CBD oil will be seized at Bush and Hobby airports- Texas officials stay firm at the 0% THC rule

Image Credits: Houston

Despite the federal law legalizing hemp derived cannabinoid, many airport officials have been seizing CBD oil and its products in the U.S. The federal agents have warned people using CBD oil that it could possibly land them in trouble if they try to take it with them to the airport.

According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents, at least 41 travellers at Bush and Hobby airports had their CBD oil seized by the federal agents in 2018 alone.

Alicia Tellez, a watch commander for U.S. Customs and Border Patrol at the Bush airport said that passengers should be aware of the stringent regulations against carrying CBD oil at the airport. She further added that even travellers crossing through the ports of the entry gate may have their luggage checked and searched for CBD oil, including their carry-ons.

TSA officials say that while their focus is not just searching illegal drugs on domestic flights, if in case, anything is found suspicious, they do involve the police officials. CBD is now a legal compound after the Farm bill passed in December 2018. It is known to be an anti-inflammatory compound which helps relieve pain, stress, anxiety, depression and improves sleep patterns.

CBD is derived from hemp plant, a cannabis genus plant which is non-psychoactive in nature. It is also known to treat severe ailments such as epilepsy, Alzheimer’s and cancer. But there are no recognized research or study backing up these claims, just real-life experiences from patients.

The federal law allows CBD with 0.3% of THC, tetrahydro cannabinoid, another compound found in cannabis plants which is a psychoactive chemical that alters the state of mind. It is also the main compound which is responsible for the ‘high’ that users get while smoking weed.

Despite of the legal threshold limit for THC concentration in CBD products, many states are following the previous limits – 0% THC concentration – which is making it difficult for people to buy and carry CBD products, especially through airports.

Airport Customs and Border Protection agents are armed with kits that can easily determine the purity of a bottle of CBD oil on the spot without any delay. Tellez said that if a passenger is suspected of carrying a controlled substance, they will test that substance and it would hardly take a few seconds to reveal the concentration of CBD and THC present.

If any traces of THC are detected, the Houston Police narcotics officials are called to the scene and arrests are possible.The Customs and Border Protection agents did not clarify on the amount of THC a passenger could get trouble in, but they said that even if someone is found carrying CBD oil, they could get arrested.

Fox 26 asked Houston Police about the seizing incidents and arrests for CBD oil at the Bush and Hobby airports. They didn’t have much information ready at the hand, but said they were working on it.

With different states taking CBD legalization differently, it is becoming quite confusing for people to understand whether CBD is legal in their state or not. Some states are boosting the decision by giving permits to universities for further research and study in CBD and its effects, others are putting massive barriers even for patients to get a bottle of CBD oil for their treatment.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration allows CBD in a drug which is used to treat two rare forms of epilepsy. The agency announced a public hearing in May to discuss the effects of the drug and how it could be safely implemented in the current market to serve to people’s needs. It will form a regulatory framework to monitor the use of CBD in products and also build an internal team of members which will ensure CBD is used effectively.

Till then, the confusions stay afloat amongst companies that are looking forward for creating CBD based products and for people who are looking out for CBD as an alternative treatment for their ailments.