It is no secret that people love THC gummies. This popular product has quickly jumped to the top of the charts for those who want to experiment with THC and how it can impact their mind and body. Many more jurisdictions are now liberalizing their laws to permit such products to be legally consumed within their borders, and that has further fueled the demand for THC gummies. This is why more and more questions continue to arise about whether it is possible to legally travel with THC gummies.
Legal Considerations
Before anyone attempts to take THC gummies on a plane, they should consider the legal ramifications of what it might mean to bring those products onto the plane with them. Currently, under federal law, the legality of THC gummies depends on the amount of THC contained within them.
The 2018 Farm Bill allows for THC gummy products that contain 0.3% Delta-9 THC by dry weight or less. Products that are above that threshold are still banned federally. This is why you should keep an eye on the packaging of your THC gummies. If they are below the threshold of 0.3% THC, they will often have a label that states that they are "2018 Farm Bill compliant".
That is what you ought to know about federal law and how it applies to the transportation of THC gummies. However, state laws about THC products vary wildly throughout the country. It may be perfectly legal to possess and consume THC gummies in one state and forbidden in another. Sometimes, those differences are on full display even between two states that border one another. Therefore, it is also advisable to review the various state laws that govern THC gummies in any state that you might consider traveling to.
This rule certainly holds true when traveling internationally as well. Remember, every country is entitled to make its laws regarding the possession and consumption of THC products, including edibles and tinctures. Some countries have far more permissive laws than in the United States, but there are other countries that are far more restrictive. You could face legal penalties in a foreign country for violating their THC laws if you attempt to transport THC gummies into their borders.
TSA Guidelines
To be completely clear, the TSA does not actively search airline passengers for illicit drugs. They report the following on their government website:
TSA's screening procedures are focused on security and are designed to detect potential threats to aviation and passengers. Accordingly, TSA security officers do not search for marijuana or other illegal drugs, but if any illegal substance is discovered during security screening, TSA will refer the matter to a law enforcement officer.
As such, you should expect that they are not likely to go out of their way to try to find drugs within your luggage. However, if they discover illegal THC products within your luggage as a part of their official duty to keep everyone onboard safe, then you can expect that the matter will be referred to local law enforcement. The potential penalties that you might face (if any) depend upon the laws in that jurisdiction as well as the discretion of the law enforcement officials that it is referred to.
There is a key difference between hemp-derived products that are compliant with the 2018 Farm Bill and THC gummies, though. The main difference is that the hemp-derived products contain less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC, but the THC gummies have marijuana concentrations that are higher than 0.3%. Therefore, THC gummies can certainly be a bigger legal risk with the TSA than the hemp-derived products that you might have tried before.
The bottom line is that TSA agents are not actively looking for illicit drugs, but they are screening for anything that could be a threat to the safety of the passengers on any flight.
Risks of Traveling with THC Gummies
There is no question that there are some risks to traveling with THC gummies that you ought to be aware of. Some people might try to convince you that you can't face any potential penalties for carrying THC gummies onto a plane, but that isn't true. Among the penalties that one could face are:
- Confiscation - It is virtually guaranteed that you will have your THC gummies confiscated by TSA agents if you attempt to bring them through the airport and they are found. The product will simply be disposed of, but you will lose possession of something that you have spent your money on.
- Fines - Another very real possibility for those who try to travel with THC gummies in areas where they are not permitted is that they will probably face some fines for trying to do so. Those fines will have to be paid, but the THC gummies will not be returned.
- Missed Flight - There is a chance that you will miss your flight if you attempt to bring THC gummies through TSA and are caught. They will have to go through all of the necessary steps to confiscate your THC gummies and speak with you about all of this. If you are particularly tight on time for catching your flight, then you very well might miss the flight outright.
- Criminal Charges - It is not out of the question that one might face minor criminal charges due to trying to bring THC gummies through the airport. This depends on the jurisdiction one is in, as well as the quantity of THC gummies that one has attempted to bring through the airport. There are many factors that must be considered in these scenarios, but it is not impossible for criminal charges to be on the table.
- Impact on Travel Records - You may well earn yourself a black mark on your travel record if you can't resist the urge to try to travel with THC gummies in your bags. You certainly don't want to draw the ire of the TSA and put yourself on a list of problem travelers.
These are just a handful of the risks that you take when attempting to travel with THC gummies. Although some might choose to take a chance that they won't get caught with their THC gummy products, you might want to reconsider that and instead avoid taking the risk altogether.
Tips for Traveling Safely (and Legally!)
Those who choose to attempt to travel with THC gummies on a plane should apply some practical tips for how to do so safely and legally. We have some recommendations for those who wish to do so.
Here is what you can do:
- Be Aware of State Laws - Understand the state laws regarding the use and possession of THC gummies in both the state from which you are departing and the state where you are arriving. You must be aware of both sets of state laws because they are both applicable when you travel. If THC gummies are not permitted in one or both of those states, then you are best leaving them at home.
- Bring Only a Personal Use Amount - Only bring a quantity of THC gummies that you intend to use for yourself. Bringing more than that amount could raise suspicion among the TSA agents and could increase your potential for facing consequences for bringing it along. Make sure that you also bring your THC gummies in their original sealed package and not loose in your luggage.
- Keep Your Packaging Labeled - Make certain that you have a label for your THC gummies that is clear and obvious. You don't want this material to be confused with candy or anything else. It will help you to sort it all out when your arrive at your destination anyway, and it will go far to show that you aren't trying to hide anything.
- Store it in Your Carry-On - The TSA is not interested in screening for drugs at the airport. Instead, their sole mission is to look for threats to the safety of passengers on board the plane. That said, you should try to keep your THC gummies stored in your carry-on bags so that they are as close to you on the flight as possible.
- Remain Calm if Questioned - It can be incredibly scary to be questioned by any type of official, including TSA agents. However, you ought to remain calm in the event that you are questioned. If you start to act nervous, you are simply shining a bigger spotlight on yourself and potentially causing problems for yourself that you shouldn't have to deal with.
- Don't Flaunt Your Stash - This last piece might sound like obvious advice, but you shouldn't flaunt your stash of THC gummies while you are traveling. This is the kind of behavior that will draw attention to you and might make you a target for searches. Don't put yourself in that situation or you could end up facing a deeper level of scrutiny.
When you take these tips to heart, you should be in good shape. There will always be at least some level of risk to traveling with THC gummies, but you can mitigate at least some of those risks by taking these commonsense steps to keep yourself safe.
Common Scenarios and How to Handle Them
There are some scenarios that have been faced by others before that you might also have to confront. Namely, you may be pulled aside by TSA agents who are interested in inspecting your bags and questioning you about the products that you have brought aboard. In that scenario, you should remain calm and answer all questions truthfully. Those agents are simply trying to get to the bottom of why you have THC gummies with you while you are traveling.
Be willing to show a medical cannabis card to agents if you possess such a card. Also, be aware of what the state laws are and how those laws differ from place to place, wherever you are traveling. These are the types of things to know before getting on board any airplane.
Stay Safe and Travel Smart
Keep safe while traveling by being smart about how and when you decide to bring THC gummies on board any flight. If you feel like there is any risk whatsoever that you might face serious consequences for bringing THC gummies on board, then you should reconsider and perhaps simply not bring them on board.
References
1) U.S. Department of Agriculture. (n.d.). Farm Bill. Farmers.gov. Retrieved June 22, 2025, from https://www.farmers.gov/working-with‑us/farm‑bill
2) Transportation Security Administration. (n.d.). Medical marijuana. In What can I bring? Retrieved June 22, 2025, from https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/medical-marijuana
