Can customers ship alcohol, tobacco, or marijuana?
Can customers ship alcohol, tobacco, or marijuana?
If a customer wants to ship a box of wine or a carton of cigarettes, it’s important to know what to say. The right answer will help you stay compliant with government regulations and the FASC Agreement.
The ins and outs of shipping alcohol
Your customers can’t ship alcohol. Only a licensed shipper like a wholesaler or importer can. However, there’s one situation when you can ship alcohol for your customers: If your FASC is a licensed shipper and the customer buys alcohol from you.
If a customer is a business owner who wants to become a licensed shipper, they need to:
- Have a FedEx account
- Contact a FedEx account representative
- Be approved by FedEx
- Sign a FedEx Alcohol Shipping Agreement
- Comply with all shipping, packaging, and delivery regulations and requirements
The scoop on sending tobacco
FedEx Express and FedEx Ground prohibit shipping tobacco and tobacco products. This includes cigarettes, cigars, loose tobacco, smokeless tobacco, hookah, shisha, and e-cigarettes and related components.
Marijuana shipping basics
Products containing marijuana have various names based on the chemical content or part of the plant used. Customers can’t ship cannabis, THC, or marijuana-derived CBD via FedEx—even if it’s legal in the origin or destination state.
CBD products are permitted if they contain hemp-derived CBD with a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration of 0.3% or less. They must also comply with all federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, and orders.
Play by the rules and regulations
Whether you’re packing and shipping an item or accepting a drop off, it’s essential to know what isn’t allowed. Be on the lookout so alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana don’t sneak into your FASC shipments.
- Direct customers to FedEx alcohol shipping requirements. They’ll find step-by-step guidance on applying to become a licensed shipper. They’ll also learn about U.S. and international alcohol shipping, wine shipping, returns, and more.
- If a customer tells you their shipment contains a prohibited item, remind them FedEx policy doesn’t allow it. Refuse the shipment. Suspect a package you already accepted? Report it to your FedEx contact person or FedEx driver.
- Review the terms and conditions in the FedEx Service Guide and your FASC Agreement on FASCnet. If you still have questions, email retailsupport@fedex.com.