Can You Travel with CBD? 2025 Rules for 100+ Countries ✈️

Travelling with CBD: Rules, tips and legislation around the world

If you’re planning to travel around Europe, to the United States, or to other countries and want to benefit from CBD, it’s important to understand the rules for transporting it and to choose suitable products and packaging to avoid complications. In this article, you’ll find plenty of tips on how to prepare for traveling with cannabidiol, how CBD is viewed around the world, and how to carry CBD products when flying.

Travel - yellow travel suitcase at the airport with straw hat

2025 updates 📆

We aim to update this article regularly, and all information included should be valid as of the end of 2025. What were the most important changes over the past year?

  • Germany relaxed its regulations in 2024🌿: Since 1 April 2024, adult possession of cannabis has been legalized in Germany—up to 25 g in public, up to 50 g at home, and home growing of up to three plants is permitted. The market remains regulated and importing cannabis or THC products from abroad is still prohibited.
  • Italy tightened rules in 2025 ⚠️: In April 2025, Italy banned the sale of hemp/cannabis flowers and products made from them intended for smoking/vaping.
  • Some European countries are banning disposable vapes 🚫: including France, Belgium and the United Kingdom.
  • After loosening its cannabis market in 2022, Thailand significantly tightened cannabis legislation in 2025 and is moving toward re-banning recreational cannabis ❗.

CBD travel basics

CBD products can be a great travel companion because they may help reduce stress and anxiety, improve sleep, and have anti-inflammatory effects.

This article is meant to provide basic guidance on traveling with CBD and help you navigate regulations. However, laws can change quickly, so always check the current rules in the specific countries you’re traveling to (and through), and also your airline’s policy on transporting CBD.

Buy CBD at your destination, or bring your own?

Consider whether you want to travel with your own CBD products or buy them at your destination. If you decide to buy CBD locally, check availability in advance. Keep in mind that products sold abroad may differ from what you buy at home—even if the packaging and label look the same.

We do not recommend traveling with CBD products, as it can lead to complications 🙅. You should only consider taking CBD with you if you use it for health reasons, take it regularly, and are used to a specific product and dosage. In that case, buy a small pack that you can use up during your trip, so you don’t have leftover product to dispose of—or have to deal with transporting it back home.

If you’re traveling overland with CBD, take into account the rules in all countries you will pass through, due to possible border checks. If you’re flying with CBD products, check the rules of the specific airline you’re traveling with to avoid issues during airport security checks 🧳.

Also remember that the rules in your destination country or transit country may differ from your carrier’s policy—and vice versa. Always follow the stricter rules. It can help to print the latest information so you can show it to security staff who may not be familiar with the details. Keep in mind that the final decision on whether you can travel with your products always depends on the specific security officer.

Avoid traveling with CBD — a hand holding a CBD bottle, with a hotel room and suitcase in the background.

Which CBD products are best for travel?

  • Prefer products with CBD and no THC (or only minimal THC) THC and other cannabinoids: CBD is the most studied and most widely accepted cannabinoid. THC is psychoactive, strictly regulated, and completely banned in some countries. Traveling with other cannabinoids—even non-psychoactive ones—can cause issues because they are less well-known, often not explicitly permitted, and may fall into a “grey area.”
  • The lower the concentration and the smaller the package, the higher the chance you’ll avoid complications. Travel only with the amount of CBD you truly need.
  • Choose a suitable CBD form for travel and prefer products that attract less attention. For example, cosmetics are usually perceived better than oils, drops, capsules and tablets and vapes.
  • Buy from trusted manufacturers with a lab certificate that proves the origin of the raw materials. Pack the certificate together with your proof of purchase 📃. These documents can help you prove the legitimacy of the products if you run into issues during checks and can help prevent confiscation or more serious penalties.

    💡 Tip: Keep the lab certificate saved on your phone and printed. Make sure it matches your product batch, includes the origin of the raw materials, and lists the THC value (ideally 0.00%).
  • Packaging tips 📦:
    • Do not open the products and keep them in their original packaging: Unopened packaging reduces suspicion that the contents were tampered with. Original packaging also contains full product information, is easier to identify, and therefore attracts less attention.
    • When flying, use approved travel packaging. For more information, read the chapter CBD on a plane.
  • If you have CBD prescribed by a doctor, pack your prescription and ideally ask for an English confirmation 🩺.
  • Consider declaring certain products—i.e., reporting what you’re carrying to customs or security authorities when required. What should you declare and what not? Declare CBD medicines, products containing THC, and anything required by local regulations. Standard CBD products with no THC are usually not declared. Never bring (and therefore never declare) products that are prohibited in your destination.

CBD & Hemp Care - universal hemp ointment with lavender

Legal status of CBD worldwide: check your destination 🗺️

Laws around cannabis and cannabis-derived products vary by region and are constantly changing. That’s why you should always check up-to-date information for the specific destination(s) you’re traveling to. If you’re unsure, don’t hesitate to contact the relevant authorities in advance and confirm the rules.

Keep in mind that even if cannabis is legal for recreational or medical use in a given country, traveling into/out of that country with cannabis products may still be prohibited—as is the case, for example, in Canada. If you want to travel with cannabis products, also check the country’s import and export rules ⛔.

We strongly recommend not underestimating the law. Penalties vary widely. In 🇭🇰 Hong Kong (🇨🇳 China), for example, cannabidiol has been listed as a dangerous drug since February 2023, and possession or use can result in up to 7 years in prison and a fine of up to 1 million. If you are detained with CBD at the airport, the act may be classified as drug trafficking, which can carry a life sentence and a fine of up to 5 million.

Legislation - enforcement of laws, regulations and standards, internal policies and procedures

CBD incidents worldwide ⚖️

In the United Arab Emirates, in 2021, a young British footballer Billy Hood was sentenced to 10 years in prison after police found a CBD vape cartridge in his car, which was likely left there by a friend who had visited him.

In Russia, in August 2022, a U.S. basketball player Brittney Griner was sentenced to 9 years in a penal colony after vapes with cannabis oil were found in her luggage at Moscow airport.

Regulations in Europe 🌍

In Europe, regulations around cannabis and cannabis-derived products vary significantly.

🇪🇺 Since 2019, the European Union has listed CBD as Novel Food. This means that CBD-containing products require authorization to be sold for consumption. Due to strict requirements and missing data, however, no product has received this authorization, and edible CBD products are often marketed as cosmetics, collectibles, or for further technical processing.

🇬🇧 After Brexit, the United Kingdom adopted the same categorization, but registration of CBD products intended for consumption is handled by the Food Standards Agency (FSA). In the UK, CBD foods and supplements are expected to contain zero (non-detectable) THC.

🇪🇺 The European Union set a THC limit under the Common Agricultural Policy at 0.3% for industrial hemp. Individual countries may still decide what THC level is considered a narcotic or prohibited substance under their national law. Each country also sets its own rules for finished cannabis products that are not intended for consumption.

Below you’ll find a table of European countries and their tolerance of cannabis products.

Country

Safety of possessing/using CBD in the country

Regulation

🇨🇭 Switzerland

very low risk 🟢
  • one of the most liberal frameworks for cannabis; penalties are relatively low
  • THC tolerance in extracts and products up to 1%

🇲🇹 Malta

very low risk 🟢
  • one of the most liberal frameworks for cannabis, penalties are relatively low
  • THC tolerance in extracts up to 0.3%, and 0% in finished products

Most of Central, Western and Southern Europe: 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇵🇱 Poland, 🇨🇿 Czechia, 🇸🇮 Slovenia, 🇭🇷 Croatia, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇵🇹 Portugal, 🇫🇷 France, 🇧🇪 Belgium, 🇱🇺 Luxembourg

low risk 🟡
  • CBD is common, THC is strictly regulated
  • THC tolerance in extracts 0.2% or 0.3%; in finished products it may be prohibited or only trace amounts are tolerated

🇮🇹 Italy, 🇬🇷 Greece, 🇨🇾 Cyprus, 🇧🇬 Bulgaria, 🇷🇴 Romania, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 🇮🇪 Ireland

medium risk 🟠
  • CBD may be allowed, but more strictly regulated
  • THC tolerance may be zero, or 0.2% or 0.3% in extracts

🇦🇹 Austria, 🇲🇨 Monaco, most of Eastern and Northern Europe: 🇸🇰 Slovakia, 🇭🇺 Hungary, 🇷🇸 Serbia, 🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina, 🇦🇱 Albania, 🇲🇪 Montenegro, 🇺🇦 Ukraine, 🇧🇾 Belarus, 🇱🇹 Lithuania, 🇱🇻 Latvia, 🇪🇪 Estonia, 🇳🇴 Norway, 🇸🇪 Sweden, 🇫🇮 Finland, 🇩🇰 Denmark, 🇮🇸 Iceland

high risk 🔴
  • cannabis is viewed negatively, strict checks and penalties
  • CBD may be classified ambiguously, as a medicine or fully prohibited
  • THC tolerance may be zero or 0.2% or 0.3% in extracts

Regulations in the America 🌎

🇺🇸 Current information about cannabis and cannabis-derived products in the United States can be found on the DISA website and detailed state-by-state information on the NORML website (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws). Laws vary by state, but according to current data, cannabis and cannabis products are fully illegal in only 4 states: Idaho, Wyoming, Kansas, and South Carolina.

Even though many states have legalized cannabis for recreational or medical use, federal law applies to traveling with cannabis products.

👮 TSA (Transportation Security Administration) officially states that marijuana and THC-containing products remain prohibited in air travel. The only exception is CBD derived from industrial hemp with THC up to 0.3%, which is federally legal, except in states that have lower or zero tolerance for THC.

🌴 In Central and South America, laws also vary. A more tolerant approach to cannabis can be found in 🇨🇷 Costa Rica, 🇵🇦 Panama, 🇺🇾 Uruguay, 🇨🇴 Colombia and 🇦🇷 Argentina. In 🇧🇷 Brazil, THC-free CBD is legal only as a prescription medicine. In other countries, CBD is either fully prohibited or falls under strict drug laws.

The strictest laws apply in 🇨🇺 Cuba, 🇸🇻 El Salvador, 🇳🇮 Nicaragua, 🇭🇳 Honduras, 🇻🇪 Venezuela and 🇧🇴 Bolivia — avoid traveling there with any cannabis products.

Regulations in Asia, Africa and Oceania 🌏

In 🇷🇺 Russia, cannabis and cannabis-derived products are illegal, including CBD.

Cannabis products are also prohibited or strictly regulated in the Middle East and in most Asian and African countries. The most relaxed rules can be found in:

  • 🇹🇭 Thailand, which has been tightening its legislation again in recent years.
  • 🇯🇵 Japan, where CBD is allowed but with zero tolerance for THC.
  • 🇿🇦 South Africa, where CBD may be allowed, but THC tolerance is strict and rules vary.

🚫 Do not travel with cannabis products to: 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates, 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia, 🇶🇦 Qatar, 🇰🇼 Kuwait, 🇴🇲 Oman, 🇨🇳 China, 🇸🇬 Singapore, 🇲🇾 Malaysia, 🇵🇭 Philippines, 🇮🇩 Indonesia, 🇻🇳 Vietnam, 🇰🇷 South Korea, 🇪🇬 Egypt, 🇳🇬 Nigeria, 🇰🇪 Kenya, 🇹🇿 Tanzania, 🇺🇬 Uganda and 🇪🇹 Ethiopia.

For 🇦🇺 Australia and 🇳🇿 New Zealand, you can travel with CBD only if it is a medicine, THC-free, in original packaging, and ideally with an English prescription, a lab certificate, proof of origin, and proof of purchase.

CBD on a plane ✈️

CBD products should be packed like any other items in accordance with air travel rules, ideally in original packaging with documentation.

For liquids, the general rule is a maximum of 100 ml per container, and they should be placed in one transparent resealable bag with a total maximum volume of 1 liter.

This rule is widely applied internationally as part of aviation security measures and is enforced, for example, within the European EASA framework and by the U.S. TSA (Transportation Security Administration).

International aviation safety rules also affect vaping devices. Using or charging vaporizers on board is prohibited. If you want to travel with CBD vapes, the device (switched off) and cartridges must be carried in your hand luggage. Vapes and accessories cannot be placed in checked baggage.

Due to stricter checks, we strongly recommend not traveling with cannabis products outside your continent.

🇪🇺 In the European Union, you generally should not have a problem with THC-free CBD products if you follow airline rules, comply with the laws of your destination (and transit) countries, and carry the necessary documentation. Some countries may tolerate products with THC up to 0.3%.

🇺🇸 In the USA, according to current TSA rules (Transportation Security Administration), it is possible to travel by air with CBD products derived from industrial hemp containing no more than 0.3% THC, as long as it complies with the laws of the states you are traveling between. THC-containing products remain prohibited under federal law.

On its social media, TSA emphasizes: “Our screening procedures are focused on security and detecting potential threats. If a substance appears to be marijuana or a cannabis-containing product, we are required under federal law to refer it to law enforcement. This includes items used for medical purposes.”

A hand holding a marijuana leaf against a sky with clouds outside an airplane window (travel concept)

Traveling with other cannabinoids

Traveling with other cannabinoids—especially psychoactive ones—is either fully prohibited by law or not clearly regulated, which is why we strongly recommend not traveling with such products to avoid serious trouble.

Conclusion

CBD can be a great travel companion because it may help reduce stress and improve sleep, but when traveling you must follow laws and regulations. Don’t underestimate preparation—check the latest rules for your destination and any countries you will transit through, and also confirm your airline’s policy.

If you decide to travel with CBD, choose lower-strength products with no THC or only minimal THC, ideally in the form of cosmetics in small quantities and in original packaging, with documentation about origin and ingredients, a receipt, and ideally a doctor’s note.

We recommend not traveling with CBD products to another continent, and do not transport other cannabinoids even between individual states/countries.

Author: Natálie Kubíčková

Photo: Shutterstock

In short:

  1. Hemnia does not and cannot replace professional medical care from your doctor.
  2. Hemnia products are not medicines (medicinal products), so please do not treat them as such.
  3. Hemnia offers hemp products, but you will not find any narcotic or psychotropic substances here. We do not offer them and do not recommend them.

Read the full disclaimer here.

Sources:



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