State Department Warns Americans Against Traveling Internationally With Marijuana or CBD Products

The U.S. State Department is warning citizens not to travel internationally with cannabis or CBD products, citing severe penalties abroad and the risk of arrest even in countries where cannabis is legal.

The U.S. State Department is warning Americans against traveling internationally with marijuana or CBD products, emphasizing that local laws apply regardless of legality in their home state. The Bureau of Consular Affairs issued the warning in a social media post on Tuesday, stating, "U.S. citizens are subject to local laws. Just because a cannabis, THC, or CBD product is legal in your home state does not mean you can take it abroad. This includes prescribed medical marijuana."

The agency highlighted that many countries impose severe criminal penalties for cannabis and directed travelers to a federal website to review local laws and prohibited items. Even if cannabis is legal or decriminalized in the destination country, bringing it or any cannabis-derived products across an international border can result in arrest or other criminal penalties.

The State Department explicitly advised against traveling with cannabis or cannabis-derived products, including marijuana, THC, CBD, edibles, vape cartridges, oils, concentrates, or other cannabis products. It also reminded travelers to pack from a completely empty bag to avoid accidentally bringing forgotten marijuana, noting that Americans have been arrested after unintentionally bringing cannabis products into another country.

High-profile cases include basketball player Brittney Griner, jailed in Russia for about 10 months after being caught with cannabis vapes she said were for medical use under Arizona law, and Marc Fogel, jailed in Russia for possessing marijuana he used legally under Pennsylvania law. Both were freed in prisoner swaps.

The warning comes as the Transportation Security Administration clarified that its policy on medical marijuana has not changed, and despite state legalization, cannabis remains largely illegal at the federal level, though the Trump administration is taking steps to reclassify it.