TSA does not search for cannabis, but cannabis remains a federally illegal Schedule I substance in 2025, so any marijuana or THC product a screening officer finds is referred to local law enforcement. Hemp-derived CBD that contains no more than 0.3 percent THC on a dry weight basis is allowed in both carry-on and checked bags. A state medical marijuana card changes neither rule at a federal checkpoint.
What are the cannabis TSA rules for 2025?
TSA is a security agency, not a drug enforcement agency, and its officers screen for threats to aviation. They do not open bags hunting for cannabis.
Even so, TSA states that its officers must report suspected violations of law to local police. If cannabis appears during an X-ray, a pat-down, or a bag inspection, the officer hands the matter to the police agency that works the airport.
TSA Cannabis Rules: Carry-On and Checked Bags
What happens next depends on state law. In a legal state, officers may seize the product, write a citation, or take no action. In a prohibition state, you can face possession charges.
Can you bring CBD oil through TSA in 2025?
Yes, if the CBD is hemp-derived and labeled at or below 0.3 percent THC. TSA names CBD oil as permitted in carry-on and checked bags when it meets that threshold.
CBD oil is still a liquid. Containers of 3.4 ounces or less belong in a single quart-size bag in your carry-on.
Larger amounts can qualify as medically necessary liquids. Tell the officer at the start of screening, and expect the bottle to get extra screening or a swab test.
Carry-on versus checked bags
- Carry-on: liquids of 3.4 oz or less, CBD included, in one quart bag.
- Checked: CBD that meets the hemp definition is allowed, but any THC product found is referred to police.
- Vape pens and cartridges: carry-on only, because lithium batteries are banned in checked bags.
What happens if TSA finds marijuana or THC edibles?
You are pulled aside and the bag is inspected in front of you. TSA notifies the local police agency, and the officer decides whether to cite, arrest, or release you.
Expect delays of 30 minutes or more, and assume you may miss your flight. Federal charges are uncommon for small personal amounts, but local charges are possible.
Does a medical marijuana card help at the airport?
No. Airports and the airspace above them fall under federal jurisdiction, and TSA does not recognize state medical cannabis programs. A card may help with a state or local officer, but it carries no weight with a federal screening officer.
International flights and cannabis
Customs and Border Protection enforces federal law at ports of entry, and cannabis remains illegal there. Other countries impose penalties that range from fines to long prison terms, and some ban CBD as well.
Do not carry cannabis or THC products across an international border, even if both the departure and arrival cities allow it.
Practical tips for flying with CBD in 2025
- Buy from a brand that publishes third-party lab reports showing THC at or below 0.3 percent.
- Keep the original packaging and a printed certificate of analysis with the product.
- Pack CBD liquids in a quart bag and declare larger bottles as medically necessary.
- Leave THC flower, edibles, and cartridges at home for domestic trips.
- Never pack cannabis for an international flight.