Yes, you can send CBD through the mail in the United States, but only hemp-derived CBD that contains no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight, only through certain carriers, and only with the right documentation. USPS is the practical choice for individuals. FedEx and UPS require business contracts. Vape products, most CBD edibles, and international shipments are separate problems with their own rules, and getting any of this wrong can mean seizure, account termination, or federal charges.
What Counts as Legal Hemp You Can Mail
The 2018 Farm Bill defined hemp as the cannabis plant and its derivatives with a delta-9 THC concentration of no more than 0.3% on a dry weight basis, and removed hemp from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 7 USC 1639o: Definitions Anything above that 0.3% line is marijuana under federal law and cannot be mailed. Full stop.
That standard is about to change. In November 2025, Congress passed a continuing resolution and appropriations package (H.R. 5371). Section 781 redefines compliant hemp using a total THC standard rather than delta-9 alone, and it takes effect on November 12, 2026. Products currently legal because their delta-9 stays under 0.3% while other cannabinoids (delta-8, THCA) push the total higher will no longer qualify. If you ship CBD regularly, pull your supplier’s lab results now and check them against a total-THC number, not just the delta-9 line.
USPS Is the Realistic Option for Individuals
USPS permits domestic shipment of hemp-derived CBD, including to U.S. territories, as long as the product meets the 0.3% THC threshold and the sender complies with all federal, state, and local laws.2USPS. Shipping Restrictions and HAZMAT – What Can You Send in the Mail Postal workers do not test products at the counter. The responsibility for compliance sits entirely with you, and USPS Publication 52 spells out the framework, including a requirement that mailers follow USDA-approved plans for hemp production and distribution.3United States Postal Service. Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail
FedEx and UPS are not usable options for individual senders. FedEx treats cannabis shipping as contract-only. You cannot walk into a FedEx counter and mail CBD, and individuals are not eligible for the required contract.4FedEx. Which FedEx Services Can I Use to Ship Cannabis FedEx has been aggressive about flagging hemp-derived ingestibles like gummies containing delta-8 or THCA, even when the delta-9 profile looks compliant.
UPS requires a dedicated account with a signed shipping agreement and copies of relevant licenses before it will accept hemp or CBD. All domestic hemp shipments must use UPS Adult Signature Required service, meaning someone 21 or older must sign at delivery. Raw hemp shipments must include the certificate of analysis inside the package, and all labeling must comply with applicable law.5UPS – United States. Shipping Marijuana, Hemp, and CBD
What You Cannot Mail
CBD Vape Products
This is the most common mistake. CBD vape cartridges, pens, and any product that delivers CBD through an aerosolized solution are nonmailable through USPS, regardless of THC content. The Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children Act, which amended the PACT Act in December 2020, classified all electronic nicotine delivery systems as nonmailable. The definition covers any device that delivers “nicotine, flavor, or any other substance” through aerosolization, which pulls in hemp CBD vapes.6Federal Register. Treatment of E-Cigarettes in the Mail
The penalties are steep: seizure and forfeiture of assets, criminal fines, imprisonment of up to one year, and a civil penalty equal to ten times the retail value of the products shipped.7Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 US Code 1716E – Tobacco Products as Nonmailable UPS also prohibits hemp derivatives intended for aerosolized consumption across its entire U.S. network.5UPS – United States. Shipping Marijuana, Hemp, and CBD
CBD Food, Drinks, and Dietary Supplements
A CBD product can qualify as legal hemp and still be illegal to ship if it is a food, beverage, or dietary supplement. The FDA has taken the position that adding CBD to food or marketing it as a supplement violates the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Because CBD is the active ingredient in an FDA-approved drug (Epidiolex), putting CBD-infused food or drinks into interstate commerce is prohibited under section 301(ll) of the FD&C Act.8U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA Regulation of Cannabis and Cannabis-Derived Products, Including Cannabidiol (CBD)
Enforcement has been uneven, and CBD edibles sell openly in many states. Mailing them across state lines still puts them into interstate commerce and squarely into FDA jurisdiction. Topical CBD (creams, lotions, balms) is regulated as a cosmetic instead and is safer to ship.
International Shipments
Do not mail CBD internationally as an individual. Most countries treat all cannabis derivatives as controlled substances and do not recognize the U.S. hemp-versus-marijuana distinction. A package that leaves your local post office legally can be seized at the destination border, with consequences ranging from confiscation and fines to criminal prosecution depending on the country. Even nations that permit some CBD often require import permits and use different THC thresholds than the U.S. standard.
Documentation to Keep on Hand
Two documents carry the weight if a carrier or law enforcement asks questions:
- A certificate of analysis (COA) from an independent, third-party laboratory showing the product’s full cannabinoid profile and confirming delta-9 THC at 0.3% or below on a dry weight basis. A COA from the manufacturer’s in-house lab is a red flag.
- A signed self-certification statement on your own letterhead affirming the shipment complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws. This statement is subject to the False Statements Act (18 U.S.C. § 1001), so a false claim is its own federal offense.
USPS requires that compliance records, including lab results, licenses, and compliance reports, be retained for no less than three years after the mailing date.3United States Postal Service. Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail You will not usually be asked for them at the counter, but they must be available on request.
Packaging and Labeling
The practical problem in transit is odor. Hemp flower and some concentrates smell identical to marijuana to a postal worker or a detection dog, and a package that smells like cannabis can be flagged regardless of what is legally inside.
Any CBD product with a detectable odor should be sealed in an airtight container before mailing. Vacuum-sealed bags, sealed glass jars, air-tight plastic containers, or multiple layers of heavy-duty resealable bags all work. Do not try to mask the smell with coffee grounds or dryer sheets. Postal inspectors know what odor masking looks like, and it draws more attention than it deflects.
Label the package so it clearly identifies the product as hemp-derived, shows the THC content, and includes the manufacturer’s information. Slipping a copy of the COA inside the package is not always required, but it is smart. If the package is opened for inspection, having the lab results right there significantly reduces the chance of seizure.
State Law and Age at Delivery
Federal legality does not override state restrictions on possession or sale. Some states cap CBD potency per serving, ban certain product formats, or require retailer registration to distribute CBD within the state. There is no federal minimum age for CBD; states set their own, typically ranging from 18 to 21 depending on the product. Smokable and vapeable products tend to trigger the higher threshold where they are regulated at all.
Confirming that your recipient meets the destination state’s age requirement is part of your compliance obligation as the sender. UPS enforces this directly by requiring Adult Signature service on every hemp shipment.5UPS – United States. Shipping Marijuana, Hemp, and CBD Check the laws in both the origin and destination jurisdictions before you ship.
What Happens if You Get It Wrong
The lightest outcome is that the carrier seizes and destroys the package and suspends or terminates your shipping account. That matters more for a business than a one-time sender, but the package is gone either way.
Criminal exposure escalates fast if the product exceeds 0.3% THC. At that point the shipment is marijuana, a Schedule I controlled substance, and distribution through the mail can be prosecuted under 21 U.S.C. § 841, with penalties tied to quantity and reaching years in federal prison.9Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 21 US Code 841 – Prohibited Acts A Mailing nonmailable matter under 18 U.S.C. § 1716 carries up to one year for a knowing violation.10Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 US Code 1716 – Injurious Articles as Nonmailable A false self-certification is a separate charge that prosecutors will stack on top.
The takeaway is simple. Never ship a CBD product without a current COA from a third-party lab that you have actually reviewed. A supplier’s verbal assurance is not a defense, and it is how people end up facing charges they never saw coming.