What do I need to know when I travel with my CBD abroad
Overview
The legal landscape of cannabis (marijuana) has dramatically changed over the past few years in several countries worldwide. Many patients now have legal access to products derived from cannabis. These products have been studied in a wide range of medical disorders. More than 20 countries around the world have legalized the medical use of cannabis. In the USA, over 30 states have legalised the medical use of cannabis, and more than 10 states allow for recreational use. In the Middle East, Lebanon became the first Arab country to legalize cannabis for medical and industrial use recently in 2020. Other Middle Eastern and Arab countries continue to completely ban the use of cannabis and products derived from cannabis.
International Travel
The issue with international travel is that our customers have to consider the laws in the country you are flying from, and the country you are flying to. Despite hemp-derived CBD oil being accepted throughout much of Europe, the US, and Canada, every nation (and state) has a slightly different law. These laws vary at local, state and federal levels, as in the USA. As such, without extensive research or written permission, the uncertainty associated with taking CBD oil on a flight doesn't outweigh the benefits—at least in the majority of situations.
CBD Legality in Europe
In most cases, CBD oil is safe to carry within Europe as long as it contains less than 0.2% THC. The great news is that all of our CBD products are well below 0.01% which makes them legal in most places. But the question is how can you be sure that your CBD products contain less than 0.2% THC?
In our case, all of our CBD products have been lab-tested and further display the cannabinoid content on both the packaging/box and the printed label on the bottle. Additionally, they all point out the fact that their product is under the legal threshold for THC content which is 0.02%.
CBD Legality in the United States
In the US, regulations for CBD have been put forth by the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency). Legal CBD products must contain less than 0.3% THC—0.1% higher than in most parts of Europe. This limit makes all of Oxocan's products legal in the US too as we are below 0.01%. Many travellers have reported receiving a pass on small variations in concentration, but TSA regulations require agents to report any possible violations to law enforcement.
CBD Legality in Canada
Both medical and recreational cannabis is legal in Canada, and there is no limit on the amount of THC that a CBD product can contain. Even better, you can safely travel with up to a 30-day supply of CBD. However, CBD oils carried onto an aeroplane will be subject to your airline's limit on liquids (usually 100ml in Canada), but that's not to say you cannot pack more than this in your check-in luggage.
CBD Legality in Islam
Islam forbids the use of illicit drugs since they are highly deleterious. The recreational use of cannabis and any narcotic drug is religiously prohibited in Islam. However, it allows the use of some narcotic drugs such as opioids (e.g., morphine and tramadol), which are more dangerous than cannabis, in some medical conditions, especially in anaesthesia and pain management. The same rule is applied to cannabis when used for medical purposes as it becomes a legitimate medicine rather than an illicit drug. There is no objection to the use of cannabis or cannabis-derived substances for medical purposes, provided that the treatment and the eventual recovery are dependent on their use and being prescribed by a trustworthy physician.
The Islam rule says, “Necessity knows no law”. As such, we highly recommend that our customers never take their CBD products abroad if their final destination is somewhere in the Middle East (with the exception of Lebanon).
Travelling by other means, including Train, Car or Ferry
When you aren't flying, there is a little more freedom in how much CBD oil you can carry with you, but legal limitations still apply no matter what. You'll need to be aware of the regulations surrounding CBD oil for all locations you're travelling from, to, or through. There is less of a chance you'll be stopped or searched if you're going in your car however, we strongly advise our customers to obey all rules and regulations as if they were to be stopped.
