Traveling with CBD – What to watch out for

Benefits of CBD oil for travelers
Legality of CBD
What about THC?
Can I take CBD oil on a plane?
Where is CBD legal?
What happens if I get caught with CBD oil?
Traveling across Europe
What to consider when buying CBD and traveling
Extract type
Product type
Independent third-party lab test results
Conclusion: Traveling with CBD

Sleep support
Managing stress and anxiety
Healthy inflammatory response

Cannabidiol (CBD) has quickly become a popular natural dietary supplement. And it’s practically everywhere. You can find it in the form of capsules, oils, gummy bears, chocolate, or creams.

CBD is a compound derived from cannabis, so traveling or crossing international borders with it in your pocket can pose a huge risk. If you make the wrong decision, you could find yourself in trouble with the police.

CBD has been recognized for its countless health benefits, and CBD derived from cannabis is legal in the Czech Republic and many other countries. However, not all countries are tolerant of cannabis-based products.

Before you pack your bag with your favorite products, be sure to check the legal status of CBD in the country you are traveling to in order to avoid being penalized for breaking the law. Below you will find useful tips for traveling with CBD both domestically and internationally.

Benefits of CBD oil for travelers

CBD is the abbreviation for cannabidiol, which belongs to a class of natural compounds called cannabinoids. These are derived from the cannabis plant. Although CBD comes from cannabis, unlike its psychoactive relative, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the use of CBD does not cause intoxicating effects.

Many people use CBD as a natural supplement to improve their health, relieve pain, manage anxiety, and promote sleep.

Given all the potential health benefits of CBD, it makes sense to pack CBD in your bag along with melatonin (to combat jet lag), pain medication, other health supplements, and medications, as many people consider CBD an important part of their regimen.

Below are reasons to pack CBD for your travels.

A woman sits on a bench and looks at her phone to see if she can travel with CBD

1. Sleep support

Traveling across time zones can disrupt your sleep cycle. One of the many reasons people use CBD is to help regulate their sleep cycle. It has been found that in high doses, CBD has sedative effects that help you fall asleep gently and sleep through the night without waking up feeling groggy in the morning.

2. Stress and Anxiety Management

Not everyone handles travel well. It can bring a lot of stress and anxiety, which is made worse when you have a fear of flying or a busy schedule. When CBD is combined with other stress-reducing approaches, such as regular exercise, a balanced diet, working with a counselor, and getting quality sleep, CBD can be an excellent supplement for managing anxiety symptoms.

3. Healthy inflammatory response

CBD is best known for its anti-inflammatory effects, which can help combat pain, tissue damage, and mood disorders. There are dozens of physiological processes that regulate the body’s inflammatory response, and CBD is an effective anti-inflammatory agent that addresses the problem as a whole, not just a single cause.

The legality of CBD

Cannabis has a very long and complicated history, but as more and more research findings on the potential health benefits of cannabinoids emerge, society’s view of cannabis is becoming increasingly positive, and laws are finally adapting.

In any case, the fact that you can freely buy CBD products not only on the internet but also at branches of a number of pharmacy chains is a clear indicator that its sale is indeed legal.

What about THC?

In the Czech Republic, the cultivation and processing of cannabis with a THC content of up to 1 percent is permitted, while in Europe it is less than 0.3 percent. However, oils, ointments, capsules, extracts, and cannabis teas intended for human consumption should not contain any THC at all, not even in trace amounts.

Current research shows that even Delta 9 THC has therapeutic effects, but laws and social stigma are slow to respond. Some US states, including California, Oregon, Illinois, New York, and Maine, have already fully legalized marijuana for recreational and medicinal use.

Cannabis that contains a high proportion of CBD with less than 0.3 percent THC is highly unlikely to have any intoxicating effects, making it an ideal dietary supplement and medicinal product. Before purchasing any CBD product, make sure it contains only permitted substances, otherwise you may be breaking the law.

Can I take CBD oil on a plane?

Proceed with extreme caution in these waters, as laws regarding traveling with CBD are not the same everywhere, and if you are not well versed in the cannabis laws of a given state, you could end up in serious trouble.

Any mistake or lack of knowledge on your part could lead to confiscation of your products and other unpleasant consequences. There isn’t much you can do to avoid this, but make sure your CBD products are properly labeled and that you have the necessary documentation with you if you are flying with cannabis prescribed by a doctor. Before flying, check the regulations of the airline you will be traveling with on the internet.

A map showing Canada with a cannabis leaf on it

Where is CBD legal?

In addition to the legal status of CBD in our country, you will have no problem (even without a prescription) in most European countries, as long as the THC content does not exceed 0.2%. However, it is necessary to pay attention to the possible THC content.

To be on the safe side, your products should be 100% THC-free. If you plan to take CBD with you when traveling abroad, check the local laws in the countries you will be traveling through before packing your suitcases.

What happens if I get caught with CBD oil?

If you cross the border and are caught with CBD oil or any cannabis product, the most common outcome is confiscation. If you are violating the law of that country, you may be denied entry and returned, or you may face heavy fines and even imprisonment (depending on the country and the amount of CBD you have with you).

Can I travel between states with CBD? You should not travel with CBD if you are flying abroad, even if CBD is legal in your country. Your CBD oil may be considered an illegal drug in the country you are visiting.

Traveling in Europe

According to the European Union, CBD derived from hemp with a THC content of 0.2-0.3% is legal. However, each country may have its own regulations. The biggest problem is that there is no clear distinction in how CBD should be classified (food product, health supplement, or drug).

Either way, you should not travel around Europe with any products containing cannabis substances, including CBD. Many European countries have legalized CBD (even Slovakia in May 2021), so you can buy it in local stores.

What to consider when buying CBD and traveling

With a CBD product, you can theoretically travel safely throughout Europe for the most part. However, if CBD is legal in your destination country, we recommend purchasing it locally. Below are a few factors to consider when buying CBD and traveling in Europe.

Type of extract

In addition to only purchasing CBD through legal channels, it is important to consider the type of extract you want to use to combat the physical and emotional exhaustion associated with traveling.

There are three main types of CBD extracts:

Full spectrum
CBD isolate / distillate
Broad spectrum (THC-free)

Traveling with CBD, a map, and two people planning a trip

Full-spectrum cannabidiol (CBD) oil is the most suitable type for its therapeutic properties. It contains a range of cannabinoids and terpenes that combine and balance the health benefits of CBD, and can legally contain up to 0.3% THC.

Full-spectrum CBD oil and other full-spectrum products are much more effective than CBD isolates in promoting sleep and combating anxiety and inflammation.

However, the trace amounts of THC in these products may cause you problems at the border. If you are planning a trip, try one of the other 100% THC-free options. For THC-free products, we recommend using broad-spectrum varieties, as they also contain a wide range of cannabinoids.

Product type

If you are traveling by plane with liquids, you must take into account the safety rules for transporting liquids by plane. You are only allowed to take a minimum amount of liquids on board the plane. Each passenger may carry liquids and gels in containers with a maximum volume of 100 ml in their carry-on luggage.

All containers must be placed in a single transparent, resealable plastic bag with a maximum volume of 1 liter. Transporting liquids in checked luggage is not recommended.

CBD capsules or gummy candies are more suitable for travel because there is no risk of accidental leakage, and you can carry a larger supply of CBD for longer trips.

Independent third-party laboratory test results

An important step in your purchasing decision should be the presence of independent laboratory test results. The CBD industry is still relatively new, and many products are coming onto the market that do not comply with the law or do not contain the stated amount of active ingredients. They are essentially selling ordinary oil.

Third-party laboratory testing is a way for CBD producers to maintain transparency and ensure the safety of their products.

You should make sure that the CBD oil does not contain more than 0.3% THC and that it contains the stated amount of CBD. The lab results should also tell you that it does not contain any potential contaminants (solvents, pesticides, mold, heavy metals).

A man and a woman traveling on a scooter

Conclusion: Traveling with CBD

CBD is legal in Europe, but some countries may have their own regulations. If in doubt, always check local laws when traveling with your favorite cannabis products.

As mentioned above, it is best not to travel outside the Czech Republic with any cannabis products. Even if it may be legal on both sides of the border. If you are traveling to another country where cannabis and CBD are legal, it is better to buy CBD upon arrival than to risk potential legal trouble.

Author: Elena Moreau

Photo: Shutterstock

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