CBD Shipping Policy | eCommerce Fulfillment

Yes, you can ship hemp-derived CBD within the U.S. by USPS, UPS or FedEx, but only when your products and your business follow federal, state and local law, and each carrier adds conditions of its own. State law still applies, so a product that is legal where you pack it may not be legal where it is delivered.

This page summarizes carrier rules and federal law as they read on October 5, 2026. It is not legal advice; confirm with your counsel and your carrier before you ship.

Carrier rules at a glance

USPS

USPS lets you mail hemp and hemp-based products, including CBD, domestically only when you comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws, including the USDA-approved plans for hemp production, processing, distribution and sales (USPS Publication 52, section 453.37; the USDA rules are in 7 CFR Part 990).

You must keep records that show compliance, such as laboratory test results, licenses or compliance reports, for at least 3 years after the date of mailing (USPS Publication 52, section 453.37).

USPS prohibits hemp and CBD in international mail, including to overseas APO, FPO and DPO military and diplomatic addresses (USPS Publication 52, section 453.37).

USPS defines hemp by federal law "or any successor provision", so its rule follows the federal definition when that definition changes (USPS Publication 52, section 453.37). The hemp section adds no CBD-specific packaging or labeling rule.

UPS

UPS accepts hemp derivatives only as permitted by federal, state and local law, and every U.S. shipment containing hemp or hemp derivatives must use UPS Adult Signature Required (UPS hemp and hemp-derivatives page). Ask UPS what Adult Signature Required adds to each label before you set your shipping prices.

UPS prohibits hemp derivatives meant to be inhaled as an aerosol, such as vape products, and any synthetic or lab-made cannabinoid (UPS hemp and hemp-derivatives page). It also will not accept hemp or hemp derivatives from a location that sells marijuana (UPS hemp and hemp-derivatives page).

FedEx

FedEx permits CBD for parcel services only when it is hemp-derived with a THC concentration of 0.3 percent or less, and the shipment must comply with all federal, state and local laws (FedEx what-not-to-ship guidance).

FedEx does not accept cannabis, THC or marijuana-derived CBD, even when it is legal in the origin or destination state (FedEx what-not-to-ship guidance). That guidance points to the FedEx Service Guide for the full prohibited-items terms, so confirm your account terms with your FedEx representative before you ship.

The federal hemp definition changes in late 2026

Section 781 of Public Law 119-37, signed November 12, 2025, rewrites the federal definition of hemp (Public Law 119-37, section 781). Under the new text:

• The 0.3 percent dry-weight limit counts total THC, including THCA (Public Law 119-37, section 781).
• A final hemp-derived cannabinoid product is not hemp if it contains more than 0.4 milligrams per container of total THC combined with other cannabinoids that have similar effects (Public Law 119-37, section 781).
• The container is the innermost package touching the product, such as a jar, bottle, packet or cartridge, not the shipping box (Public Law 119-37, section 781).
• Products containing cannabinoids the plant cannot produce naturally, or cannabinoids synthesized or manufactured outside the plant, are not hemp (Public Law 119-37, section 781).

The change was written to take effect 365 days after enactment, which is November 12, 2026 (Public Law 119-37, section 781). Public Law 119-103, signed September 2, 2026, phases it in: until December 11, 2026, the new definition applies only to products containing cannabinoids the plant cannot produce naturally (Public Law 119-103, the section 781 extension). The total-THC basis, the 0.4 mg per container limit and the rest of the new definition apply from December 11, 2026 (Public Law 119-103, the section 781 extension).

Because USPS follows the federal definition, a product that falls outside the new definition stops being mailable as hemp once that part applies (USPS Publication 52, section 453.37). Check each SKU now. Take the total THC figure from its certificate of analysis (COA) and multiply it by the amount in one container. For example, a COA showing 0.1 mg total THC per mL in a 30 mL bottle works out to 3 mg per bottle, which is over the 0.4 mg limit.

Before you hand CBD orders to a 3PL

Whether you pack orders yourself or move to a fulfillment partner, have these answered before the first order ships:

• A current COA for every batch of every SKU, showing total THC, including THCA.
• Your per-container THC figure for each SKU, so you know which products still qualify as hemp from December 11, 2026.
• Who keeps the compliance records. USPS requires lab results, licenses or compliance reports to be kept for at least 3 years after each mailing, so agree in writing whether you or the 3PL holds them.
• Which states you can ship each SKU to. We do not publish a state-by-state list because state rules change; check each destination state's law for your products.
• Which carriers the 3PL uses for hemp. If it uses UPS, ask whether Adult Signature Required is added to every package and what it adds to your cost per order.
• Any vape, aerosol or synthetic cannabinoid SKUs. UPS refuses them, and from November 12, 2026 the federal definition excludes cannabinoids the plant cannot produce naturally.
• Where you sell. Turn off international shipping and APO, FPO and DPO addresses for CBD SKUs sent through USPS.