CDC Advises Travelers to Verify Destination Country CBD Laws
The newest edition of the CDC Yellow Book: Health Information for International Travel contains advice for travelers concerning CBD. The issue is that each country has different laws concerning the legality of CBD and THC. These cannabinoids remain illegal in some jurisdictions, or there are restrictions on the amount of THC allowed.
Though CBD is federally legal in the United States, it is not legal in every country. Even in the U.S., CBD cannot contain more than 0.3% THC, and there are states in which any amount of THC makes the product illegal. That means CBD products with THC are illegal.
The CDC offers the following advice to travelers.
- Cannabis-based medications are illegal in some areas, and possession can lead to denial of entry, travel delays, or arrest and prosecution. In some countries, the penalties for possession can be harsh. Travelers have gone to prison for years.
- In the U.S., flying with marijuana products is illegal, even if it is medical marijuana. This includes any cannabis product with more than 0.3% delta-9 THC. People are allowed to carry products onboard that contain less than that amount of THC.
- Always verify the legal status of marijuana and CBD products in the destination country.
- If a traveler takes a medication on the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration controlled substances schedule, do not assume it is legal in the destination country. Always check the destination country’s laws.
- Some U.S. medications that are not on the controlled substance list may be illegal in another country, like CBD.
- Even a trace amount of THC can make a CBD product illegal in jurisdictions where THC is illegal.
- When returning to the U.S., federal law only allows travelers to enter the country with CBD products that have no more than .3% THC.
“Although U.S. and international policies have become more lenient concerning the use of cannabidiol (CBD), a compound found in the cannabis plant, international travelers should be aware of local laws when packing CBD-containing products, including but not limited to gummies, lotions, oil, and vape cartridges. Often classified as an herbal supplement, CBD itself is not psychoactive but is still controlled in some countries,” says the CDC in the Yellow Book chapter “Traveling with Prohibited or Restricted Medications.”
Even if a destination’s laws allow bringing a cannabis product into the country, you should verify that the mode of transportation will also allow it. Check with the airline, cruise ship, railroad company, or the state if traveling by car.
Travelers can use several sources for research, and it is important to check more than one. Laws and requirements frequently change, and you want to ensure you are making decisions based on the most current information. The information sources include the U.S. Embassy in destination countries, the International Narcotics Control Board website, a State Department website, and the International Pharmaceutical Federation.
The safest approach is not to carry any product containing cannabis when traveling, including CBD and THC products. Even broad spectrum labeled THC-free or isolate CBD can have a trace of THC due to exposure during manufacturing. Some countries have severe penalties for carrying what they consider a cannabis drug across their border. They deliver long prison sentences or even the death penalty.
It is crucial to be cautious and aware of the potential consequences. Also, be sure to double-check your luggage while packing to make sure there is no cannabis in a compartment that you forgot about. Several Americans have spent time in prison overseas because they had cannabis in their suitcases that they had overlooked.
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