CBD? FDA? TSA? What DO These Letters Mean for Holiday Travelers?

Spread the word! TSA softens its hemp-derived CBD travel policies for airline travelers. Right before Memorial Day weekend, the TSA changed its “What Can I Bring” medical marijuana section of its website to now read: Yes! and that CBD extracted from hemp (in its many derivatives) can be packed in carry-on items or check-in bags. https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/all

The Federal Farm Bill of 2018’s removal of hemp from the controlled-substance list and state-by-state cannabis legalization efforts now forced the TSA to reconsider its earlier policies. It is undetermined how this new, more liberal policy will be enforced or how TSA agents will distinguish hemp-derived CBD products from marijuana-derived CBD products.

Maybe the FDA has some insights? This federal agency is certainly trying to collect them from the public, in an unprecedented way: public hearings. After hours of testimony from over 100 people concerning the false therapeutic claims sweeping across our nation and creating a storm of confusion, the FDA is trying to develop regulatory standards for the multitude of hemp-derived CBD oils, lotions, tinctures, edibles in both human and dog care products. Testimony shows the public needs to be informed and more research must be done about CBD safety, efficacy, side effects and interactions with other medications.