TSA Updates Policy To Allow Travelers To Bring Some CBD Products On Planes

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The Transportation Security Administration has updated its policy to allow passengers to bring some forms of cannabidiol (CBD) oil and FDA-approved medical marijuana products with them. The rule change comes after the federal government made hemp and hemp derivatives, including products with CBD oil, legal when they passed the 2018 Farm Bill. The agency updated its website to explain the new regulations.

"Possession of marijuana and certain cannabis-infused products, including some Cannabidiol (CBD) oil, remain illegal under federal law. TSA officers are required to report any suspected violations of law, including possession of marijuana and certain cannabis-infused products. Products/medications that contain hemp-derived CBD or are approved by the FDA are legal as long as it is produced within the regulations defined by the law under the Agriculture Improvement Act 2018." the agency wrote.

The new rules only apply to products which contain CBD. Any product that contains THC, which is the psychoactive compound found in marijuana that produces a high, is still banned and could result in getting arrested by local authorities at the airport. The TSA does not test products for THC and will defer to local law enforcement agencies if they find a passenger traveling with potentially illegal items.

The policy change was spurred by the FDA's approval of Epidiolex, a CBD-based drug which is used to treat seizures in children with 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," the agency said in a statement to NBC News.

Photo: Getty Images


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