Nature lovers have no shortage of National Parks to visit in the USA. From Yosemite in the West to the Acadia in the East, there are plenty of pristine areas to enjoy.

What does this have to do with hemp and CBD? In a word: legality. Since National Parks are federal territory, hemp fans have expressed concerns about bringing their favorite products into these areas. Is it better to leave CBD oils and delta-8 vape carts at home, or will park rangers be OK with visitors using these products? 

Do US National Parks Recognize Hemp CBD Products?

Since National Parks are federal territory, they must abide by DC’s national guidelines. Therefore, bringing hemp-extracted CBD oils into these territories shouldn’t be an issue.

As you may recall, the 2018 US Farm Bill legalized hemp-derived CBD products in the USA. If your CBD extract has ≤ 0.3 percent delta-9 THC, it’s legal at the federal level.

There is, however, a slight issue with full-spectrum CBD oil. Although CBD oil is legal per federal law, THC is a prohibited substance. So, you could get arrested if park rangers asked for a drug test and THC appeared in your results.

Even though full-spectrum CBD oils have ≤ 0.3 percent delta-9, this THC could linger in your system hours or days after use. THC has a long half-life and often gets stored in the body’s fat cells. Depending on your metabolism and BMI, you could get in trouble if you get involved in a tricky situation after taking full-spectrum CBD.

The best way to avoid this scenario is to bring lab-tested THC-free CBD products on your trip. Broad-spectrum CBD oils and CBD isolate powder shouldn’t have any delta-9 THC. Please verify that your CBD oils have no THC on a Certificate of Analysis.   

What About Bringing Delta-8 Into Federal Territory?

Delta-8 THC technically qualifies as a legal substance under the 2018 US Farm Bill. Indeed, District Court 9 recently ruled delta-8 THC is legit if it has ≤ 0.3 percent delta-9 THC.

However, since delta-8 is psychoactive, it’s far more controversial than CBD. Does that mean it’s illegal at National Parks? Well, not technically — but it’s more likely this product will get you in trouble if park rangers catch it on your property.

Considering the National Park Service has a zero-tolerance policy for marijuana, it’s unlikely they will treat delta-8 THC favorably. Delta-8 induces many of the same effects as delta-9 THC, albeit at a lower intensity. Therefore, it’s best for people who enjoy delta-8 to keep this cannabinoid at home rather than risk jail time on their National Park vacation.

Wait, So MMJ Patients Can’t Bring Legal Weed To National Parks?

The National Park Service doesn’t mess around when it comes to marijuana. It doesn’t matter if you have an MMJ card or are in a state with recreational pot laws — all delta-9 THC strains are prohibited substances at National Parks.

Please remember the DEA considers delta-9 THC to be a “Schedule I” substance, and there are no federal policies for medical marijuana. All National Parks follow the DEA’s standards, and rangers will prosecute anyone carrying cannabis onto national territory to the full extent of the law.

Unless DC legalizes recreational cannabis, you must keep your legal weed far away from National Parks.

Please Be Careful When Packing CBD For Your Upcoming Trip!

When you step into a National Park, you enter a unique legal zone. Whatever cannabis laws apply in the surrounding state aren’t applicable in these tourist-friendly destinations. Even though hemp-derived CBD oil may be OK per the 2018 US Farm Bill, customers must keep all THC-containing products out of National Parks.

If you’re concerned every “CBD near me” you find online has traces of delta-9, you must read through the reviews on Real Tested CBD. Our team takes a science-first approach to evaluating the lab reports associated with whatever CBD brand we test. You can find out some of the best quality CBD oils we’ve scanned on our website.