Inside airplane cockpit looking out over pilots and windshield

How Can CBD Edibles Help with Flying on Airplanes?

There are a lot of articles and news stories published about the potential benefits of taking CBD. Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a naturally occurring compound found in hemp plants. It is extracted from these plants into an oil and then mixed with a variety of products such as edibles, vape cartridges, topicals, and more. These products are then used by consumers in hopes that they will help manage a variety of symptoms related to anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and so much more. It can almost seem like CBD is a miracle alternative to common pharmaceutical medication. But can CBD also help manage anxiety associated with flying? And are CBD edibles the best method for taking CBD on a plane?

How Do CBD Edibles Work?

The first factor to consider is how CBD edibles work in order to answer those lingering questions. You should also consider how the CBD edible of your choice is made since this can make a huge difference in the effects you experience. When CBD is extracted from hemp plants, it typically results in either broad-spectrum extract, full-spectrum extract, or CBD isolates. This base of CBD molecules, along with other natural compounds found in hemp plants, is then mixed into the recipes for various snacks and treats. The most common form of CBD edibles at the moment are gummies because they can in lower doses, and are discreet and easy to take.

Once you pop a CBD edible into your mouth, you can expect it to take anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours for effects to start setting in. This is because your body needs time to break down the edible in your digestive tract, absorb the CBD into your liver, and allow it to enter your bloodstream. From there the CBD will interact with your body’s endocannabinoid system and the functions this system controls within the body. When CBD enters your bloodstream, it can interact with receptors that control mood or mental functions. There is a lot that still needs to be researched when it comes to how CBD interacts with the human body, but there are plenty of anecdotal testimonies that claim CBD edibles have helped people manage symptoms related to anxiety on a regular basis.

Can CBD Help With Anxiety About Flying?

So, if CBD edibles can potentially relieve symptoms related to anxiety, does that mean that they can help with the specific type of anxiety people experience when flying? At this point, more research is needed to determine the answer to this specific question. There are many different forms of anxiety and science has yet to determine how CBD works with the body to relieve symptoms related to it, let alone each specific type of anxiety that exists. However, user testimonies are far spread far and wide about the benefits of using CBD to help relieve all types of anxiety and ailments on a regular basis.

You should always consult your medical provider though before taking CBD for medical purposes. It can cause a drug interaction with many common medications that are also prescribed to help relieve anxiety, including drugs like Xanax and Klonopin, however, the effect is non existent if CBD is used as a topical. Doubling down on CBD and additional medication prescribed to treat anxiety could lead to unintended harmful results, and checking with your doctor first is the safest option before taking CBD to treat anxiety associated with flying.

Can You Bring CBD Products On a Plane?

If you have found that CBD edibles help relieve your general anxiety and think they might help with flying anxiety, the question remains -- is it legal for you to carry CBD products with you on a plane? Like most laws regarding hemp-derived CBD products, there is a bit of confusion surrounding the answer to this question. In the eyes of the FDA, CBD is still an illegal substance to combine with food and marketed as a potentially beneficial ingredient. However, many states and local laws do currently allow CBD oils to be mixed into food and drinks and sold to consumers. But where does the Transportation Security Administration, or TSA, stand when it comes to CBD edibles?

Since the federal government has provided vague direction when it comes to carrying CBD products across state lines, the TSA developed some guidelines of its own. When CBD first became popular though, there were still many people who were detained or arrested for having CBD products on them in an airport. However, since hemp is classified as legal with the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, then products containing hemp-derived CBD with less than 0.3 percent tetrahydrocannabinol are considered legal in the US. But, the TSA has no method for testing hemp products to see what CBD content is included in the product. So instead, the TSA has recently outlined guidelines that specify that passengers can carry CBD oil or medications in their carry-ons. However, it is probably best to just carry enough CBD edibles to help manage your anxiety with flying over packing enough for your entire trip.

There are plenty of people who have shared their experience with using CBD edibles to manage any anxiety they have associated with flying. However, every body is different and it is important to consult your doctor and determine what the right dose of CBD is for you. But, if CBD edibles do help with managing your symptoms of anxiety then they could be a great flying companion!

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