptom relief from many conditions you may be suffering from. They come with no THC certification and CBD potency certification, so you know you're getting CBD and not THC. That means the CBD pillow falls under the THC threshold for flying, since it contains zero THC.
A CBD-infused pillow works by releasing microdoses of CBD from the friction of your head and skin that are delivered throughout your body, providing you with potential therapeutic benefits.
Try a CBD pillow out for yourself. Place your order today!