Can you take CBD oil on a plane?

Everything You Need to Know about Traveling with CBD Oil

CBD oil is gaining more popularity every day for its remarkable qualities, and although research is still ongoing, it is thought CBD can help with more than epilepsy.

Regardless of its growing popularity and its excellent benefits, CBD oil is often confused with cannabis, bringing up questions of legality.

Aside from this confusion is the issues that arise due to the popularity of CBD oil among travellers, with many asking: Can you take CBD oil on a plane?

This discussion will try to answer this common question with some guidance and clarify any confusion.

What is CBD Oil?

CBD stands for cannabidiol which is a chemical compound found in cannabis. Aside from the stereotypes, CBD is different from recreational cannabis and used for entirely different reasons.

The critical difference between CBD oil and cannabis is that CBD oil contains either zero or only legal, trace amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, which causes a euphoric effect on the brain.

CBD oil is an extracted component from the hemp plant which is safe to use as declared by the World Health Organization.

CBD is used primarily for health and wellbeing purposes, whilst Medical Cannabis treats epilepsy, anxiety, and muscle cramps, among many other issues.

Medicinal use aside, confusion remains about the legality of the product.

However, CBD is legal when sold as a food supplement in the UK, most of Europe and the United States.

Types of CBD Oil

CBD oil is consumed in many forms.

The most common types of cannabis products that people travel with on a plane are CBD oil, CBD vape juice, CBD balm or muscle rubs and CBD gummies or edibles.

There are no specific guidelines for these individually. However, these different forms come in three main spectrums:

1. Full-Spectrum
2. Broad-Spectrum
3. CBD Isolate

The difference between these spectrums is the amount of THC. There should only be a trace amount of THC, as we mentioned before.

However, the advantage of broad-spectrum CBD oil and isolate-based products when travelling is that they have no-detectable THC, which the Certificate of Analysis (COA) should prove.

CBD Regulations

CBD has been in a grey area legally for a while now.

Our article on the UK CBD Rules and Regulations clears things up nicely; however, if you are not interested in reading the full blog, no problem, we will sum it up for you below:

• CBD is not a controlled cannabinoid; therefore, it is legal in the UK
• THC, THC-A, CBN are examples of controlled cannabinoids, of which there are nine and are illegal in the UK
• No more than 1mg of THC or a controlled cannabinoid can be in a CBD product here
• The "0.2% THC rule" is a myth

So a CBD product can have traces of THC in it, but it must not total more than 1mg per product; currently, as the report above was tasked with looking at levels and a more logical approach specific for CBD products should be on the way.

If you tested at work or in competition then this article: Will CBD show up on a drug test? might interest you!

CBD products in the UK must also comply with all Food Standards Agency, Trading Standards and Novel Foods Regulations.

Why Does CBD Appeal to Travelers

Some people are anxious about flying. Imagine if you could make the anxiety disappear with a piece of candy or a few drops of oil.

Well, some people claim CBD oil does precisely that.

CBD oil will not get you "high," but it might allow you to stay calm and enjoy your trips even more. This is why CBD oil has become quite popular among frequent travellers.

So Can you Fly with CBD?

So far, we have seen that the United States and the United Kingdom have relatively lenient policies for CBD oil or CBD products in general.

However, it is not the same for every country. So it is necessary to do a little research about your destination airport and country before carrying CBD products on an international flight.

You may well have heard of the British man in prison in the UAE for possession of CBD e-liquid in Dubai!

Is it Safe to Carry CBD on a Plane?

Regardless of its popularity, not all countries have accepted CBD oil into the mainstream yet. It is essential to be cautious and do your research before getting on an aeroplane with it.

Let's look at some of the relevant policies you need to be aware of when travelling on a plane with your CBD oil.

At the Airport

You must be aware of the regulations regarding the CBD products of the destination country. Although CBD products are not illegal here, not every country is tolerant of them.

If someone does not have the essential documents to prove their CBD products follow guidelines or the legal status of CBD in the destination country is clear, it is best not to carry CBD products at all.

Liquids Onboard Planes

If someone needs to carry liquified CBD oil, they must ensure that the container is 100 mL or 3 oz or less. If the container is more than that, the product might be seized and not returned as per UK Government and US regulations.

These rules are not specific to CBD oil as it applies to all liquids and has done so for several years now.

Can You Take CBD Oil Abroad?

When you are carrying CBD oil on a plane, you must maintain some regulations and be cautious about some actions that might get you into trouble.

It is necessary to carry the Certificate of Analysis (COA) with you while carrying a CBD product to avoid legal issues from airport security.

Even if some countries do not have any direct policies regarding CBD oil, their policies against the cannabis plant, in general, should first be considered.

Even though CBD products and marijuana have significant differences, some countries might still consider them both illegal drugs. If you are concerned about being drug tested on arrival take a look at our article: How long does CBD stay in your system?

If a country has strict policies regarding cannabis, then take that as a warning sign.

However, if someone requires CBD for medical purposes, it is wise to have the products tested from a certified third-party laboratory and carry the documents and prescription while travelling.

If this is not possible, we recommend that you carry a pure isolated CBD product known to contain no THC, with a Certificate of Analysis!

We have put together this table as a quick guide for your travels with CBD in Europe.

Please check before you travel, as rules around CBD seem to change so quickly!

Can you take CBD on a Domestic Flight?

You should have no problem bringing CBD products onboard domestic flights within Britain and on international flights into Britain.

We always recommend carrying your CBD product's third-party Certificate of Analysis (COA) with you. Contacting your flight provider and customs office in advance is also recommended.

CBD oils you purchase in the UK are classed as food supplements derived from industrial hemp rather than medical marijuana, which is usually high in THC.

However, due to the connection with cannabis, we always recommend earing on the side of caution!

And make sure to check the latest rules before travelling.

How to Pack CBD When Traveling

While taking CBD oil in a plane, one must be cautious where they are carrying it. While it might not seem like a big issue where someone is putting their CBD products, it is advised to put them in your carry-on luggage.

We also advise that you take unopened bottles to avoid any argument about the contents.

Carry-on Luggage

The reason for carrying the CBD products is that if any issue should occur regarding the CBD product, one can deal with it first-hand, given that the necessary documents are present. Moreover, this also reduces the risk of losing the product to airport authorities.

Checked Luggage

If it is carried in checked luggage, the luggage must be accessible to the airport authorities, and the products must follow the guidelines. If not, the airport authorities hold the right to take away the product potential with a no returns policy.

We recommend keeping your lab reports or prescriptions with you to produce if investigated by customs.

Will You Get Arrested for Traveling with CBD Oil?

One of the first questions that come to mind is whether this oil is legal or not.

It is well-known that CBD oil is related to cannabis and naturally draws much attention. Aside from the stigma of cannabis, CBD oil is legal in most cases.

As we have already learned, CBD oil does not usually contain high levels of THC, which means it does not intoxicate a person or cause any psychoactive effects.

But it still boils down to two crucial questions:

1. Where are you travelling?
2. How much THC is in your CBD product?

If your destination recognises CBD oil as a legal product, you should have no problem carrying CBD items.

Requirements for Carrying CBD on the Plane

Certificate and a Tax Receipt

Even though most European countries recognise CBD products as entirely legal, you should still carry a tax receipt and legal documents that cite the origin of the products. Always keep the receipts for your CBD products to avoid unwanted hassle at the security checks.

Destination Laws

Although it is not illegal in the United Kingdom to carry CBD oil, one might fall into unwanted circumstances under local authorities for carrying CBD oil.

A few examples of countries that carrying CBD might not be completely safe would be India, China, Indonesia, and Belgium. These countries have strict policies against cannabis and might not treat CBD products kindly.

Even in most African countries, CBD is still considered to be illegal and full-spectrum CBD oil is illegal in Japan. This is why it is always in your best interest to do thorough research about the local laws.

A Few Tips for Traveling with CBD

The global legality of CBD is still in question. So it is always wise to stay on the safe side. Here are a few tips to help you travel with CBD.

Even in countries that have recognised and legalised CBD, it is still better to carry CBD oils instead of flowers or resins.

CBD flowers are often confused with other illicit products and are in another completely legal grey area; they are, in fact, illegal in the UK!

Travelling with all the legal documents can be bothersome, but it will help avoid unwanted attention.

Lastly, if you are not consuming CBD for jet lag or anxiety, it is best to buy your products when you arrive at your final destination.

That way, you will not have to go through any extra security checks and stress!

Final Thoughts

CBD products are not illegal in most countries in Europe and the Americas.

However, since all the countries do not have the same opinions about CBD, it is not entirely safe to carry CBD on any international flight. Nonetheless, if your destination country is lenient toward CBD products, they can be safely carried out and used, with some common sense applied.

All in all, guidelines should be followed while carrying CBD oil on planes, and proper evidence must be present to justify the legality of the CBD products; if in doubt, don't take the risk!