Your Cart is Empty
FREE SHIPPING ON ALL ORDERS $75+
Updates to the U.S. hemp laws inadvertently legalized Delta 8 THC, and it's legal in many cases to travel from state to state with Delta 8 in tow. In most cases, you can even take your Delta 8 THC products with you on a plane, but what if you're traveling internationally with Delta-8?
Is it legal to take Delta 8 THC outside of the United States? And if so, what do you need to know about traveling to different countries with psychoactive hemp products?
Before you pack your bags, here's what you need to understand about travelling internationally with Delta 8:
Disclaimer:We do our best to stay up-to-date with local and federal Delta 8 THC laws, but this information is not intended to be used as legal advice. It's incredibly important that you do your own research before taking Delta 8 THC out of the country to ensure that you're abiding by all local and federal laws in every area you intend to visit.
Table of ContentsYou're curious about the legality of traveling out of the country with Delta 8 THC, it pretty much boils down to this: it is usually legal to travel with Delta 8 if it is legal in your origin country and state as well as your final destination and any areas you may pass through on the way.
Of course, it's not always that simple. You also need to check the import laws in any country you intend to visit. In some countries where cannabis and hemp products may be legal, it still may not be legal to possess imported goods (or to be the person importing them, which can be subject to even harsher penalties).
Plus, you need to make sure that it's okay to take Delta 8 THC products on the plane and other transportation methods you may use. This makes traveling internationally with Delta 8 an extremely sensitive and confusing topic, but we'll do our best to try and break down where you can and cannot travel with Delta 8 THC products.
To date, there are only four countries in the world where cannabis is fully legal with no red tape attached. These countries are Canada, Uruguay, South Africa, and Georgia. (Note that Mexico could be very soon to follow.)
Contrary to popular belief, cannabis is not fully legal in the Netherlands, or anywhere in Europe. In some of these areas like Amsterdam and Spain, many cannabis products are considered legal because cannabis laws are not enforceable due to legal loopholes.
Because cannabis, including hemp forms of cannabis, are legal in these countries, many people assume that Delta 8 products are also legal in these areas. That’s not always the case, and it really depends on how the country defines hemp and its isomers, since Delta-8-THC is often mistaken as a synthetic cannabinoid. It is important to know whether Delta 8 THC is classified as a synthetic cannabinoid in the country you intend to travel to because synthetic substances are sometimes subject to very harsh legal penalties, even in areas where cannabis is fully legal.
In short, you really need to thoroughly research the area you intend to visit before carrying Delta-8-THC products with you. Even if you’re travelling to a place where THC is legal, it may be a better choice to buy the products you need after you arrive so that you can ensure that the products you choose are compliant with local laws.
Pretty much any country that isn’t listed above has a law of some form that bans cannabis and THC products. As of now, the U.S. is the only country that clearly differentiates between marijuana and hemp products. In all other countries, Delta-8-THC is considered a cannabis product.
Some countries don’t exactly enforce their cannabis regulations, but that doesn’t mean you can safely travel with Delta-8. Alternately, some countries have very strict cannabis laws that lead to serious repercussions, even for non-psychoactive cannabis products. Japan, for instance, has a zero tolerance policy on THC and even a CBD tincture with less than 0.3% THC can lead to jail time.
As we mentioned above, it’s probably best to not travel internationally with Delta 8 to any country where Delta-8 hemp products are not explicitly legal.
After you’ve verified that it’s legal to take Delta-8-THC with you to every area you will visit during your trip, use these tips for packing, storing, carrying, and using your Delta-8 products along the way:
Make sure that the Delta-8-THC products you buy are hemp-derived and made according to federal standards for legal hemp products. Look for the test results to prove it. (Vida Optima products are always 100% Farm Bill compliant. Shop our Delta-8 Collection to view our third-party lab reports.)
Leave products in their original packaging with any pamphlets or other information that came with the product. If you purchased Delta-8 from a quality vendor, the packaging should contain all of the information that law enforcement needs to identify that the product meets legal standards.
Along with the original packaging, take a copy of the test results pertaining to your product. This is handy just to verify that the information on the label of your product is true.
Pay careful attention to the packing guidelines laid out by your chosen airline. Seal any liquids with tape and place them in a zippered bag to avoid leaking. In most cases, it is better to take your hemp products in your checked bags rather than your carry on, and you shouldn’t plan on using Delta-8 products on the plane.
Consider travelling with CBD if you’re worried about carrying Delta-8-THC with you. CBD may be legal in more countries, although the international CBD laws can be difficult to navigate. Use the steps above to ensure CBD’s legality in all of the areas you intend to visit.
Even if you’ve determined that it’s legal to carry your Delta-8-THC on your international trip, you should check local legislation in the cities you plan to visit. You should also consider the rules for local transportation if you plan to use the train, taxi, or other services. Definitely have a plan for transportation and remember that it is unsafe to drive while under the influence of Delta-8-THC.
Our Elev8 Collection is 100% Farm Bill compliant and includes a variety of potency and dosing options to meet your needs. For travelling, we recommend our individually wrapped Delta-8-THC Fruit Chews.
Comments will be approved before showing up.
