TSA Changes Cannabis Regulations

TSA Changes Cannabis Regulations

TSA Changes Cannabis Regulations – Currently, the U.S. government categorizes cannabis as a federally illegal substance. Despite the many discovered potential benefits of the cannabis plant, the government has not taken the next step to remove the plant from its Schedule 1 classification.

To many people’s surprise, last May, the FDA approved a CBD-based drug called Epidiolex. Its main purpose is to help treat seizures. As a result of this groundbreaking move, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) made a move of their own to reflect the approval of Epidiolex.

Keep reading this CBD news story to find out if you can legally bring CBD products with you next time you fly.

The TSA’s Medical Cannabis Regulation Changes in the “What Can I Bring” Section

Last month, the TSA grabbed people’s attention regarding an interesting CBD news story. The organization changed its medical cannabis regulations to reflect the approval of CBD-based Epidiolex. On TSA’s website, people can read the “What can I bring” section. It includes which items people can and cannot bring with them when flying.

The TSA proceeded by updating their list of allowed items. According to the TSA website, the medical marijuana policy says; Marijuana and certain cannabis infused products, including some Cannabidiol (CBD) oil, remain illegal under federal law except for products that contain no more than 0.3 percent THC on a dry weight basis or that are approved by FDA.”

Furthermore, a statement was released by the TSA about this new change: “TSA was made aware of an FDA-approved drug that contains CBD oil for children who experience seizures from pediatric epilepsy. To avoid confusion as to whether families can travel with this drug, TSA immediately updated TSA.gov once we became aware of the issue”. On TSA’s website, there is a section about medical marijuana.

Currently, the section’s guidelines are officially changed.

What to Keep In Mind About Bringing CBD Products With You

Before bringing CBD products with you when flying, there are several facts to remember about this progressive CBD news story. What has been made clear thus far is that products that contain no more than 0.3 percent THC on a dry weight basis or that are approved by FDA are included in the TSA policy. What gets tricky is when CBD products contain other cannabinoids. Then if a CBD product was derived from the whole cannabis plant, it is possible for a TSA officer to stop the individual and closely examine the product.

To protect oneself when bringing CBD with them, it is suggested to only bring hemp-derived CBD with less than .03 percent THC.

Very recently, the TSA expressed that the possession of cannabis and cannabis-infused products are still illegal under federal law. Also, certain CBD oil products may be viewed as federally illegal if they contain other cannabinoids. Thus, it is imperative to ensure one’s CBD contains legal amounts of THC.

Also, consider going a step further by only bringing CBD medications that contain no other cannabinoids altogether.

How-to Fly Safely and Legally with CBD

Overall, it is crucial to be aware of which CBD products are allowed and which ones may be confiscated. According to the organization, TSA security officers do not intentionally search for cannabis or other illegal drugs. However, if any illegal substance is found during the security screening, (which may include a CBD product) a TSA officer automatically refers the situation to a federal law enforcement officer.

Because the FDA approved of Epidiolex for treating seizures, the TSA made a necessary transition that aligned with this. Thus, the TSA changed its guidelines concerning CBD products. The next step is to brief all TSA officers on these new policies.

After reading this CBD news story, will you consider bringing a CBD product with you next time you fly? Or, will you wait and see how this change plays out in the next few months? Let us know in the comments below!