Disclaimer: This information was updated as of May 27, 2021. It is not a legal opinion.
After a year of staying put due to COVID-19, traveling is at the forefront of many peoples’ minds. As we know, travel days can be stressful, especially post-pandemic traveling. Surges of travelers are predicted to rise along with mental unrest due to the unknowns of traveling after a pandemic.
Millions of people use CBD to help manage their stress naturally, and while traveling with CBD is legal in the United States, it might not be in other countries. Below is a global guide of CBD policies while traveling abroad.
Can You Travel with CBD Oil?
As long as you are traveling to and within the United States, you can legally travel with CBD products. However, these products must have 0.3% THC or less in them. Otherwise, they will be federally illegal. Ensure your CBD products have a QR code that confirms they are under this limit. Check out our FAQs page to learn more about QR codes on CBD products.
You can bring CBD oil in a carry-on, as long as it is under 3.4 ounces. It must be in a quart-sized bag along with all other liquid products to go through TSA.
Depending on the country’s restrictions, traveling internationally with CBD oil might be legal. Below is a look at some of the top international destinations and their CBD restrictions.
On the other hand, CBD oil is an extract from the flower of the hemp plant and contains a variety of healing properties, but none of the psychoactive effects of marijuana.
Traveling to Canada and Mexico with CBD Oil
Fortunately, you can travel anywhere in North America with CBD legally. Like the United States, Canada has a 0.3% THC threshold.
Mexico has a 0.2% THC limit. Read your labels before traveling with CBD oil to Mexico. It is safest to travel with CBD products that test at 0% THC like our broad-spectrum CBD.
CBD Oil and the Caribbean
Much of Central American prohibits CBD oil. However, all cannabis is legal in Jamaica. Costa Rica allows CBD oil with 0.2% THC or less, while Panama allows CBD with a prescription.
Europe and CBD?
Hemp products are legal across much of Europe, but unlike America, Europe classifies hemp as containing 0.2% THC or less. In Austria, you are allowed to have up to 0.3% THC.
Make sure you read the lab reports provided by the QR code on your CBD products to verify your phytocannabinoid content before traveling abroad.
Countries Where Hemp Is Illegal
There are some countries where hemp products are illegal. They are classified as a schedule 2 drug in these countries.
Hemp is illegal in these European countries:
Albania
Andorra
Armenia
Belarus
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Georgia
Iceland
Moldova
Monaco
Montenegro
Russia
Serbia
Slovakia
Countries Where CBD Is Legal with A Prescription
These European countries below allow CBD with a prescription.
CBD with a prescription is legal in:
Denmark
Finland
Ireland (Also Must Be Cold-Pressed, No Ethanol or CO2 Extraction)
Italy (But Allows Up to 0.6% THC Per Product)
Liechtenstein (But Allows Up to 1% THC Per Product)
Malta
Portugal
If you are a medical cannabis patient, make sure to travel with your marijuana card.
Countries Where CBD Is Legal
CBD is legal in the rest of the countries below, and like America, there are some limitations. It’s best to be educated on these European cannabis policies.
CBD with up to 0.2% THC is legal in:
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Estonia
Germany
France (Must Be THC-Free Products)
Greece
Hungary
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg (But Allows Up to 0.3% THC Per Product)
Netherlands (Must Be EU Hemp, Allows Up to 0.5% THC)
Poland (Must Never Surpass 0.2% THC During Production)
Romania (Can Be Derived from Marijuana, As Long As Under 0.2% THC)
Slovenia
Spain
Switzerland (No Restrictions on Any Cannabis Products, As Long As THC is Below 1%)
Ukraine (Must Be THC-Free Products)
United Kingdom (No THC, Unless Doctor Prescribed)
As always, you must be aware of your local travel laws. For example, it might be unlawful where you live to have cannabis on a plane. Make sure you brush up on the rules before traveling with CBD.
Australia and CBD Oil
Hemp seed oil is the only legal cannabis product in Australia. It contains no CBD oil.
However, you can have CBD oil with a doctor’s prescription, and Australia allows travelers with a medical marijuana card to bring up to three months’ worth of prescriptions with them.
South America and CBD Oil
Unfortunately, South America still has strict hemp laws. Uruguay, Paraguay, and Colombia are the only three countries with no restrictions on hemp that contains 0.3% THC or less. Argentina, Brazil, and Chile allow CBD products with a prescription.
CBD is illegal in:
Bolivia
Ecuador
Suriname
Guyana
Venezuela
French Guiana
Hemp is gradually becoming decriminalized in French Guinea. Hopefully, you can travel there with CBD oil soon!
Asia and CBD Oil
Although Asian populations have traditionally used cannabis for millennia, it is highly restricted throughout most of the continent. The only two countries where CBD is completely legal are Japan and Hong Kong.
CBD is legal with a prescription in:
China
Malaysia
Thailand
Israel
South Korea
India
All CBD products are banned in:
Indonesia
Laos
Cambodia
Vietnam
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Mongolia
Uzbekistan
Singapore
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
Saudi Arabia
Yemen
Kuwait
Iran
Iraq
Oman
Afghanistan
Myanmar
North Korea
Some areas, like Singapore, have very strict fines, and you may face prison time.
CBD Oil and Africa
All cannabis products, including CBD oil, are illegal throughout most of Africa. There are some exceptions.
CBD is legal in the following African countries:
South Africa (0.2% THC or less)
Ghana (0.2% THC or less)
Eswatini (with Prescription)
Lesotho (with Prescription)
Best CBD Products for Traveling Abroad
Flying can be a stressful experience. We recommend taking Asha Apothecary’s CBD Softgels or having a vegan Zen CBD Gummy about a half-hour before traveling. These will give you sustained mental support.
If stress builds, consider bringing Asha Apothecary’s Broad Spectrum Tinctures with you. These THC-free formulas are carry-on friendly. Just make sure to keep it in a bag with other liquids to scan when you reach the TSA.
The stagnant cabin air and fans above your head can really dry out your skin in-flight. Consider packing a pocket-sized CBD salve with you to hydrate your skin. Toss this one-ounce jar in the bag with your tincture!
International flights and jumping time zones can mess with your sleep patterns. Help get accustomed to your new sleep schedule with Asha Apothecary’s Rest & Relaxation CBD Softgels. You’ll get the rest needed to be active during your daily travel adventures!
We all know that traveling can take a toll on your immune system. That’s why we recommend this 5-in-1 Vitamin C + Herbal Immune Complex, designed to enhance your natural immune defenses while on the go. And because it contains zero CBD, you can take it anywhere in the world!
Disclaimer: This information was provided on May 27, 2021. It is not a legal opinion.