To answer the question is hemp-extracted CBD legal to ship, there are 4 important considerations to think about. For example, if you are planning a flight to a distant city in the United States or another country, it might be a good idea to ship hemp-extracted CBD oil (cannabidiol) to your destination instead of packing it in luggage. This could certainly help you avoid headaches, delays, or even legal problems at the airport.
You may also want to ship hemp-extracted CBD as a gift for someone in another city or state. Despite the growing popularity of hemp-extracted CBD, many people have not tried it yet. This provides a great opportunity to offer hemp-extracted CBD as a unique gift for people at events, during birthdays, or around the holiday season. Along these lines, even though some people might have tried hemp-extracted CBD products, there are a growing number of options for new flavors and types of products that include hemp-extracted CBD oil. The inclusion of hemp-extracted CBD-infused balms, gummies, and drinks offer exciting new options.
Whatever your reason for inquiry about the rules, it is crucial to understand the laws before attempting to ship hemp-extracted CBD. Even though hemp-extracted CBD usually contains little or none of the intoxicating properties associated with marijuana, it is still associated with the cannabis plant by many people and regulations. Therefore, laws governing any issue related to the transportation of hemp-extracted CBD should be carefully evaluated to make sure your hemp-extracted CBD is legal to ship.
Here are 4 important things to consider before deciding is hemp-extracted CBD legal to ship.
This point is an important one because it places the responsibility on the company rather than the individual. Think of it this way: Instead of buying a product and then shipping it from your home or office address to someone else, it might make more sense to simply buy the product online and ask the company or retailer to ship it to the destination. This makes a lot of sense for several reasons. First, it is likely that the company knows and understands the rules for shipping to each state more than you would. Rather than spending time researching the rules and regulations, ask the company to shoulder the responsibility. Second, it is likely that the company selling the product gets better shipping rates than you do. If they are shipping many orders every month they probably have a more efficient system in place for helping customers in similar situations.
The recent passing of the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (known mainly as the 2018 Farm Bill) changed the classification of hemp and hemp-extracted CBD products from a Schedule I substance to an agricultural commodity. However, within the broader category of hemp-extracted CBD, there are other categories based on the level of THC. Some states allow levels of .03% and greater to be shipped and mailed by individuals. However, states like Idaho and Nebraska certainly do not. Check out our full list highlighting the legal differences between states.
It is important to remember that there is a big difference in the eyes of the law between products that contain less than or greater than 0.3% THC. An honest mistake that leads to mailing a product with more than the legal limit could result in some serious penalties. People caught mailing even a tiny amount of marijuana could receive up to 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Also, keep in mind that the laws governing shipping cannabis products might be slightly different from state to state. If the destination you are shipping to resides in a heavily regulated state, you should definitely talk to an expert at the company you bought the product from before deciding to ship it yourself.
If you have made it through the decision-making process outlined above and still believe you want to ship hemp-extracted CBD products personally, then there is one final recommendation you should consider. This portion relates to the best-practices for shipping hemp-extracted CBD as suggested by the carrier. In March of 2019, the United States Postal Office released its guide to mailing hemp-extracted CBD. Here is a helpful tool to bookmark for the future. In addition to the USPS, UPS will also ship hemp-extracted CBD products as long as some criteria are met. However, FedEx and DHL do not appear to offer hemp-extracted CBD-friendly shipping options at this time. Another company called ShipCalm, provides some solutions that might be worth looking at if needed.
Sources
https://cbdoilreview.org/cbd-cannabidiol/is-cbd-oil-legal-in-my-state/
https://cbdeducationonline.com/can-cbd-be-mailed/
https://www.shipcalm.com/blog/shipping-cbd-oil/
https://cannabusiness.law/usps-issues-guidelines-for-mailing-cbd/