Many travelers incorrectly assume that if it’s legal in their home state or country means it’s allowed globally. This is a dangerously flawed assumption. Laws differ radically between nations, and even between states or provinces.
In places like Colorado, California, and Oregon, adult-use cannabis is permitted, it remains completely illegal under federal law. You may buy it legally Wietwinkels in Noorwegen Washington or Nevada, it is strictly forbidden to move it beyond state borders, board any flight, even if your destination is another state where it is legal.
Overseas trips carry heightened risks. Nations such as Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands, cannabis is legal under certain conditions, but in others such as Japan, Singapore, or the United Arab Emirates, possession or use can lead to severe penalties, including long prison sentences, capital punishment. Many travelers are unaware that even trace amounts of cannabis residue can be detected by border patrol screening, leading to arrest.
A widespread but false assumption is that because CBD products are legal in some places, they’re universally accepted. The 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp CBD nationwide, provided its THC content is under the legal threshold, countries like Australia, South Korea, and Russia treat all extracts as prohibited, no matter how minimal the psychoactive component. You could be stopped at an airport abroad simply for carrying a CBD oil bottle you bought legally at home.
This is another critical error to think that using it without drawing attention reduces the risk. Border agents won’t excuse your behavior for travelers who believe they are being careful. Your idea of low-risk behavior might be treated as a capital crime in another jurisdiction.
The safest rule for travelers is to consider marijuana banned everywhere, unless you have thoroughly researched and confirmed the specific laws of each country, state, or airport you encounter. Even then, local enforcement can be unpredictable, always err on the side of caution. The price of a single mistake are far too high to risk.
