Is it legal to take CBD on a plane?

Extracted from hemp, CBD or cannabidiol is a compound that is increasingly consumed in France. Also, many consumers of this cannabinoid can swear that it has a strong health potential. However, although various studies state that cannabidiol is not a psychoactive substance, there are countries that are slow to legalise it. In these countries, CBD is still confused with THC, so it is treated as a drug.

CBD can be legally carried on a plane, under certain conditions. Among these, one main one is that in your country of departure and destination, CBD must be legal to transport by air.

In this article, learn about the constraints of travelling by air with CBD.

Constraints of travelling with CBD

Since CBD became a legal product in France, it can be bought just about anywhere and even without a prescription. However, when you leave the country to go outside, the situation may be different. Also, in France, only CBD products with a THC content of 0.2% or less are allowed.

Travelling with CBD to a European country

In Europe, taking CBD with you when you want to travel to a Schengen country, without using a plane, is not risky. Indeed, there are no checks carried out in this case. Remember that the Schengen countries include the countries of the European Union and other countries. These include Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

However, things are different when travelling by air. In this case, it becomes very risky to take CBD with you because of the strict controls that are carried out on luggage. Also, only CBD products with no more than 0.2% THC content are allowed to pass through, during baggage checks.

Also, in Italy, the use and sale of CBD products is legal according to the Cannabis Law No. 242 of 2 December 2016. Note that the use of CBD products rich in THC is considered an administrative offence. Also, if you want to enter the country in possession of CBD products, this is possible by other transportation routes, apart from air.

That said, sealed bags of inflorescence and containers of CBD oil can more easily pass through by land than by air which is subject to strict controls. In addition, among the countries in Europe where CBD is an illegal substance is Croatia.

Note that one faces severe penalties such as imprisonment, when travelling with CBD in a country where it is not a legal substance. Also, if you are arrested in possession of a CBD product, at the airport in Croatia, you will be punished with a custodial sentence. This sentence varies from 3 to 15 years, depending on the amount of cannabidiol products you are carrying.

Finally, in Switzerland and the Netherlands, customs rules are very liberal, regarding carrying a CBD product on you while travelling.

Travelling with CBD to a non-European country

Of the countries where cannabis and, therefore, CBD is legal, few allow it to be carried by air. Also, it is only in Europe and Canada that it is possible to travel with a CBD product without being arrested.

Internationally, particularly in Asia, customs regulations are very strict. Thus, it is strongly discouraged to take a CBD product on the plane, when travelling to, for example, Thailand, Vietnam or Indonesia (Bali).

In some Sub-Saharan African countries, possession of any compound derived from hemp, is a very serious offence. Finally, absolutely avoid travelling abroad, by air, with CBD flowers or oil. In fact, CBD creams and balms are more likely to go unnoticed, at the airport.

Travelling with CBD to a country like the US

In the case of travel to a country like the United States, the current situation is a bit more complex than it has ever been. This is because although US legislation is supportive of CBD consumption, its regulations on the subject are not uniform. In other words, they vary from state to state. That said, just over 30 US states have legalised cannabis and are therefore in favour of CBD use. Also, note that the state of Colorado is the first US state to legalise cannabis.

In addition, among the states and outlying areas where CBD is not considered an illegal substance, 14 states have specific CBD laws. In addition, the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has adopted new guidelines for CBD products. According to these guidelines, CBD products are allowed on aeroplanes as long as they have a THC content of no more than 0.3%. These products must also comply with Federal Drug Administration (FDA) regulations.

However, if you are planning to travel to the United States, avoid carrying CBD products. In any case, once you get to your destination, you can easily get these products on any street in the US. So wherever you go, you will find a rich range of CBD products in all possible forms. Also, these products are easily available in pharmacies where they are of high quality.

Finally, it is ideal to check the customs regulations in force on CBD in the country you are going to, before you travel by plane. This will prevent you from being surprised, especially as the laws on the consumption of a cannabis-based substance are constantly changing.

Precautions to take when travelling with CBD

Before you travel, make sure a number of conditions are met...; this could help you travel legally with CBD. That said, provide yourself with a list of the ingredients of the CBD product. Also have a certificate of analysis of the CBD product that proves it is legal. Usually, this certificate can be provided by the manufacturer of the product, under your request. In addition, it would be an asset if the list of ingredients and the certificate of analysis are written in the local language (that of the destination country). If this is not possible, it would be sufficient if they had an English version: this would be a good alternative.

Also, it may happen that a person is undergoing medical treatment that involves the use of a CBD product. In this case, he or she may necessarily have to travel with it, especially if in the destination country he or she cannot find the product. So, if you are in such a situation, the ideal thing to do is to ask your doctor to provide you with a medical certificate proving that a medical opinion authorises you to consume CBD.

This way, at the airport, you can present this certificate as proof if you are stopped. In this regard, you should know that for travel within the Schengen countries, there is an official form for this kind of situation.