Can You Fly With THCa?

Heading on vacation and wondering whether you can take your favorite THCa product with you? THCa is federally legal, but exists in a gray area that could make it risky to take on flights. 

We explain the legal considerations and offer an easy alternative to help you fly high without any risk.

Key Takeaways

• Under the 2018 Farm Bill, THCa is considered a hemp-derived product and is therefore federally legal.
• However, several states and many countries outright ban THCa.
• That means you shouldn't take THCa on international flights, and should carefully check local laws when traveling domestically.
• There is always a chance that airport security will treat THCa as a controlled substance, even though it's technically legal under federal law.
• Fortunately, it's easier than ever to purchase high-quality, legal THCa.

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Navigating Hemp Laws and Cannabis Laws While Flying

Meredith Farrow, co-founder of Clean Remedies, says:

"THCa might be federally legal, but that doesn't mean you can always fly with it. Many countries and some states prohibit it."

THCa is rapidly growing in popularity. In 2025, THCa accounted for 15% of the market share of cannabinoid products.

With so many people enjoying the benefits of THCa, that means more people encountering a tricky question: Can you fly with THCa?

Unfortunately, there's no simple answer to this. There are many things to consider, including THCa's legal status at your destination and how airport security treats it.

Plenty of people have shared anecdotes of traveling with THCa. So it's definitely possible. But that might not mean you should, especially as it's now so easy to legally buy THCa.

To figure out whether you should fly with THCa or leave it behind, we need to review what makes it unique.

What Is THCa?

THCa, or tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, is a non-psychoactive compound found in hemp plants. Unlike THC, it does not have any psychoactive effects. In other words, it won't get you high.

However, THCa converts to THC quite easily. All you need is heat. 

Heat triggers a reaction called decarboxylation. This reaction converts THCa into THC that is identical to THC you'd find in raw cannabis plants. And yes, that means it's psychoactive.

This conversion has left THCa in a sort of legal gray area. We'll explore its legal status in full, starting with federal law. 

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Federal Law

Under federal law, THCa is legal. That's thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill!

2018 Farm Bill

The Farm Bill legalized hemp, which it defined as Cannabis sativa plants that contain less than 0.3% THC by dry weight. Hemp-derived products, like hemp-derived Delta 9 THC gummies, are also considered legal under this federal law.

Hemp Products

THCa is technically a hemp-derived product. It follows the guidelines set by federal law, containing less than 0.3% THC by dry weight.

Therefore, hemp-derived THCa products are considered legal under federal law.

Cannabis Products

Marijuana, however, remains illegal under federal law. So are marijuana-derived products.

State cannabis laws vary. Many states have fully legalized cannabis and cannabis products. But because airports operate under federal law, you can't legally travel with them, even if you're traveling between two states that have legalized recreational cannabis.

Airport Security

So far, so simple, right? Under federal law, THCa is a hemp-derived product and is therefore considered legal. 

That doesn't mean you can fly with THCa, though. Here's why.

International Laws

First, plenty of countries have their own cannabis laws. Places with strict cannabis laws may treat THCa as a controlled substance. If local laws don't address THCa specifically, it's usually lumped in with cannabis in general.

Attempting to fly with THCa to a country that prohibits it is a bad idea. Even if you make it through the US side, you could face legal issues at your destination.

In general, then, it's best to leave your THCa at home when taking international flights.

Domestic Flights

But what about domestic flights? THCa is considered legal under federal hemp laws, so you might think it's fine to fly with it on domestic flights.

That isn't always true, though. For one thing, federal and state laws on THCa sometimes differ.

 Several US states outright prohibit THCa. For example, Idaho, Nebraska, Kansas, West Virginia, and South Dakota have banned THCa. 

If you try to fly with THCa to a state that prohibits it, you could face legal trouble. For example, in Idaho, the legal penalty for possessing even a small amount of THCa is up to 1 year in prison and a fine of $1,000. 

These stricter regulations may also apply to other THCa products, like THCa edibles, THCa concentrates, and so on. 

Federal Jurisdiction

One reason so many places prohibit THCa is because of how easily and quickly it converts into THC. Remember, a little heat is all that's needed to convert THCa to THC. 

Smoking THCa flower, for example, converts it into psychoactive THC. That creates some legal uncertainties around THCa. 

In the US, airports operate under federal regulations. As we explained, THCa is technically legal under federal law.

But federal authorities have suggested that it shouldn't be. In 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration argued that THCa should be considered a controlled substance because of its ability to convert to THC. 

Then, in 2025, Congress passed new legislation that would redefine hemp as containing less than 0.3% THC and THCa. This won't go into effect until November 2026, but it demonstrates that the federal government is wrestling with THCa's legal status.

There's also another thing to consider. Airport security is governed by the Transportation Security Administration, or TSA. The TSA is a federal agency and therefore must follow federal guidelines.

That said, the TSA is focused on aviation security threats. It does not actively search for drugs. The agency itself states that "TSA security officers do not search for marijuana or other illegal drugs." 

However, TSA rules also state that "if any illegal substance is discovered during security screening, TSA will refer the matter to a law enforcement officer."

Of course, local law enforcement may well follow state and federal hemp laws and consider your THCa perfectly legal. Or you might encounter federal enforcement that believes THCa is a controlled substance.

You could view this uncertainty in two ways.

Some people interpret it as meaning they can carry THCa on flights. There are ways you can lessen the legal risks, like keeping your THCa in its original packaging with all the proper documentation.

Alternatively, some people interpret this uncertainty as a sign not to risk it. 

You can make your own decision, of course. But there's another thing to consider. If you're traveling domestically, chances are you can simply buy some THCa at your destination.

Where to Buy THCa

Buying federally legal and natural THCa has never been easier. Clean Remedies ships to all 50 states and offers three strains of THCa flower: Sativa, Indica, and Hybrid.

Buying high-quality, legal TCHa is important. Clean Remedies uses USA-grown hemp in all its products, including THCa flower. 

Why is that so important? "Hemp is a bioaccumulator," Clean Remedies founder Meredith Farrow explains. "It sucks up all the heavy metals, toxins, pesticides — any of the yucky stuff that's in the soil. Then you'd be ingesting that."

Conclusion

THCa is federally legal, but that doesn't necessarily mean you can fly with it. 

First, local laws vary. Many countries and some states prohibit THCa, so you shouldn't try to take it there.

Second, some federal agencies have argued that THCa should be considered a controlled substance because of how easily it converts to THC. That means THCa exists in a legal gray area.

Some people have taken THCa on flights without issue. Keeping it in its raw form, in the original packaging, may make this easier. But there is a chance you could face legal issues if you try.

Fortunately, you don't necessarily have to fly with THCa. It's easier than ever to buy, so you could always simply pick it up at your destination (depending on local laws) or order it ahead of time.

Keep Reading: Is THCa Stronger Than THC?

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much THCa Can You Fly With?

The 2018 Farm Bill didn't specify limits on how much THCa flower an individual could possess at one time. Therefore, it's important to check local laws.

However, even if local laws permit possession of THCa, that doesn't mean you should fly with it. Your destination might have different rules, and there's a chance airport authorities will treat it as a controlled substance.

Can You Get Caught With THCa?

Yes, you can get caught with THCa. The TSA does not actively search for drugs. However, TSA agents are told to report drugs they find to law enforcement. 

It's not entirely clear how TSA would treat THCa. THCa is legal based on the 2018 Farm Bill. But federal officials have argued that it should be treated as a controlled substance.

Can You Bring THCa Vape on a Plane?

Under federal law, THCa is legal. That includes THCa vapes. But that doesn't mean you can fly with THCa vapes.

Unfortunately, THCa exists in a sort of legal gray area. Federal agencies have argued that it should be treated as a controlled substance due to its ability to convert into THC. 

When you use a THCa vape, the THCa converts into THC. That means airport officials might treat your THCa vape as a controlled substance.

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