TSA to Allow Hemp-Derived CBD on Flights
A TSA agent searches luggage at an airport. (12MP camera, NO model release, editorial only)
[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]T[/dropcap]he Transportation Security Administration (TSA) updated its policy over the Memorial Day weekend, adding clarification that “certain” hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) products will be allowed on flights—so long as they are approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.
A new section was added to the TSA’s policy. “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 new section reads.
The changes were apparently made after TSA officials learned about the federally-approved CBD-based drug Epidiolex. Epidiolex was approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration last June, making it the first CBD-based drug to do so. The drug is used primarily for children suffering from intractable forms of epilepsy.
“TSA was made aware of an FDA-approved drug that contains CBD oil for children who experience seizures from pediatric epilepsy,” the spokesperson wrote. “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 reclassification of hemp-derived CBD in the 2018 Farm Bill removed the last barrier between CBD and federal law.
It’s unclear how soon the new changes will be reflected. In order to make the distinction between legal hemp-derived CBD and cannabis, TSA agents would have to test CBD products for traces of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The THC content must be below 0.3 percent or less in order to be legal. A TSA official told CNN that officers are learning the rule update, but “since this is a new consideration, there may be some that do not recognize the FDA-approved version.”
The TSA’s medical cannabis policy has evolved numerous times. In April 2017, the TSA announced that medical cannabis was permitted on carry-on bags, but it didn’t last long, and officials quickly removed the updated sections of their policy.
